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Children dressed in suits and ties at the controls of a gelatin factory teddy, preparing delivery giant Haribo sweets. This is the wildest dream of any toddler … To swallow his delicacies across the Atlantic, Europe's leading confectionery, world No. 8, put the package. Its first national advertising campaign is currently broadcast on several cable channels (Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network). Millions of samples are distributed from New York to Los Angeles. And a Facebook page was launched.

Installed in the U.S. since the 1980s, Haribo now want to throttle. "The United States is the world's largest market in confectionery, says Jean-Philippe Andre, president of Haribo France, which has also taken over the reins of the U.S. subsidiary, based in Baltimore. We realize there are some fifty million dollars in sales, it's nothing compared to the potential of this market. "

Sales of sugar confectionery (candy, lollipops, toffees …) have approached last year $ 10 billion (1.3,%), which over a third for gummies, the specialty of Haribo, according to Euromonitor. With its flagship product, the teddy gel (Gold-Bears), imported from Germany and Spain, the German manufacturer has experienced double digit growth for five years, including more than 20% in 2011.

Officially, it gives a year to see if consumers respond to his seduction operation. In reality, it prepares its weapons against the heavyweights of the category, Twizzlers (Hershey), Starburst and Skittles (Mars). But not only. "In the land of crisps and snacks, we must impose our candy share of stomach," says Jean-Philippe André.

Recycle the classics while modernizing

This is the second step in the internationalization of the group after the Eastern Europe (Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia …) in the 2000s. Born in Germany in 1920, Haribo was first spread in Denmark, France, Spain and Belgium. The company, which weighs about 2 billion euros, exports its candy in 105 countries, Germany remains its largest market. The International is one of the sites and Hans-Guido Riegel Hans-Arndt, nephews and successors Hans Riegel, 89, still in command of the company he founded with his wife in Bonn.

Recipes for success should remain the same. Production is local. In France, the only country where strawberries are sold Tagada and Dragibus, nearly 90% of the candies are manufactured in two factories in the South. And is recycled by modernizing the classics. For proof, since the launch last fall candy spicy Pik. This is the segment that the fastest increase in radius confectionery (13.2%, according to Nielsen).

Challenger is the leading Lutti, Haribo has already captured 16% market share, especially among adolescents, and intends to grow further thanks to Smurf, crocodiles or coke bottles now available spicy declined. "For six years we have a growth of around 5% in France, second largest group, but we still have significant room for improvement," said Jean-Philippe André, whose sales rose by 7, 5% last year to 180 million euros.

Since 2006, he revived the radius to blow promotions, capitalized on the quarantine and delivered Tagada strawberry marks (Tagada Dragibus, marshmallow) on the screen, betting on particular spots in 3D cinema.

Prevail in hotels and sports stores

His roadmap for the future: Haribo impose beyond the supermarket shelves, which represent 80% of sales, use and renew with new formats. Apart from sachets of 50 g generalized for three years, he tested since the beginning of the year a case of three candies (or Tagada Dragibus) to 0.30 euro that can easily slip into his pocket. "The ambition is to be available everywhere, like Coca-Cola, responding to opportunities to use multiple means of specific packaging," says Jean-Philippe André.

After opening two stores in the outlets (Toulouse and Troyes), Haribo is gradually in toy stores (Toys'R'Us, King Jouet), hobby or sport (Intersport). And he intends to push his pawns in the chains of hotels and restaurants. After the strawberries in desserts Tagada Quick Dragibus and coffee served in restaurants in Indiana, Haribo hopes to strengthen its presence in Accor hotels. When will Tagada strawberries on the pillow in arriving at a Novotel?

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The main corn producer associations announced Thursday it had filed an appeal before the Conseil d'Etat against the decree banning the cultivation of GM maize MON, taken in mid-March by the government.

The General Association of Corn Producers (AGPM), the French Union and the Federation of Inter-seed production of maize and sorghum are waiting to use this new invalidation and cancellation of the ministerial order, as was the case last November for the first arrested, they announced in a statement.

March 16, Bruno Le Maire Minister of Agriculture announced a "precautionary measure to temporarily suspend" the cultivation of Monsanto GM maize (MON810) to "protect the environment," saying the decision was made " due to the proximity of the seedlings. " 

The producers feel that the ban "is based on no scientific evidence seriously and corn growers affected by the borer and borer (insect pests of maize, Editor's note) suffer real economic damage."

