New turn of the screw in the Pays de Savoie. The prefecture of Haute-Savoie has decided to cancel the fireworks shows for the end of the year celebrations. Ditto for the prefecture of Savoy. An incomprehensible decision for pyrotechnics companies only a few days from the deadlines and a complicated summer to manage because of the Covid-19.
“The end of the year? That’s 45% of our annual turnover”
In Menthon-Saint-Bernard in Haute-Savoie, the fireworks company Euro-Distribution has just lost about fifteen fireworks. It organizes fires in the ski resorts of the Pays de Savoie such as Tignes, Courchevel, or even Val d’Isère. While everything was ready, we have to go back, Jean-Paul Zadina, the technical director, is disillusioned.
“We are storing powder! Not carrots! As a result, when you are told that you have 10, 15 or 20 fires that do not happen, you will still think that you are totally illegal to store powder like that. You have to get in touch with the suppliers. The powder must be repatriated, which will inevitably generate an additional cost. All of our staff have been hired. Some have asked their bosses for days to work on the side since they are specialized people who have a shooting certificate and they thought they had the possibility of earning more money. It will be necessary to consider that our loss of turnover will be reflected on the fireworks companies which are on the various departments which have this penalty. “