The American cosmetics and perfumery group Coty has proposed eliminating 155 jobs out of the approximately 200 it maintains in France, according to union sources cited by the AFP agency. The company has confirmed that it is studying a reorganization of its operations in the country, although it has not publicly validated the layoff figures communicated by worker representatives.
According to the CGT and CFDT unions, the plan would affect 155 positions, three of which are currently vacant, which would mean up to 152 layoffs, as published by Fashion Network. Among the potentially affected positions are about a hundred linked to sales in large stores, according to information provided by the CGT. Currently, Coty has around 200 employees in France. Approximately one hundred perform marketing, commercial, and supply chain functions from Paris, while another 50 hold commercial and promotional positions on the ground.
A new chapter in Coty's strategic transformation
The restructuring in France is part of the transformation process that Coty began in 2025 to review its brand portfolio and strengthen its position in the fragrance market. In September of that year, the group announced a strategic review of its mass-market cosmetics division and its operations in Brazil, with the aim of evaluating its structure and business opportunities.
This review came after the company had already anticipated a global reorganization program that could affect some 700 jobs. Among the group's strategic priorities was to simplify its organizational structure and concentrate resources in areas with the greatest growth potential. In this context, mass-market cosmetic brands, including Rimmel and Bourjois, are under review. French union representatives have expressed concern about the possibility that the staff cuts are related to future corporate operations involving these brands, although Coty has not confirmed any intention to sell.
A plan pending negotiation
The reorganization proposal must be developed in accordance with French labor law. Employee representatives expect to obtain more information about its scope and conditions at a meeting scheduled for the end of November. Meanwhile, unions are considering calling a rally in front of the group's headquarters in Paris.
The announcement also comes just days after Coty reported its results for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2026/2027, from July to September. During this period, the group recorded a profit of 106 million dollars, 64% more than in the same period of the previous year, driven by demand in its main markets and the sale of a license. The evolution of its structure in France thus constitutes a new movement within the strategy of simplification and business redefinition that Coty is carrying out internationally.