Cookware manufacturer Supor Group to lay off 7%, citing improved efficiency from AI

The company stated that the new recovery plan will impact up to 2,100 positions globally.

Groupe SEB, the manufacturer of Tefal cookware, announced it will cut nearly 7% of its workforce. This French home appliance manufacturer is leveraging artificial intelligence for a major strategic restructuring to drive business recovery.

As of the end of 2024, the company has approximately 31,000 employees. Groupe SEB said its new recovery plan will affect up to 2,100 positions worldwide, with about 1,400 positions in Europe. In France, 500 positions may be reduced through voluntary departures.

Groupe SEB stated on Wednesday that the new business transformation plan includes the application of artificial intelligence, accelerating product time-to-market, and boosting online sales through digital marketing. The related adjustments will mainly be implemented in 2026, with planned expenditures scheduled for 2027.

The company’s goal is to achieve annual cost savings of approximately 200 million euros (about 235.5 million US dollars) by the end of 2027.

“Our environment is undergoing profound changes, which will further intensify in 2025,” the company stated.

Groupe SEB announced that its sales in 2025 are expected to grow slightly by 0.3% year-over-year (on a comparable basis), reaching 8.17 billion euros; operating profit is expected to decline by 25% year-over-year, to 601 million euros. The company said profitability declined significantly, reflecting a challenging year of operations.

Editor: Guo Mingyu