2023-06-26 12:24:03
“For a municipality of 2,000 inhabitants, hosting such a project is huge! It is a marker of its dynamism! Luc Milliat, mayor of Boigny-sur-Bionne (Loiret) and delegate for economic development at the Métropole d’Orléans, does not hide his enthusiasm this Thursday, June 9, during the laying of the first stone of the future workshops of the vinegar factory Orleans, Martin-Pouret. Established since 1797 rue du Faubourg Bannier in Fleury-les-Aubrais, the famous vinegar factory is preparing its move, scheduled for August 2024.
For the partners, Paul-Olivier Claudepierre and David Matheron, who bought the vinegar factory in 2019, this new workshop represents the “marriage between tradition and modernity”, with the wish “to open the doors wide for tourists to visit and discover the secrets of how vinegar is made”. With a surface area of 4,844 m² on a plot of 10 hectares, this new facility represents a turning point in the history of this large house which has a workforce of 20 people including two master vinegar makers.
The current building has survived the centuries and has remained in its original state. Because its renovation was not possible, a new site had to be designed, with a more suitable logistics flow. “We developed this project taking into account production constraints and the moving process. Vinegar is a very aggressive product, an important parameter for the design of the building”, specifies Léa Aubry, regional director of the company Build’ing, company in charge of the creation of the new workshop.
Paul-Olivier Claudepierre and David Matheron are counting on this “turning page” to give new impetus to their flourishing business. Within five years, they hope to be able to triple production, while preserving a traditional manufacturing method: “In 2022, we achieved a turnover of 4.6 million euros in turnover. It was 1.9 million when we took it over and we aim to reach 10 million within 5 years! »
A delicate move, to say the least, since the barrels will have to be transported without altering the bacteria that allow the production of the precious nectar. “We have to reproduce the same environment. For this, we are accompanied by specialized oenologists and, of course, by our master vinegar makers”, specifies Paul-Olivier Claudepierre. There are also the tuns, giant oak barrels from 200 to 5000 liters to move. To do this, the shock duo have planned everything, in particular the dismantling of the walls of the current site, property of the Martin family, which still holds 10% of the shares of the company, destined to be completely destroyed to make way for a project. real estate.
“This house which has stood the test of time does not belong to us! This is the heritage of the people of Orleans”, insist the partners, who are pleased to have awakened “this sleeping beauty” which, moreover, obtained, last May, the SME + label for its CSR commitments. Indeed, the new bosses take particular care to promote short circuits. The vinegar is produced exclusively from French red wines and white wines from the Centre-Val de Loire. Gherkins and mustard seeds are produced in Pithiviers. “Today, we work with seven producers on 70 ha. We could reach 300 ha, still in the Pithiverais, enthuses David Matheron. Our goal is to create an agricultural sector of mustard in Centre-Val de Loire! »
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