Chickens Sweet Didier Calmels hand with the feeling of work … – Le Figaro

INFO THE FIGARO- Less than two years after entering the capital through its holding company D & amp; P Participations, Didier Calmels sold its majority share in Terrena. In an exclusive interview Le Figaro he says he leaves Sweet with the “feeling of accomplishment.”

LE FIGARO: Eighteen months after taking over the Doux Group, why should you give today to control Terrena cooperative

Didier CALMELS – We are in the timing we had planned. There are usually three phases in this type of case: the first restructuring, which was to separate fresh pole which lost 40 million euros annually, the reduction of debt, with liabilities which increased from 400 to 80 million euros, and a phase transition and reorganization, led by Arnaud Marion. The latter not only had to restore social dialogue but also thoroughly revise relations with farmers, suppliers, etc. The time is now to the development of Sweet that requires human and financial resources which our family does not have. We must also continue the reorganization of the export supply … It’s not my job.

Soft is able to triple its turnover within five years. This brand has the legitimacy to extend frozen ray, meat vegetables through French fries … In the Middle East, Sweet has the same popularity that a brand like Nutella! It has tremendous potential in Asia and Africa. Now our production capacity is now saturated while we remain missing many categories as cut or grilled chicken. There is not today in France, large proteins exporter: Mild could become the spearhead of the French agrifood export

Sweet escape the lusts. foreign groups …

We were not put on sale the company. But we quickly were approached by Brazilian groups who know us well. We also received a substantial offer from a Chinese leading agri but he was primarily interested in our know-how and engineering than by what we were doing.

These options us would probably have ensured a more consistent check but they had a term risk of closing sites. But after receiving the confidence of employees and public authorities, we had a moral duty vis-à-vis them. We soon became clear that the solution proposed by French Terrena, accompanied by Sofiprotéol (the financial arm of the cooperative in April) was the best. The first discussions go back to a year. This scenario allows us, in fact, incorporate a hexagonal group becoming one of the world leaders in the sector.

After Soft, what will be your next restructuring folder?

Soft is the biggest restructuring that I conducted in my career when one takes into account the number of jobs – directly and indirectly – involved. A file that was misfed at first … I’m leaving today with the feeling of accomplishment but this will be my final restructuring package. I have been around the subject. We must not get into the folder too! I will now devote myself to my passions and particularly motorsport through the team “Alpine Signature” in which I have been associated for many years. But I do not exclude some diversification operations.