EMCC case studies - Facing the challenges of a globalised market: Louis de Poortere

Louis de Poortere is a Belgian textiles company established in the 1920s, specialising in the manufacture of high-quality carpets for the international market. For many years, it was among the largest employers in the Belgian textiles sector, with approximately 3,000 employees in the 1970s. Mirroring the challenges facing the entire EU textiles sector over the past 20 years, Louis de Poortere has experienced difficulties linked to market liberalisation, globalisation and other factors impacting on the sector. The company had tried to adapt to new market conditions by divesting some of the less profitable parts of its business; despite these efforts, however, the company was declared bankrupt in August 2000.