SAVONNERIE DE L'ATLANTIQUE

The Savonnerie de l'Atlantique is the ultimate heir to the Nantes soap-making tradition. Its manufacturing methods are based on the ancestral know-how of Marseille's master soap makers. In 2012, its product range was certified as Guaranteed Origin France.

History. The Rezé site was built in 1947 and specializes in the manufacture of solid soaps using the Marseille soap process. Since 1991, following the takeover of the "Persavon" brand by the Bernard family, its activity has grown strongly with the manufacture and marketing not only of solid soaps for the toilet and household, but also of shower gels, washing creams and cleaning products for delicate laundry. On February ¹, 2006, the company "Savonnerie et Parfumerie Bernard" became "Savonnerie de l'Atlantique", and established itself in Rezé at 1, rue des Chevaliers. It has repositioned its activity on the site's historical core business, namely the manufacture and production of "hard" soap, a traditional soap, from Marseille soap to dermatological soap. This activity is mainly carried out as a subcontractor for supermarkets and other companies with their own brands. The Atlantic Soapery has also positioned itself on an intermediate activity, namely the marketing of basic soap in the form of "bouillons" packaged in bags or "big bags". Bondillons are intended for industrial units that only package soap and do not integrate into their industrial scheme the very "synthesis" of the chemical molecule vulgarly called soap (sodium salt of naturally occurring fatty acid). In October 2008, Savonnerie de l'Atlantique launched its own brands: Cigale Bio, La Cigale and Superclair.

The products. In addition to its "hard" soaps, the Savonnerie de l'Atlantique produces liquid soap.

Employment. Fifty employees, including five master soap makers, for a turnover of 11.3 million euros, 32% of which was generated from exports, according to the latest figures available.