2013 goal

They also challenge the "misuse or illegal, the precautionary principle has become an ideological principle of inaction."

In late November, the Council of State annulled, after a long legal marathon, the suspension of cultivation of GM maize from Monsanto taken by the French government in February 2008, following the Grenelle Environment & restoration because last September by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. 

On 20 February the government, yielding to pressure from environmental groups and public opinion, had asked once again to the European Commission to suspend the authorization of cultivation of GM maize MON810, on the basis of New scientific studies.

Producers who had considered at first to attack the text referred for the taking-off by mid-June, finally chose a hearing on the merits. "We are now planning the 2013 campaign, says the Figaro, Christopher Land, president of AGPM. Indeed, we want to take time to implement the system of coexistence with non-GM crops, which we had already demonstrated the feasibility in 2007. And as the government contribution e no new scientific fact to justify this second ban, we hope to achieve once again prevail. "

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The "Made in France" is a fashionable theme. And presidential candidates do not hesitate to dress their activists held in the Armor Lux Breton brand to prove their commitment in this area. Only 49% of French, yet are willing to pay more for local products, according to the latest brand Observatory * France, released Thursday by ViaVoice and marketing agency W & Co. Less inclined to protectionism as candidates, they are rather in favor of promoting offensive "skill and performance of French companies abroad." Therefore, they plébiscitent overwhelmingly (87%) creating a "brand France." "The possibility of a recession causes (…) a frantic search for poles of trust under the survival reflex", decrypts Gancel Denis, president of W & Co., in a recent blog note. "The" Brand France "can be leveraged to revitalize our exceptional growth."

As a standard-bearers, the French elect definitely automotive and telecoms! According to the study, 30% of them put Renault at the top of companies that provide the best image of France worldwide. Yet the image that has been severely tarnished by the case of false intelligence which sticks to the skin since late 2010. Still, the manufacturer is the diamond followed by rival PSA Peugeot Citroen (27%) and that, while the year 2011 has not been blazing for French car sales groups. Far enough behind, the phone operator Orange came third (13%) cash till payday advance.

The luxury does not have the side

For 60% of the French industry is one of the "main economic assets" of the country, just behind services (61%). This explains why, after the top three, the companies Bouygues (4th), Total (5th) and EADS / Airbus (6th) are listed among the best ambassadors of France. Strangely, the jewels of French luxury, yet acclaimed abroad, earning a lower "votes". Cited by 8% of respondents, L'Oreal wins seventh, followed by Chanel (8th), LVMH (10th) and Dior (11th). Achieving the same score (6%), EDF slips into this small group, at the ninth position. Finally, distribution and food are a laggard, Carrefour (5%) and Danone (4%) respectively arriving in the 12th and 15th positions. But the big loser in this edition of the Observatory is Areva, which was attended by only 3% of citations this year against 12% last year. The nuclear industry has lost its potential for seduction since the catastrophe of Fukushima there just one year.

(*) Survey conducted from February 22 to 29, 2012 online among a sample of 1001 persons, representative of the French population aged 18 and over.

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How will change employment in France in the second quarter of 2012? A little better than the first quarter 2012 but a little worse than the second quarter 2011, according to the latest Manpower employment outlook released Tuesday.

"For the second quarter 2012, the companies surveyed by Manpower Group in France expect a slight increase in employment opportunities. The net employment stood at 2%, one percentage point increase over the first quarter of 2012, but down one point compared to second quarter 2011, "said the giant temporary employment and recruitment. The general trend is still a huge wait because, for the period between April and June 2012, 88% of employers surveyed do not foresee any changes in their workforce, while only 6% anticipate an increase in their numbers.

These results compare employment opportunities in the world, where the results are generally much more positive. "Employers in 32 of 41 countries and territories surveyed expect to increase their workforce in varying proportions for the second quarter of 2012," says the barometer Manpower.

In Europe, the most optimistic outlook are observed in Turkey (26%), Israel (17%), Romania (13%), Norway (11%), Germany (9%), Sweden (9 %), Slovenia (9%), Bulgaria (8%), Poland (6%) and Austria (6%), Manpower said. In the "Americas", the ten countries studied show a positive net balance in the quarter. This is Brazil, with a positive net balance of 39%, which remains the most optimistic countries in the area. Finally in Asia-Pacific, eight countries in the region show a positive net employment for the second quarter, but on the previous year, the trend is towards degradation since six of the eight countries are reducing their net. According to Manpower, the recruitment programs the most important will be located in India (44%), Taiwan (+31%), China (+21%) and Singapore (20%).

