VIVARTE news and archive

Stéphane Roche named Chief Executive Officer of Vivarte

Stéphane Roche has been announced as the new CEO of ailing French group Vivarte, effective March 4. He will join President Patrick Puy in implementing a relaunch brand for the two company’s two remaining brands, La Halle and Caroll, following the sale of André, Kookai, San Marina, Chevignon and Naf Naf, among other brands. “Both La Halle and...

Business

French fashion group Vivarte to sell its Chevignon brand

French fashion brand Vivarte has announced it will sell its Chevignon brand as it continues to dispose of assets to cut its debt. In the Tuesday announcement the company said it is selling the brand to the Royer company's Stephane Collaert and Thierry Le Guenic. The move comes following the French group’s recent restructuring to improve its...

Management

OpCapita buys Merkal, Vivarte’s Spanish footwear chain

The investment fund OpCapita Consumer Opportunities Fund II LP has confirmed the purchase of the Spanish footwear firm Merkal. The British fund has acquired Merkal from the French distribution conglomerate Vivarte SAS. As pointed out by EFE, the operation, whose conditions have not been made public, is subject to final approval by the Spanish...

Management

Vivarte finishes the sale of Merkal, its Spanish footwear chain

The ill-fated French retail group would be finalising the sale of its affordable footwear chain in Spain, Merkal. In fact, the French company hopes to close the sale "in about ten days". This weekend, a spokesman for the French multi-brand group Vivarte told AFP that "the sale of Merkal will be announced in the next few days." It should be...

Management

Vivarte group sells Kookai to Australian brand, Magi

The textile and footwear group Vivarte, who have been engaged in a disposal and reconstruction plan for several months, announced on Tuesday that they have sold the clothing brand Kookai to the Australian brand, Magi. Magi, launched in 1992 has been the licensee of Kookai in Australia and New Zealand for 26 years, specialists in the apparel...

Management

Vivarte’s restructuring plan culminates with exit of third CEO in four years

What’s going on at Vivarte? The multi-brand French fashion group is in the spotlight these days after announcing the completion of its restructuring plan ... which culminates with the departure of the executive who has been responsible for carrying it out, the hitherto CEO Stéphane Maquaire. Maquaire was the third CEO that the parent group to La...

Management

Vivarte continues its restructuring: proposed merge of La Halle Footwear and Fashion

French fashion group Vivarte still engaged in an ambitious restructuring plan with the idea of saving the brands that contribute most to the textile conglomerate. The new CEO, Stéphane Maquaire, needs to take the reigns of a mounting corporate debt worth of 1.3 billion euros in debt. As reported by French publication 'Challenges', the new head...

Business

Vivarte announces massive layoffs

Struggling French retailer Vivarte has announced a round of massive layoffs at various chains. The cuts will include 1,344 jobs at La Halle, 105 at Andre, and 32 at Kookai. Out of the 608 stores they own, 197 stores will shutter their doors, including 23 that were transferred to other banners of the group. Footwear brand Andre is laying off ten...

People

Vivarte names new COO

Vivarte is continuing its restructuring process after they named Richard Simonin their new CEO back in October. Now, Massimilliano Messina will be joining the Vivarte family as their new Chief Operating Officer (COO.) Simonin has been gradually trying to restructure Vivarte, and the appointment of Messina to his new role is seen as a key step in...

Business

Vivarte and Eram to the rescue of Bata

Bata, a Canadian shoe retailer, faces 2015 in good spirits: after entering administration in November, French competitors Vivarte and Eram might be the answer to its prayers. Since Bata entered administration in late 2014, various tenders have shown interest in acquiring the business. However, to date, none of those proposals materialised....