FRANCE: Leche Pascual closes fruit juice plant

By Stuart Todd | 9 November 2009

Pascual Jus de Fruits, a French subsidiary of Spanish group Leche Pascual, has closed its fruit juice plant in Mietesheim, eastern France, with the loss of 73 jobs.

The company, formerly Cidou, was acquired by Leche Pascual in May 2007 from French dairy group Toury. It and the plant, which produces 68m litres of juice per year, has been for sale for several months but has failed to attract a buyer.

The company accumulated losses of EUR6.5m in its most recent financial year, while turnover decreased by 25%.

Company spokeswoman Isabelle Ligenheld told just-drinks today (9 November) that Pascual Jus de Fruits had been hit hard by the loss of contracts for retailers' own brand juices and also by an approximate 50% drop in sales of the Cidou brand.

"Not a single potential buyer emerged for the plant and the sole proposition on the table focuses on the takeover of the brand itself and production equipment only," she added.

Sectors: Soft drinks, Water