HISTORIC REVIEW

1929 - 1940: OLVEA’S ORIGINS

When it was founded by Charles Daudruy in 1929 in Fécamp, the OLVEA Group was called “S.I.R.H.”, Société d’Importation et de Raffinage d’Huiles, which developed with the cod fishing off the Newfoundland and Greenland.

SIRH then stored cod liver oil from Newfoundland boats returning to Fécamp to unload the salted cod. These oils were sold for human and animal consumption.

1940 - 1970: EVOLUTION AND SPECIALIZATION

After World War II, Pierre Daudruy joined the company and SIRH specialized in the cold filtration of animal and fish oils, a process called “winterization”.

1970-1998: NEW ORIENTATION

Marc Daudruy, grandson of the founder, joined the family company and expanded its activities with cosmetic and pharmaceutical vegetable oils, especially sweet almond, which brought strong growth to the company.

1998 - 2003: DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURING

With the arrival of Arnauld Daudruy (4th generation and great-grandson of the founder) in the group in 1996, SIRH specializes in the trading of Omega 3 fish oils. SIRH then acquired Garbit Huileries and SICTIA, specialized in vegetable oils. The company then divides its activities into 2 distinct divisions:

– Laboratoire Soetenaey and Sictia for the vegetable oils,

– Winterisation Europe for the fish and animal oils.

2003 - 2008: FROM DISTRIBUTOR TO PRODUCER

In 2005, the Group inaugurated its first foreign subsidiary, a sourcing, selection, refining and wintering plant for fish oils in Agadir, Winterisation Atlantic.

Following the arrival of Caroline Mayaud-Daudruy (Arnauld Daudruy’s sister) in the family group, SIRH merged the activities of Laboratoire Soetenaey and Sictia in 2007 by creating OLVEA, specialized in vegetable oils and specialty ingredients. In parallel, and to develop this activity, the Group builds 2 oil extraction units in the native countries of the raw material:

– Marogania for Argan oil in 2007 in Morocco,

– Burkarina for Shea butter in 2008 in Burkina Faso.

2007 - 2008: PHILANTHROPY

In 2007, the SIRH Group created its own Philanthropic Fund to support cultural, social and environmental actions in the regions where it is located. In 2008, the Group created the Moroccan charitable organization Marocavie, which works to improve the schooling conditions of children, the socio-economic development of women and their families, as well as fighting against desertification and rural exodus.

2010 – 2018: DECISIVE INDUSTRIAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

In 2010, the SIRH Group and its subsidiaries OLVEA and Winterisation Europe moved their headquarters, initially located in Fécamp, to the Parc d’Activités des Hautes Falaises in Saint-Léonard. This new location gives OLVEA 6,000m² of production, storage and packaging space, thus increasing its activity.

In 2012, the fish oil business unit builds a storage unit in Nouadhibou: Winterisation Mauritania.

In order to unify its subsidiaries around a single identity, the Group decided to change its name to OLVEA Group in 2013; thus, OLVEA became OLVEA Vegetable Oils and Winterisation Europe became OLVEA Fish Oils.

Vegetable oils trading offices were then created: OLVEA Netherlands in 2013, and OLVEA USA in 2014.

In 2014, a fish oil deodorization unit was also built in Agadir, at OLVEA Atlantic.

2010 – 2018: DECISIVE INDUSTRIAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

In 2016, OLVEA Burkina Faso moved and inaugurated one of the first green and eco-designed factories of the country, where OLVEA now produces Shea butter and sesame oil.

In order to be more reactive in response to the ever-changing needs of the market, OLVEA has chosen to develop its own eco-refinery on its site in Normandy. OLVEA Green Technologies, one of Europe’s first green and eco-designed refining plants, was inaugurated in 2018.

2019

On the 24th January 2019, the OLVEA Group celebrated 90 years of experience and know-how in the oils and fats industry. Today, OLVEA represents:

– 115 million euros of turnover,
– 55,000 tons of oils sold per year,
– 250 employees worldwide, including 120 in France,
– 12 subsidiaries worldwide, including 2 green factories.

OLVEA celebrates 90 years of experience and know-how