Duc CEO Joel Marchand resigns
An emergency meeting of the French company’s board of directors was held late in the day on Friday 30 September, as Joel Marchand informed the board he would step down on 16 December.
Duc (pronounced Duke) said its current industrial director, Damien Calandre, will succeed Marchand as CEO of the business on a permanent basis from 16 December 2016.
In the interim period, Calandre will work alongside Marchand to carry out the day-to-day operational management of the French poultry producer.
Steadying the ship
The board has made it clear that its strategy remains unchanged, despite the unexpected resignation of Marchand. This was reiterated by a Duc spokesperson, who told this site: “Damien Calandre, will work with the executive committee in place, and he has insisted that the strategy of Duc remains unchanged, as the various deadlines will be held and all the ongoing projects will be conducted.”
Duc claims to be one of Europe’s leading poultry producers. The business is involved in the production, slaughter, processing, packaging and marketing of chicken. The business is based in Chailley, Burgundy, and operates four production facilities in France, as well as one meat factory in Bulgaria.
Duc has been under pressure this year as the business reported a 6.9% decline in sales for the second quarter of 2016 to 30 June. Unaudited revenue for the same period was €85m, down 7.19% when compared to the same period of 2015. Duc’s misfortune is down to the repercussions of a massive avian influenza virus in France, which saw key export markets, such as China and South Africa, suspend French chicken imports. This, coupled with a 1.7% decline in national poultry consumption has seen the business face strong pressure on sales and profit.
