OLVEA is now a world leader in its industry, specialising in fish oil high in Omega 3 and vegetable oil for the food and cosmetics sectors. The company was founded in Fécamp in Seine-Maritime and has made its location a key asset..
Every generation of the Daudruy family has had a hand in building the business. Charles, the great-grandfather, began selling cod liver oil from Newfoundland fishing boats arriving in Fécamp 1929. Pierre, the grandfather, focused the business on cold-pressed fish oil. Marc, the father, had a lightbulb moment and went into the burgeoning vegetable oil market for the cosmetics industry in the 1970s. The 4th generation is now in charge of OLVEA. