The Agen Commercial Court has initiated a six-month protection procedure for the Vignerons de Buzet cooperative (AOC Buzet, in Sud-Ouest). The leadership will be heard on July 9th to decide on how the business will be managed
Last week, the cooperative’s winemakers learned that Vignerons de Buzet had accumulated debts amounting to €3m. "In five years, the debt has increased from €4m to €36m, which is 130% of the winery's turnover," the cooperative's lawyer explained to the newspaper La Dépêche.
On the same day, it was unanimously decided to appeal to the commercial court. The judicial process is intended to enable the cooperative to pay off its current debts and save the winery. "The winemakers must be able to survive this," the lawyer stated. "Some grapegrowers are on the verge of an emotional breakdown as they are also creditors of the winery."
Additionally, the cooperative is involved in a labor court case. The former managing director, who was dismissed at the beginning of 2024, is claiming €490,000. The former chairman is also demanding more than €100,000 in connection with his dismissal.
