Romain Bitot
modified to
9:15 a.m., January 15, 2023
This is the end of the small Alsa pink sachets made in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Doctor Oetker, the owner of Alsa, sold the Ludres factory to the Italian company Newlat on January 1. A heartbreak for the employees, even if some are reassured to know that large investments are to come.
The weekend is the perfect time to do pastry shop and, who says cake, says little pink sachets of yeast from the Alsa brand. But soon, these famous ingredients will no longer be produced in France, in their factory in Meurthe-et-Moselle, but in Germany. Doctor Oetker, the owner of Alsa, sold the historic factory in Ludres to an Italian company on January 1st. For the employees, it is heartbreaking.
“It disgusted me to have had to leave”
It’s the end of 125 years of history for the Ludres plant and its employees. A departure from the famous pink sachet in Germany which leaves them with a bitter taste. Sandrine worked 35 years for Alsa. “It hurts me, that’s for sure. I’ve always known that. My grandmother already cooked with Alsa sachets so I always saw these pink sachets and it was a source of pride to work here. was disgusted that she had to leave.”
But in the death of this local symbol remains a satisfaction. The buyer of the factory, the Italian Newlat, should invest between 20 and 25 million euros. This reassures Pascal Jamis, CGC delegate, particularly with regard to employment. “Ten people have just been hired and no one will be fired. Often, employees find themselves with nothing. Newlat bought us and wants our know-how”, he underlines.
The objective of the new buyer is now to produce yeast under the Minuto brand, its first establishment in France, and to compete with Alsa in two or three years.