The Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, estimated on Monday that it was “not normal” for the sugar group Tereos to close its factory in Escaudoeuvres (North), while it “is making money”.
“I want to understand the numbers, because at this point, a company that makes money that closes a factory, I think that is not normal,” he said at a few hours an on-site visit, on the Sud Radio antenna.
“What they are telling us is that they expect beet production to decrease in the next two years and that for this they intend to reconsolidate their production in three factories out of four”, indicated the minister.
The historic site of the group, owner of Béghin Say, was soon to celebrate its 150th anniversary, but on Wednesday, the management announced its closure by mid-June, and the elimination of 123 positions, due to a “sustainable reduction » in beet production in 2023-24, with, in the Escaudoeuvres sector, a drop in sown areas of more than 10%.
“For the moment, the production of beets has not decreased”
Following an opinion from European justice issued on January 21, France had to give up a new derogation to coat the seeds with these insecticides, a few weeks before the start of sowing. Harmful to bees, they were authorized until 2023 to protect beets against jaundice.
“For the moment, the production of beets has not dropped, for the moment, the famous aphid, it has not struck”, exclaimed Mr. Lescure, estimating that “we are crying fire when we didn’t see a spark”.
He recalled the government’s commitment to “compensate affected beet growers if necessary” and asked for “clarity” on all of this.
The minister must also go to the bedside of the employees of the Buitoni factory in Caudry, just a few kilometers away, of which the Nestlé group has announced a suspension of activity due to a drop in sales, following a serious scandal. sanitary.
He wants the factory to remain open, and called on Nestlé, owner of the site, to continue to invest in France and Caudry.