The West and the South of France most dynamic

All French regions are not as dynamic in terms of jobs and recruitment. For Manpower, only employers in South and West show a net positive employment for the second quarter 2012 compared to the first, 7% and 8% respectively. However, the North and the Ile de France display a net negative employment of -3%.

The record is darker on a yearly basis for comparison: three of the five regions studied announce a reduction in employment opportunities, with a decline of 6 points in the East, by 3 points in the Ile-de-France 2 points in the North.

The manufacturing sector will be the less buoyant

To which sectors should be directed to hope to get a job? The Manpower emphasizes that for the second quarter, employers in seven sectors of the ten surveyed anticipate an increase in their numbers. These are public services, hotels and restaurants (3%), transport-logistic (3%) and trade (3%). Conversely, employers in the sector of manufacturing and the extractive industries project a decrease in their numbers. From one year to another, only five out of ten sectors are seeing improvement in their net employment (trade, transport and logistics, utilities, hospitality industries, extractive industries). Manufacturing is the sector with the largest decrease, with -7 points over one year.

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The euro countries should provide in the night the green light to a massive assistance to Athens, to save him once again the bankruptcy assistance, debt forgiveness and contributions combined, Greece will cost more than € 350 billion in twenty months just to the EU, banks and international institutions. As much as the debt that the country continues to grow as Sisyphus his rock.

Assistance discussed Monday in Brussels, amounting to EUR 130 billion, shows more modest ambitions than the first 110 billion plan presented in May 2010 as a panacea. The 2012 version covers the next eight years, but it is far from solving all maturities by then. It does not fill a growing distrust between Greece, is said bled dry, and creditors like Germany believe that it can never do enough.

Demand concessions maximum

In the calendar, the distress of Athens as important as the progress of complex financial dealings with governments, private banks, the IMF and the ECB. Under penalty of default, the government must realize Papademos an agreement with its creditors before March 20, deadline by which 14.5 billion of government bonds mature. "We must conclude today, because time is running out," said President of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Faced with the enormity of the amounts, the sense of urgency is far from being shared in the monetary area. North, capitals such as Berlin, The Hague and Helsinki took advantage of last hours to demand concessions maximum of Athens by suggesting, as the German Wolfgang Schäuble, a Greek bankruptcy would be manageable after all.

To the south, others are alarmed instead of a possible contagion of bankruptcies in Portugal, Spain and even Italy, in the midst of a recession. "We have now all the elements for an agreement," insisted Monday Baroin. Europeans are close to finalizing, but a diplomat added, "they still have to lift the heaviest of ambiguities" in that price, Greece should it stay or not in the euro?

A surrender of sovereignty single

The agreement on the table focused on two issues: the erasure of unprecedented € 100 billion of private debt, agreed in advance by the banks, which must be added to the bailout of at least 130 billion euros financed by creditors. It is on this second effort, called on governments and international institutions, that the real uncertainties remain to be overcome.

Despite the anger of the street, the government is preparing to slash Papademos 3.3 billion in additional government envelopes, like Medicare, minimum wage and defense. "The Greek people have made considerable efforts, it is now for others to do the same," assured his arrival a Christine Lagarde yet mindful of the IMF funds.

Politically, Athens refuses any loud and European tutelage and just show the vitriolic exchanges with Berlin. But in practice, Greece seemed about to make a single surrender of sovereignty: the establishment of a budget account blocked, intended to guarantee the repayment of debt and interest payments. The mechanism, suggested as a sign of confidence by Berlin and Paris, is to serve the foreign creditors before committing a penny of national public expenditure.

Even if Athens managed to get unparalleled support that night, he will probably remain the Greeks the bitter taste of a potion imposed from outside

. Aid to Greece (public and private since May 2010)

110 billion euros. Amount of the first rescue plan EU-IMF.

€ 130 billion. Amount of the second rescue plan EU-IMF.

100 billion euros. Amount of Greek debt erased by the private sector.

12 billion euros. Realized capital gains on government debt which should give the ECB the benefit of Greece.

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Skills transfer will take place earlier than expected at the head of Canal +. By the beginning of 2013, Rodolphe Belmer, now deputy director general in charge of the publishing division, will replace Mr. Meheut operational as president of Canal +. According latribune.fr, the television group would prepare the encrypted handover, while the current president's mandate runs until 31 December 2014. This plan would have been endorsed by Jean-Rene Fourtou, almighty man of Vivendi, parent company of Canal +.

