The week in business: 15 August
Unions protest against IKEA's transport methods, Cantillon brewery invests in new storage building in the capital and an overview of the rest of the week's business news
Retail – Ikea
According to the unions, Ikea uses mainly Eastern European drivers who are offered less pay and worse conditions. The company said it had no special arrangements regarding the nationality of its drivers but insisted all were acting within the law.
Beverages – Creve Drinks
The drinks distributor, based in Waarschoot, East Flanders, paid some €15 million in an agreement with the tax authorities to avoid prosecution for false invoicing. The company was accused of delivering beer without invoices and pocketing the VAT due. The deal also involved a settlement by seven executives with the prosecutor’s office for an undisclosed sum. The company’s operations have since been broken up and sold to AB InBev.
Brewing – Cantillon
Cantillon, one of only two breweries in the Brussels-Capital Region, has invested €500,000 in a new storage building, allowing the brewer to double production. Cantillon brews lambic beer, which needs to mature for up to two years before bottling. The new premises will allow the company to cope with a huge export demand.
Human resources – Yacht
As many as 88% of bosses would reorganise their executive team if obstacles to firing staff were removed, according to a poll by human resources consultants Yacht, part of Randstad. The company said the figures showed a fundamental mismatch caused by a lack of vision on the part of companies, with negative economic consequences.
Tobacco – Verellen
The cigar maker, based in Wuustwezel, Antwerp province, has been bought by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group from Denmark for an undisclosed sum. Verellen, one of the last independent tobacco companies in the country, makes Gold cigars and last year turned a €4 million profit.
Transport – NMBS
The new Desirio trains ordered by the rail authority NMBS from German manufacturer Siemens are breaking down an average of every 8,000km, rail boss Jo Cornu admitted in an interview with Knack magazine. By comparison, the average distance covered by a standard train between breakdowns is 30,000km. Some of the 305 trains ordered are intended for use on the future Brussels regional express network.
Photo courtesy Arch&Teco
