The company Gréement Import in liquidation
The economic crisis linked to the consequences of containment is taking its first victims in the boating sector. The closure of hardware stores and the slowdown in shipyards have taken the upper hand over the yachting equipment distributor Gréement Import. We were unable to reach the management of the company based in Saint-Herblain in the suburbs of Nantes, but the message on their answering machine is without appeal: "The health crisis has got the better of Gréement Import. As a result, the company is in liquidation."
More than 25 years of distribution in the boating industry
Founded in 1994 by Brendan Boju, the company changed directors in September 2017. Kevin Troale, who had been with the company since 2008, took over the management of the 7-employee team. In France, the company distributed well-known brands such as Reckmann, Ronstan, Easylock and Clamcleat, Andersen winches for fittings, Gori folding propellers and Jefa steering systems. As a partner of offshore racing and light sailing skippers, Gréement Import celebrated the 25th anniversary of the brand at the Nautic 2019. Although liquidation is now underway, it is to be hoped that technical and commercial solutions will be found to continue the distribution of these brands in France.
While the Alliance Marine group, owner of VDM Reya, SEIMI, Kent Marine, Plastimo and Accastillage Diffusion, is a heavyweight in distribution for the nautical sector, the rest of the sector is fragmented between smaller companies, such as Interdist or Tecmar. The disappearance of Gréement Import underlines the potential fragility of these medium-sized players in the face of the difficult economic situation.
