Andros (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | 1959 in Biars-sur-Cère, France |
| Founder | Jean Gervoson |
| Headquarters | Biars-sur-Cère , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Frédéric Gervoson, Xavier Gervoson |
| Products | Fruit and dairy-based food products, jams, marmalades, compotes, desserts, cakes, biscuits, confectionery, frozen desserts |
Andros is a global French enterprise specializing in fruit and dairy-based food products. Headquartered in Biars-sur-Cère, Lot, close to Brive-la-Gaillarde in Corrèze, the company manages more than forty manufacturing plants worldwide, including locations in China, Vietnam, and Virginia, United States.
This family-run business is well-known for its enduring sponsorship of the ice rallycross competition called the Andros Trophy as well as the French rugby union team CA Brive.
History
Following the conclusion of World War II, Jean Gervoson established a jam production operation near Brive-la-Gaillarde in Biars-sur-Cère. The Bonne Maman brand was introduced by him in 1971. Five years later, Andros purchased the insolvent Pierrot Gourmand factory and converted it into a sweets manufacturing facility.
In 2000, management transitioned to Jean Gervoson's sons: Frédéric Gervoson assumed control of Andros and the Bonne Maman jam division, while Xavier Gervoson took charge of Bonne Maman's cake production.
By the end of the 2010s, Andros began emphasizing sustainability initiatives. In 2018, it launched Andros Gourmand & Végétal, a fresh dessert range featuring coconut and almond milk as environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional dairy yoghurts. Two years later, recyclable pouches for compotes were introduced.
The estimated net worth of the Gervoson-Chapoulart family reached approximately €1.2 billion in 2017.
Activities and brands
Among Andros’s portfolio are brands such as Andros Chef (premium fruit products tailored for catering); Biscuiterie Saint-Michel, a French cake and biscuit producer; Bonne Maman, recognized for its jams, marmalades, compotes, desserts, cakes, and biscuits; Buddy Fruits (convenient fruit snacks); Mamie Nova (yogurts); Pierrot Gourmand (confectionery); and Solo Italia (frozen desserts). As reported in 2017, Andros commanded 19.5% of fresh fruit juice market share, 47% of jams, and 62.4% of refrigerated compotes.[1][2]
Biscuits
Morina Baie Biscuits, an Andros subsidiary, produces Bonne Maman and Saint-Michel biscuits. In 2019, this segment generated revenues estimated at €450 million.[2]
Subcontracting and distributor brands
Additionally, Andros manufactures frozen yoghurts, marmalades, sweets, and desserts on behalf of major retailers such as Carrefour. The company provides fillings for Whaou pancakes, gourds sold by Lidl, and Yule logs distributed by Picard.[2]
Subsidiaries and factories
Andros maintains subsidiaries worldwide: Andros Asia operates in China, Japan, and Vietnam; Andros Barker's serves Australia and New Zealand following its acquisition in 2015; Andros Foods North America manages operations in the U.S.; and Los Nietitos functions in Uruguay.[3]
Within Asia, Andros Asia oversees three plants—two located in Vietnam and one established in China since 1999—and distributes products across eleven countries throughout Southeast and East Asia.[3]
In North America, Andros Foods runs a facility in Virginia. The company expanded its presence in 2012 by acquiring Bowman Andros Products based in Mount Jackson, a prominent private-label apple product manufacturer since 1939. Domestic production there includes Old Virginia and Buddy Fruits.[1]
In May 2022, Andros inaugurated a new fruit processing plant near its primary factory in Biars-sur-Cère, situated in Brive-la-Gaillarde, thereby enhancing its footprint within the region.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Sponsorship Activities
Andros has made significant commitments to sports sponsorship, most prominently supporting the Andros Trophy, a French ice rallycross motorsport competition since 1990. The company also backs the Image Club d'Épinal ice hockey team and the rugby union outfit CA Brive. As a company deeply connected to its local roots, Andros ranks among the longest-serving sponsors of the Corrèze-based club, frequently featuring on Brive's jerseys, including during their 1996–97 Heineken Cup triumph against Leicester Tigers. Numerous former players and officials from Brive, such as Xavier Ric, Jean-Luc Joinel, Cédric Heymans, and Alain Penaud, maintain associations with Andros.
In more recent years, Andros has extended its sponsorship portfolio to include the French National Rugby League, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), rugby union team Racing 92, and the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Additionally, the company provides fruit-based products for team meals and children's activities linked to these sports organizations.
Disputes and Legal Issues
In March 2015, Novandie, a subsidiary of Andros, received a €38.3 million fine (later lowered to €35 million) due to involvement in a “yoghurt cartel” case concerning price-fixing among nine companies.
In 2019, Andros was penalized in the "compote cartel" investigation for collaborating with competitors to raise prices. The initial €14 million sanction was subsequently reduced after it was determined that Andros acted as a "maverick," implementing aggressive commercial tactics that disrupted cartel coordination.