Orchestra-Prémaman to Cut 600 Jobs, Refocus on Profitable Markets Like Morocco

Around 600 jobs will be eliminated out of a total of 2,920 that Orchestra has. In difficulty for several years now, the French Hérault group, Orchestra-Prémaman, specializes in children’s clothing.

"The difficult situation of the company for the past two to three years is linked to a market evolution: a decline in the birth rate and an increase in online sales for young mothers," said the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Mestre, before stressing that the reorganization of the company is to rely on the most profitable markets: Morocco, France, Greece, Switzerland, South Africa and Belgium, reports Francebleu.fr.

In a press release, it is specified that "this reorganization project would thus make it possible to support and accelerate the necessary and sustainable recovery of the group, already initiated since the opening of its safeguard procedure on September 24, 2019, by securing its activity".

44 stores are to be closed in France and 81 abroad. The plan, presented on Monday, is in line with the safeguard plan that will be presented to the specialized court in Montpellier. A hearing before the commercial court is scheduled for March 17, 2020, "a hearing during which the opening of a second observation period of six months should be requested".

Created in 1995 by Chantal and Pierre Mestre, Orchestra is a French company that has become "an international player in the retail sale of children’s clothing and childcare products".