Bridor ended its plan to build an industrial site in Liffré, as the project started in 2017 and remained at a standstill after six years of legal hurdles. It would take at least two more years until the construction would be cleared to start, which would make the site operational by 2028.

“With regret for Brittany and its employees, Bridor cannot wait 10 years to build a new factory,” the company announced. Over the past six years, Bridor obtained all the necessary administrative paperwork, including the building permit and environmental authorization (ICPE1). However, court appeals do not allow the construction to start.

“We cannot afford to wait 10 years, or certainly more, for our industrial project to come to fruition!” regrets Louis Le Duff, President and Founder of the LE DUFF Group, “when our competitors abroad take one to two years maximum to obtain the same building permits.”

“We have weighed things carefully, including the government’s most recent initiatives in terms of industrial establishment. This timescale is incompatible with the growing demand from our customers. Faced with these numerous obstacles, we have therefore reacted at three levels,” emphasizes Philippe Morin, Managing Director of Bridor.

In France and Brittany, where the head office of the Le Duff Group is located, Bridor’s investments are continuing. The company invested more than EUR 350 million over the past four years in its current French sites, investments that helped create 500 direct jobs and nearly 1,500 indirect jobs. In Portugal, Bridor acquired Panidor (500 employees) in October 2022 to meet European demand. 

In North America, Bridor acquired Lecoq Cuisine (300 employees) in Connecticut in July 2022 and doubled its capacity at its Bridor Montreal, Canada site (570 employees) to meet the American demand.

Photo: Bridor social media