The company Financière Trésor du Patrimoine was chosen in mid-December to take over the book club, placed in compulsory liquidation at the end of October.
The company Financière Trésor du Patrimoine, which was chosen in mid-December to take over the France Loisirs book club, assured Friday that 34 shops, and not 14, would remain open. “34 France Loisirs stores are still and will remain open and if the list of 14 own stores has sometimes been communicated, the 20 partner (affiliated) stores have generally been forgotten.», Regrets Financière Trésor du Patrimoine, in a press release. The buyer could not be contacted by AFP for further details.
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“Employees responsible for stores not taken over were offered to continue the activity as a partner. On the rest of the activity, we will re-hire a few employees who did not initially fall within the scope of the takeover.», Added the management of Financière Trésor du Patrimoine.
The judgment of the Paris Commercial Court indicated on December 15 that of the 122 points of sale of the sign, only 14 would be kept while France Loisirs, placed in compulsory liquidation at the end of October, must also lose 469 of its 516 employees.
Competition from online sales and changing habits
Four other entities of the France Loisirs group are also affected by the takeover: logistics and IT service providers, a call center and a printing plant. Only 91 of the 211 employees of these four entities will be retained. “The France Loisirs brand continues, but has resized to offer an even more efficient service to its customers and members.“, Continues the press release before detailing the list of stores that will remain open.
Bought in 2015 by the company Actissia, France Loisirs has been experiencing difficulties since 2011 due in particular to competition from online sales and changes in consumer habits. Recent crises (“yellow vests», Covid) did not allow him to take his head out of the water despite attempts to transform his model. Already close to disappearance in 2018, France Loisirs, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, has only 800,000 members, against more than two million in the 70s and 80s.