Type
Internal restructuring
Country
World
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
France, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland
Sector
Retail
Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles
Retail Sale Of Information And Communication Equipment In Specialised Stores
47.41 - Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software in specialised stores

500 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
13 January 2012
Employment effect (start)
16 January 2012
Foreseen end date
31 December 2012

Description

On 12 January 2011, FNAC, a French retail chain offering cultural and electronic products, announced 500 job cuts worldwide, as part of a €80 million cost-saving action plan in response to a decrease in sales. The cost-saving plan involves the freeze of recruitment, a wage restraint policy and the cutting of 310 jobs in France and another 200 throughout the countries where FNAC operates. The restructuring is due to the worsening of the economic crisis over the last six months leading to a significant decrease in household spending, which has affected FNAC's markets in Europe. 

The job cuts will affect mainly support functions at headquarters and in stores, which will largely be reorganised. Sales staff in stores and the Internet website Fnac.com teams, which are at the heart of FNAC's development strategy, will not be affected by the restructuring. 

The management has stated that the job losses will be implemented through voluntary departures and staff reassignment within the Group will be encouraged. According to the management the restructuring is leading to the creation of new jobs in the relocation of certain support functions, which will be offered first to the affected employees. FNAC management is also said to be committed to provide support to redundant employees in their search for employment or further training. A comprehensive redundancy package will be put forward and discussed with staff representatives. 

FNAC, a subsidiary of the French PPR luxury group, employs more than 17,000 people and operates 158 stores (at December 2011): 85 in France and 73 elsewhere in the world (Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Morocco). 


Sources

  • 13 January 2012: 4 traders.com
  • 16 January 2012: Les Echos
  • 13 January 2012: Libération

Citation

Eurofound (2012), FNAC, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 72957, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72957.