Bertrand Meheut, who took the head of Canal + in complete disarray in 2003, has restated the financial statements and the group's image in recent years. If it passes control to Rodolphe Belmer, who seconds since 2003, Bertrand Meheut keep one foot in the house as President nonoperational. An unusual transaction in the media world where the big bosses tend to devour their children to organize their succession.

In fact, Rodolphe Belmer is already one that drives the progress of Canal + to define whether the strategy or make appointments. He is the architect of the historic change that the group is trying to achieve by establishing a presence in the market for free TV. Against the initial notice of Mr. Meheut, Canal + has led to develop the draft Canal20 free channel. Then in the summer of 2011, he contributed to the redemption of DTT channels free of Bolloré, Direct 8 Direct Star, proving its ability to convince its president.

Ramp-up

This strategy is more widely in the conviction of Rodolphe Belmer that the future of television will belong to those capable of building strong and clean content. They must guarantee the autonomy and the attractiveness of the audiovisual group.

Rodolphe Belmer also imposed the idea that in matters of pay, it could not be any offers low cost. A position which today is reflected in the decision to close the Canal + TPS Star channel on the DTT present and whose financial losses amounting to millions of euros.

But the rise of those who arrived as number two of the group in 2003, at the height of the storm, was also illustrated by the process of appointments within the group during the summer. Wishing to renew and rejuvenate frames, Rodolphe Belmer organized the transition i-TV, the news channel group with the appointment to head one of his relatives, Cécilia Ragueneau. It also decided the appointment of Peter Fraidenraich, former head of i-TV, at the head of sports rights acquisitions.

Finally, there is barely a fortnight, Rodolphe Belmer has redesigned the organization of the group by naming the head of a center of free TV Aprikian Ara, and poaching of BETC Euro RSCG Raphaël de Andreis, now supports of pay-TV operations.

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The example of Greece who was indebted beyond measure in 2004 to host the Olympics in Athens he served as a warning. The doubling of costs that will have to consent to become London Olympic capital from July 27 to August 12 this year has reinforced his belief.

Mario Monti decided Tuesday not to proceed to Rome's candidacy to host the Olympics in 2020. He had until today to file it with the IOC in Lausanne. The President of the Council considered "irresponsible" to engage in an adventure that no one could control costs. The State should guarantee 4.7 billion euros of public funds.

Mario Monti said he made the decision and only "reluctantly". Regardless of the strong pressure of industrial lobbies, political parties and the Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno. To the President of Confindustria Emma Marcegaglia, these Games were a "unique opportunity", a "wheel of growth to boost investments" in decline.

According to the research department of business, foreign investments in Italy decreased from last year … 53% compared to 2010. Mario Monti told him so incisively: "the government had to ask for sacrifices very important to Italians. Now that the immediate danger seems to recede, we do not feel ready to assume a financial commitment that could encumber the public accounts in unpredictable ways in the coming years. "

This decision comes after Moody's downgraded in turn has the Italian note citing the lack of creditworthiness of its debt. Yet Rome was given as a favorite by bookmakers in London.

Soon he had to go quickly to complete this negotiation in the long term. Wednesday night, the State, the Deposit and Consignment Office (CDC), La Banque Postale (LBP) and Dexia have agreed on a "summary of conclusions" laying the foundation for a new local bank. The bodies of public institutions and Dexia must approve the scheme this Thursday – the Supervisory Board of CDC did on Wednesday night – to allow the President of the Republic to announce the creation of local associations it meets Friday. Pending the effective launching of this new bank, savings funds from the CDC will make available to local public sector, including hospitals, a budget of 3 to 5 billion euros.

In mind, this is to ensure the handover between Dexia Credit Local (DCL), a subsidiary of Dexia in difficulties and the first player in France's local government finance, and La Banque Postale, led to his entering this profession abandoned by private banks. In fact, this transfer goes through a montage of rare complexity. Moreover, it is not a new bank that will be born, but two!

Entry of the state in the loop

The assembly established by the Commissioner Rene Ricol investment, initially, and then finalized by Jean-Paul Redouin, Deputy Governor of the Bank of France, goes into effect by the creation of two banks: d On one side, which means a company will finance new production, on the other, a commercial company that will distribute loans to local authorities. To prime the pump, the CDC will make cash available to the joint venture.

