Bad News : Kanabeach, Death of Fred Alegoët, creator of the Btittany surfwear brand

Fred Alegoët died on Friday at the age of 51. He was the figurehead of Kanabeach, Brittany first brand to have imposed on the surfwear market.

The company was based in Kanabeach Plouzané in Finistere.

Fred Alegoët "man of courage and duty," according to a close, was swept away by the disease.

Created by a group of friends surfers

The story begins in 1985 Kanabeach. A bunch of buddies surfers decided to create their own T-shirts. Screen printing by hand is gradually giving way to professional. Kanabeach becomes a real business.

Until 2011, all smiles, Kanabeach, opening stores across the French Atlantic coast, but also in Strasbourg, Marseille or Paris.

A climb that will unfortunately also the loss of the company. Like other brands of surfwear, Kanabeach takes the brunt of the crisis.

The crisis is hitting Kanabeach

Kanabeach has developed very expensive real estate purchase prices and Banks refuse to follow.

The number of employees was 150 in 2011, continues to decline. The company was placed in receivership in March 2012.

Two partners, potential buyers, occur, but they will not be followed by the Commercial Court of Brest, which puts an end to the history Kanabeach in March 2013.

"A great business leader"

Alexis Bernard, one of the potential buyers, was saddened by the death of Fred Alegoët, this "great creator and entrepreneur," he said. "All the time I knew him, Fred took to heart to try to save the company and the job," he recalls.

Alexis Bernard welcomes "the man of courage and duty"

Source Original french Language www.ouest-france.fr