A French furniture and home décor retailer, has been placed under court-ordered administration on 20 November, five years after its initial filing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Marseille Commercial Court has granted the company a six-month observation period to find one or more buyers, as previous restructuring efforts, including the integration of Zôdio stores, failed to restore profitability.
© Alinea | Dreamstime
Founded in Avignon in 1989, Alinea operates 36 stores and employs 1,200 staff. In 2024, the company reported a net loss of €47 million on revenues of around €162 million, falling short of the targets set in its 2023 transformation plan. Following the 2020 receivership, Alinea was acquired by its former shareholders, resulting in the closure of 17 stores and the elimination of approximately 1,000 jobs.
The 2023 strategy involved rebranding around 20 Zôdio stores under the Alinea banner, but these integrations reportedly underperformed due to inexperience in furniture sales. Employee representatives have expressed concern over a potential partial takeover, which could leave some stores outside the scope of any buyer.
Management remains bound by confidentiality but hopes to secure one or more buyers to ensure the company's continued operation. The latest receivership highlights ongoing challenges in the French furniture retail market and the difficulty of achieving sustainable recovery for legacy brands.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr
