Pandora and Breitling latest brands caught up in French riots
These developments
follow last week's reports of luxury brands, including Dior, Celine, Hermès,
Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent, being targeted by looters during
demonstrations across several French cities.
Pandora has confirmed
that three of its stores – two in Paris and one in Lyon – were vandalised and
looted during the unrest. All three locations remain closed, and the company
has implemented additional security measures, including boarding up windows and
temporarily closing stores, to protect its premises and employees.
Breitling CEO Georges
Kern has told reporters the Swiss watchmaker is prepared to close its stores if
further demonstrations threaten staff and property.
These incidents
highlight the increasing challenges facing jewellery and watch retailers as the
protests continue to disrupt commercial activity. Previous reports also raised
concerns that stolen luxury merchandise has entered resale platforms and black markets,
further complicating the industry's efforts to verify product authenticity and
provenance.
The French Chamber of
Commerce estimates that 2,400 stores have been damaged nationwide, with losses
to retailers exceeding €1 billion. With further demonstrations planned for 31
October and 5 November, retailers are facing continued uncertainty, particularly
as November and December typically account for around 40 per cent of France's
annual retail turnover.
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