Arnaud Montebourg’s almonds clearly have good years ahead of them. The Almond Company, created in 2018 by the champion of reindustrialisation, recently celebrated its second harvest since its creation, with encouraging prospects. Scheduled for the end of October, it looks promising.
1,700 tons are expected in 2024
With 210 hectares already in production, Compagnie des Amandes is now the leading almond producer in France and plans to add 500 more hectares in the next three years. However, the end of “Californian cardboard almonds” on the shelves is not in the offing.
In fact, although almond production in France continues to grow, it still covers only a small part of national consumption, estimated at 45,000 tonnes per year. According to France Amandes, the 2024 harvest should reach around 1,700 tonnes, compared to 1,200 tonnes the previous year, with a target of 3,000 tonnes within five or six years. “We are witnessing a slow increase in French orchards,” comments François Moulias on LSA.
A cost of 7 million euros
In addition, Compagnie des Amandes plans to build its own breakwater in the Var, which will allow it to manage the entire process from collection to shipping. After having been short of funding for a long time, provoking the wrath of the former Minister of the Economy against the banks, the company hopes to complete an investment of several million euros by the end of October, which would allow work to begin in January. It is scheduled to be put into operation by the end of 2025. The total cost is estimated at 7 million euros, of which 5 million are for construction and 2 million for machinery.
In addition to the break-up, Compagnie des Amandes is working on the launch of a private label (MDD), planned for early October. This initiative aims to offer packaging services to small distributors and specialist companies, such as almond drink manufacturers, while expanding its range with French almond bags. The company also plans to market 1kg sachets directly to consumers.
Source: BFM TV
