Groupe Roullier
Groupe Roullier is a French multinational agribusiness enterprise established in 1959 in Saint-Malo, France, by founder Daniel Roullier. The company focuses on producing nutrients and feed for plants, animals, and humans. Employing more than 8,000 individuals, it operates across 131 countries and reported consolidated revenues of €2 billion in 2019.
History
Originally created as TIMAC in 1959 with a maerl crushing facility located in Saint-Malo, Groupe Roullier started by specializing in soil conditioners derived from maerl. Over time, the company broadened its product range to include fertilizers combining maerl with phosphate, gradually transforming into the multifaceted agribusiness group it is today.
Activities
The core of Groupe Roullier’s operations is divided into seven main sectors: agrosupplies (primarily fertilizers), animal feed phosphates, magnesium, industrial products, consumer plant nutrition, plastics manufacturing, and the food industry. Its agrosupplies division offers soil conditioners, fertilizers, and biostimulants aimed at improving plant health and development.
Prominent subsidiaries include Timac Agro (fertilization and animal feed additives), Grassland Agro (Ireland), Vitas (Portugal), and William Houde (Canada). Since 1976, phosphate production has been managed by Phosphea. Magnesium activities are conducted through Magnesitas Navarras, Magnesium do Brasil, and Timab Magnesium.
Other business units encompass sand extraction via Compagnie Armoricaine de Navigation and industrial product lines through Nuwen. Florendi specializes in consumer-oriented plant nutrition products, while Agriplas caters to the plastics sector. Additionally, Groupe Roullier owns Maison Colibri and Patisseries Gourmandes, companies focused on pastries and biscuit production.
Business Development
From its inception, Groupe Roullier has grown by developing its own product distribution and marketing channels while investing in maritime logistics and plastics manufacturing. In 1988, it established Agriplas to create packaging solutions for agricultural inputs. The group also expanded into animal nutrition supplements. During the 2000s, a strategic partnership with Louis Dreyfus was formed to optimize shipping logistics for industrial goods.
International Development
Originating in Brittany, France, Groupe Roullier capitalized on regional resources such as maerl deposits to extend its reach internationally starting in the late 1970s. This expansion included entry into European, South American, and North American markets.
United States
In 2017, Groupe Roullier enhanced its presence in the US through its subsidiary TIMAC Agro USA by acquiring A&E Ag, LLC and Circle R Fertilize, Inc. A&E Ag now operates under the name A&E Ag – Timac Agro USA. Circle R Fertilize, established in 1983, supplies liquid and dry fertilizers as well as crop protection products and seeds.
Brazil
With operations spanning 131 countries and over two-thirds of its workforce located outside France, Groupe Roullier derives more than half of its revenue from international markets—a testament to its global strategy and influence.
Research & Innovation
In 2005, Groupe Roullier founded the Center for Applied Studies and Research (CERA) in Dinard, France. This facility combines an analytical laboratory with a pilot plant to support technological advancements across the group’s subsidiaries. Later in 2016, the Global Innovation Center (CMI) was inaugurated in Saint-Malo to spearhead cutting-edge research and development initiatives.
EIB Loan
In 2018, Groupe Roullier obtained a significant EUR 50 million financing from the European Investment Bank, representing the inaugural EIB loan dedicated to advancing innovation within agriculture and the bioeconomy sectors. This capital is allocated to research and development efforts centered on microorganisms involved in both plant and animal nutrition, carried out at the Global Innovation Center and CERA. The project emphasizes studying bacterial ecosystems in cattle rumen, enhancing silage preservation techniques, and optimizing biogas generation from manure or silage.
Plant Nutrition Innovation Awards
After inaugurating the CMI Roullier, the Group introduced a competition designed to encourage breakthroughs in plant nutrition by awarding EUR 120,000 annually. Each year, two researchers are granted EUR 60,000 apiece to support collaborative initiatives focused on areas such as plant nutrition, natural compounds, soil science, biostimulation, biocontrol methods, biotechnology, and plant engineering. Previous recipients include research teams from Toulouse University and Rothamsted Agricultural Research Center recognized for their innovative contributions to cereal sulphur transporter studies.
SUSFERT
Groupe Roullier is an active member of the SUSFERT consortium, which aims to create multifunctional fertilizers that improve phosphorus and iron availability. This initiative seeks sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilizer sources, reflecting the company's dedication to innovation combined with environmental stewardship.