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The oldest shoe factory in France is about to put an end to its history, after 271 years of existence. On December 31, the Marco company will definitively close its doors. A hard blow for the employees and the inhabitants of the municipality of Pont-de-l’Arche.
In Pont-de-l’Arche (Eure), Marco shoes are an institution. The factory, the oldest in the country, has been wearing shoes for the French since 1750. The factory will close its doors at the end of December, and liquidate its stocks. For the inhabitants, it is heartbreaking. “It’s especially a shame to see a company like that close, frankly. The know-how will be lost, the beautiful will be lost”, deplores a client.
The machines are already completely at a standstill. With a drop of 600,000 euros in turnover in 2020, due in particular to the health crisis, the director decided to cease the activity. The rise in the price of raw materials was also decisive. “We sell them for 50 euros, that’s the price of the skin on the shoe. People have to be aware of it”, explains Viviane Tassel, general manager of Marco shoes. The State is committed to helping the reclassification of all 25 employees.