Brandt Appliance Company Liquidated, 700 Jobs Lost Amid Failed Revival Efforts

On December 11, 2025, the appliance manufacturer Brandt was declared in judicial liquidation by the commercial court of Nanterre, resulting in the loss of 700 jobs. This decision came despite a proposed employee-led Scop (cooperative) plan backed by the French state, the Centre-Val de Loire region, and the Métropole d’Orléans, with €20 million in support. The court's rejection of this project dashed hopes of reviving the iconic Brandt brand, especially following the recent success of a similar Scop takeover of Duralex.

Sophie Binet, secretary-general of the CGT union, expressed deep concern over the liquidation, highlighting that "we knew as early as 2024 that a wave of deindustrialization was beginning." She urged the government to create a national crisis unit to prevent more company closures and protect French jobs.

The court's decision was criticized for its timing, coming just before the Christmas holiday and abruptly placing hundreds of workers into unemployment. The Scop project was seen as a potential lifeline for the factory and the local economy, with some viewing its rejection as a disregard for the social and economic impact on employees.

Brandt’s liquidation underscores broader challenges facing French industry amid rising closures and deindustrialization pressures, prompting calls from unions and political figures for urgent government intervention to halt job losses in key sectors.