Prodibio Enters Liquidation
French aquarium bacteria manufacturer Prodibio has been put into liquidation by a commercial court in Marseille. Prodibio CEO Nicolas Tiliacos announced on LinkedIn that after 27 years, the company is finding it difficult to compete.
“After more than 27 years of commitment, innovation and passion in the field of aquarium products, Prodibio is coming to the end of a cycle. Indeed, in the wake of the many global and economic crises of recent years, our company is now finding it difficult to complete the recovery plan it began 2 years ago. This is why the Marseille Commercial Court has just decided to put the company into liquidation.”
“Although this decision may seem difficult, it marks the end of an adventure, but it is also a turning point that brings hope and renewal. Like the Phoenix, which finds its strength in the ashes of its past only to be reborn stronger and more resilient, Prodibio’s DNA is made up of this ability to reinvent itself and transform challenges into opportunities.”
“Like the Phoenix, Prodibio will be back soon!”
Phoenix
The Phoenix analogy is an unfortunate choice of words, as for Mr Tiliacos it may mean hope, renewal and rebirth for Prodibio in the future, but here in Britain, GOV.UK lists a Phoenix Company as: “Phoenixing, or phoenixism, are terms used to describe the practice of carrying on the same business or trade successively through a series of companies where each becomes insolvent (cannot pay their debts) in turn.”
“Each time this happens, the insolvent company’s business, but not its debts, is transferred to a new, similar ‘phoenix’ company. The insolvent company then ceases to trade and might enter into formal insolvency proceedings (liquidation, administration or administrative receivership) or be dissolved.”
Prodibio found notoriety in reefkeeping over 15 years ago when its Biodigest and Bioptim products were used extensively by those using probiotics for the first time and seeking to control nutrients with bacteria and carbon dosing. I don’t doubt the efficacy of the product but in testing, I found the unique snap-open glass ampoules finicky and unnecessary, as well as the dosing method which back then was one full ampoule for 400 litres of aquarium water. I asked them what to do if I had a smaller tank and they said to stand the unused part full vial in a potato and store it in the fridge. The dosage recommendations have now changed, I realise the advantages of glass storage, but at the time it was not consumer-friendly.
I thought then that the delivery method would stand in the way of what may be an otherwise excellent product, and after using dozens of other bacterial supplements before and after, I still stand by that today. Prodibio has also had several UK distributors since then.
Prodibio did diversify in recent years with soil and substrate for the aquascaping community, as well as more fresh and saltwater products, but it appears they could not compete, even in the growing aquarium bacteria market.
If you’re an aquatic company wanting to hit the ground running with proven bacterial recipes and a ready-made manufacturing plant – it may be worth getting in touch with the commercial court in Marseille. But despite many attempts at rejuvenation, if it ever comes back, I think the ampoules have to go.