The company will be owned means on one side by a holding company for the State (31.7%), CDC (31.7%) and LBP (4.9%) and the other by DCL (31, 7%). According to the agreements, LBP will aim to return from DCL, under certain conditions, by 2020. This means company will own 100% of DexMa (Dexia MA), the refinancing vehicle with MCI.

Accordance with the agreements of October, DexMa, bringing 75 billion euros in credits, will be redeemed at a price of DCL to 380 million euros. However, the CDC advised by Lazard and JP Morgan, who fought to review the terms of the transaction in terms of degradation of the euro area since the fall, won a provision to review the prices of within three years. She also gained entry to the State in the loop, which was not envisaged in the scheme in October.

This company will provide the means and the back office and the refinancing of the commercial joint venture LBP (65%) and CDC (35%) who will distribute the new loans. The joint venture will remunerate its counterpart on a package of 15 basis points. If the bill is higher, will be paid by MCI.

For its part, the subsidiary of Dexia will continue to manage so-called toxic loans granted to local elected before 2008. According to the scheme proposed by Rene Ricol, DCL will continue its core activities, short-term loans, leasing or insurance. Finally, LBP and the CDC will also direct some trades in the direction of joint venture companies.

The European Commission, the last obstacle

If the outline were arrested, it is clear that the device is not fully seated. The discussions will continue with LBP – pivot of the organization even if it is a small shareholder of the company means – to define the borders between these entities both partners and competitors: in short, what really makes for that. The fate of 1,350 employees of DCL is not set. Society means and the joint venture is expected to resume commercial teams, but nobody knows yet how much. Finally, the last obstacle and not least, the European Commission.

According to several sources, Brussels, which must approve state aid granted to Dexia by the end of March, was expressed last weekend. The Competition Directorate has written very dry emphasizing how it would be vigilant on this new scheme. Some consider unlikely that DCL is allowed to continue its core activities in light of 90 billion euros of guarantees given by France, Belgium and Luxembourg with Dexia.

The French plan also raises a new obstacle. Indeed, is the nationalization of DexMa results in a decrease in its cost of issuance, and this is probably the result of state aid. Or changes in capital does not change because the tool – as the CDC calls since the beginning – is discredited: and then this whole gas plant will be worth nothing.

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The premium for 3000 euros deployed in April 2009 for hiring a permanent contract of a trainee will ultimately resulted in the recruitment of 7245 young people in just over a year. This result, communicated by the Department of Employment, is seven times lower than the initial target of 50,000 hires.

The measure, which was included in the contingency plan for youth employment, will have cost 20 million euros to the state, against 150 million budgeted.

September 2009 has concentrated 42% of new recruits, the vast majority occurring during the summer period due to the completion of courses at study students. Nearly 5,200 companies have benefited from this device, particularly in services (legal activities, architecture, engineering, computer …) that concentrated more than half of the hires made. Conversely, the hotels and restaurants accounted for only 1% of contracts signed. Beneficiaries aged 23 or 24 years, had long been in higher education: 85% had a BA + 3. They were recruited, mostly, after a period of over six months. More than one in two has been hired as executive status.

As for the geographical distribution of recruitments, nearly 43% were made in Ile-de-France, the only region with Rhone-Alpes to be exceeded (by far) the threshold of 400 hires. Conversely, Corsica … has signed only six contracts.

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From our special correspondent in Toulon

Spirit of Toulon, are you there? Pending the arrival of the president, we could see a backdrop composed of a large red white blue rectangle surrounded by two rings of gold stars, the emblem of Europe. One way to summarize the message of the President Thursday night: a France supreme in all European refounded. Thursday, Nicolas Sarkozy has said little about the rebuilding of capitalism, the first theme of the speech of Toulon in 2008. This is the rebuilding of Europe was in the spotlight. The head of state wanted to show that France will not return "control of his destiny" after the shock of the crisis, as the fight against deficits and European solidarity.

To reconnect with "trust" and to dispel the "fear", look "face the truth," Sarkozy warned payday loan lenders. This truth, he said, is that of a "new cycle".He reiterated the importance of principles such as non-replacement of an officer and two indicated that they could no longer keep "the same organization of our social protection", or the same "system of work sharing." He preferred to announce a "social summit" in January on these topics.

Allusions to presidential

Another word carefully avoided, that of "federalism." The purpose of the speech was well Toulon to reaffirm the principle of national sovereignty by avoiding the risk of isolation. "We will not control our destiny alone," hammered Nicolas Sarkozy.