Moulinex
Encyclopedia
Moulinex is a French
brand of small electrical appliances and kitchen equipment and is owned by Groupe SEB
. Moulinex was originally established as a company in 1937, however at the beginning of September 2001, Moulinex declared bankruptcy.
In August 2000, Brandt
merges with Moulinex, and Pierre Blayau leaves the enterprise.
On 14 November 2001 thousands demonstrated against the closures of Moulinex factories in Caen
, Normandy
’s largest town. Tyres were piled up in front of official buildings and set on fire and police cars pelted with rotten eggs. Workers begun tearing up their voting cards, to symbolise that they felt “let down” by the political parties and that they would not vote again. Without an independent political strategy to take forward their cause, however, the workers’ opposition only led to frustration. At one factory threatened with closure in Cormelles-le-Royal
near Caen
, barrels of explosive substances were placed around the building and threats were made to blow them up.
On 23 November 2001, thousands of Moulinex employees heard that they had been laid off. This followed two and a half months of protests, demonstrations, and other dramatic actions intended to retain their jobs. At the time Moulinex employed nearly 9,000 workers in France
and abroad. While most of the Moulinex factories producing irons, microwave ovens, pressure cookers, etc... were based in Normandy and other parts of Northern France, the company also had subsidiary factories located in China
, Mexico
and Brazil
.
The weeks following Moulinex's declaration of bankruptcy saw a conflict between workers intent on saving their jobs in areas already hit by de-industrialisation on the one side, and major banks, rival industrialists, political parties, the government sponsored mediation office and the courts, on the other. The banks and some rival companies were keen to get their hands on the remnants of Moulinex, whilst the others endeavoured to help them, especially by ensuring a minimum of opposition from the workers.
The trade unions played an essential role in enabling the breakup of Moulinex. After the company had announced it was bankrupt there was considerable unrest among the workforce. The unions organised blockades at several plants in the Normandy
area, but essentially sought to prevent the spread of industrial action, while management, the company’s creditors and the French state
went looking for suitable new owners. The two finally selected were Groupe SEB and the finance company Fidei, known for its involvement in the buy-out of the bankrupt AOM airline earlier that year, which also ended up with massive job losses.
Groupe SEB, the main French
producer of large household appliances, eventually took over what was left of Moulinex, considerably increasing its own size and prospects on the world market and subsequently closing down four factories in Normandy
resulting in substantial layoffs.
Today Moulinex remains in the hands of Groupe SEB.
Moulinex was the company that originally designed the Mouli grater
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
brand of small electrical appliances and kitchen equipment and is owned by Groupe SEB
Groupe SEB
Groupe SEB is a large French consortium that produces small appliances. Notable brand names associated with Groupe SEB include Krups, Moulinex, Rowenta, and Tefal. According to the Groupe SEB website, they have faced considerable competition from low-price Chinese competitors, but have managed to...
. Moulinex was originally established as a company in 1937, however at the beginning of September 2001, Moulinex declared bankruptcy.
In August 2000, Brandt
Brandt (brand)
Brandt was a French brandname producing various home equipment, created in 1924 by Edgar Brandt as a part of Hotchkiss-Brandt.- History of Brandt:* In 1924, Brandt is established.* In 1966, Hotchkiss-Brandt merges with Thomson ....
merges with Moulinex, and Pierre Blayau leaves the enterprise.
On 14 November 2001 thousands demonstrated against the closures of Moulinex factories in Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
’s largest town. Tyres were piled up in front of official buildings and set on fire and police cars pelted with rotten eggs. Workers begun tearing up their voting cards, to symbolise that they felt “let down” by the political parties and that they would not vote again. Without an independent political strategy to take forward their cause, however, the workers’ opposition only led to frustration. At one factory threatened with closure in Cormelles-le-Royal
Cormelles-le-Royal
Cormelles-le-Royal is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, barrels of explosive substances were placed around the building and threats were made to blow them up.
On 23 November 2001, thousands of Moulinex employees heard that they had been laid off. This followed two and a half months of protests, demonstrations, and other dramatic actions intended to retain their jobs. At the time Moulinex employed nearly 9,000 workers in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and abroad. While most of the Moulinex factories producing irons, microwave ovens, pressure cookers, etc... were based in Normandy and other parts of Northern France, the company also had subsidiary factories located in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
The weeks following Moulinex's declaration of bankruptcy saw a conflict between workers intent on saving their jobs in areas already hit by de-industrialisation on the one side, and major banks, rival industrialists, political parties, the government sponsored mediation office and the courts, on the other. The banks and some rival companies were keen to get their hands on the remnants of Moulinex, whilst the others endeavoured to help them, especially by ensuring a minimum of opposition from the workers.
The trade unions played an essential role in enabling the breakup of Moulinex. After the company had announced it was bankrupt there was considerable unrest among the workforce. The unions organised blockades at several plants in the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
area, but essentially sought to prevent the spread of industrial action, while management, the company’s creditors and the French state
French state
The French state may refer to:*The Republic of France *Vichy France, 'French state' was the official name of the regime first directed by Philippe Pétain, explicitly opposed to the French Republic...
went looking for suitable new owners. The two finally selected were Groupe SEB and the finance company Fidei, known for its involvement in the buy-out of the bankrupt AOM airline earlier that year, which also ended up with massive job losses.
Groupe SEB, the main French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
producer of large household appliances, eventually took over what was left of Moulinex, considerably increasing its own size and prospects on the world market and subsequently closing down four factories in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
resulting in substantial layoffs.
Today Moulinex remains in the hands of Groupe SEB.
Moulinex was the company that originally designed the Mouli grater
Mouli grater
A Mouli grater is a hand-operated cooking tool designed for grating or pureeing small quantities of food. The device consists of a small metal drum with holes that grate the food and a handle for turning the drum....
.
Further reading
- Hancké, Bob. Large Firms and Institutional Change: Industrial Renewal and Economic Restructuring in France. Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Magloire, Franck. Ouvrière. Editions de l'Aube, 2002.