Recovery Plan for Brandt Factory in Orléans Proposes Hiring 150 Workers Amid Judicial Liquidation

On December 24, 2025, Stephan Français, head of Thomson Computing, announced a takeover proposal for the Brandt appliance factory in Orléans, aiming to preserve part of the site’s activity and employment. His plan includes hiring 150 employees initially from the nearly 350 staff previously employed at the plant, with ambitions to increase the workforce to 250 over five years depending on the project's success. The takeover would continue household appliance production while introducing electronics manufacturing, signifying a diversification effort.

The factory’s judicial liquidation was declared on December 11 by the Economic Activities Tribunal in Nanterre, impacting around 700 jobs, particularly at the Orléans site. A prior cooperative plan to save 370 jobs was rejected by the court. Orléans Mayor Serge Grouard described the new project as a "serious" opportunity but acknowledged it carries inherent risks. The Ministry of Industry emphasized the need for careful evaluation of all recovery proposals before any commitments.

An official invitation for bids to take over the factory is set for launch in January 2026. Français’s plan signals a cautious but hopeful path toward job preservation and industrial revitalization in Orléans, starting with 150 workers with potential growth envisaged if positive results are achieved.