At a meeting of the group management, works council and unions on 12 Oct/04, Arc International detailed measures to halt the decline which saw the French tableware manufacturer and distributer post the first loss in its history in 2003, with another loss expected for 2004. The group cited competition from manufacturers in lower cost countries, the current EUR/USD rate as well as the overall decrease in the lead crystal market as factors in the decline. At the meeting Arc said that to combat the massive influx of products manufactured in lower cost countries, the group must now move its production units closer to markets and so protect the group from currency rate fluctuations. This industrial rebalancing plan requires the growth of the production facilities the group posess in China and the UAE. Management stated its commitment to keeping production activity in Arques.
