ROMILLY, France – Further news following last week’s dismissal of Vincent Mathieu, GM of Cycleurope in France, is that the problems are caused by a drop in orders from Supermarkets and Decathlon. Rumours are now rising on one of the most prestigious brands in the Cycleurope portfolio: Bianchi. The Italian brand may be sold. Another important European bicycle holding is rumoured to be interested.
The drop in orders from Supermarkets and Decathlon being the main cause for the current problems at Cycleurope, was said by Maurice Jacobs MD of Cycleurope Benelux. He said: “The loss of such customers is hard to absorb. It is also the main reason for much too high overhead costs at Cycleurope France that is a heritage from the heydays of Cycles Peugeot. In the Benelux countries we successfully replaced the Peugeot brand for Puch. On Peugeot’s home market it proved to be much harder. As Cycleurope Benelux, we are doing better than ever before with a 2006 sales of about 50,000 units covering the Puch, Gitane en Bianchi brands. Next to that success, we have had never before such high level of 2007 orders.”
On the rumours concerning Bianchi, Jacobs had little to say: “I also hear such talk, but can not tell you anything on this. However, it would be naïve to think that the sale of Bianchi is out of the question.”
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