FEEDING PEOPLE SUSTAINABLY
Avril's contribution to better nutrition for mankind begins with the processing of rapeseed and sunflower seeds, when the vegetable oil and the oilcake for animal feed are extracted from the seed. The Group capitalizes on this expertise thanks to an integrated organization and a presence upstream in the value chain. This expertise enables Avril to offer a safe and traceable food product, produced with respect for the environment and those who contribute to it.
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N°1
On the edible oil market in France
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78.4
Millions people worldwide consume the Group's edible oils
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149
References in supermarkets in France for Lesieur oils alone
FROM SEED TO OIL, THANKS TO CRUSHING
Avril is organized in sectors and thus controls every stage of edible oil production, from purchasing raw materials to extraction and bottling.
Once collected, the rapeseed and sunflower seeds are crushed on-site by Avril subsidiaries in France (Saipol), Romania (Expur) and Morocco (Lesieur Cristal). They are crushed and pressed to extract the oil. The solid part of the seed, made up of fibers and proteins, called meal, is used for animal nutrition, among other uses.
PLANT-BASED PROTEINS AND LEGUMES
With the acquisition in 2022 of Vivien Paille, a leading brand producing legume, mixed grain, and rice, and the takeover of Vegini, an Austrian company that develops, produces and markets a range of meat substitutes based on pea proteins, Avril is developing its presence in healthy and sustainable plant-based consumer products.
Subsidiaries involved in this activity:
FROM OIL TO PLATE WITH RECOGNIZED BRANDS
Thanks to its presence throughout the chain, from upstream to downstream, Avril is a leader in table oils in France, Romania and Morocco, with a portfolio of strong brands:
- ISIO 4, the first combined oil offering a significant intake of omega 3
- Puget brand olive oils
- Soléou and Guénard from Compagnie des Saveurs
- Bunica, leading brand in Romania
- Magdor, margarine by Lesieur Cristal, voted product of the year 2021 by Moroccan consumers.
- Costa d’Oro, Italian leader in top-quality olive oil production and distribution, bought by Avril in 2018
Avril is also a player in the sauces market:
- in France with the Italian gastronomy start-up, specialized in the manufacture of premium food products Eccelenza Italiana,
- in Algeria via GECO, with its partner Djadi, the historical importer of Lesieur mayonnaise in Algeria.
Through these brands, Avril commits and innovates to meet consumer demands:
- Traceability: With “L’Italiano” by Costa d’Oro, the first extra virgin olive made 100% in Italy, 100% traceable in every aspect: period of olive harvesting and pressing, origin of production of the varieties, location of the oil mills.
- Organic: With the 100% French organic virgin rapeseed oil, launched by Lesieur in 2021. An oil made from French rapeseed grown in the greatest respect of organic production methods and crushed on the new site of Oleosyn Bio, located in the department Deux-Sèvres
- Safe supplies: Avril works with farmers based on precise specifications and sustainable and qualitative production methods. Lesieur Fleur de Colza, is one such example, which is an oil made from seeds grown by 500 French farmers.
Subsidiaries involved in this activity:
STRUCTURE A LOCAL SECTOR ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT WITH LESIEUR CRISTAL
International development is a major growth lever for the Group.
At the beginning of 2021, Avril entrusted Lesieur Cristal with all of its activities in the consumer goods sector, where it is already the leader in Morocco (edible oils, condiments, soap).
Lesieur Cristal now also manages Oleosen, a major player in table oils in Senegal, and Cristal Tunisie, which sells a wide range of table oils and condiments in Tunisia.
Avril also entrusted Lesieur Cristal with the license to operate the Group’s brand portfolio: Lesieur table oils and condiments, Puget olive oil, as well as its business capital on the entire African continent.
DEVELOP RAPESEED PROTEIN FOR HUMAN FOOD: A GLOBAL INNOVATION
Avril and Dutch group DSM united their expertise for a world first: produce a rapeseed protein with high nutritional quality, CanolaPRO™, for the food market, via a joint company, Olatein.
To make this ambition a reality, Avril is also positioned upstream, with Prolein, thanks to backing by Bpifrance. This industrial entity will supply Olatein with the raw material needed to extract rapeseed protein: non-GMO protein-rich fat oilcake obtained from this new crushing facility, which will begin production in Dieppe.
Subsidiaries involved in this activity:
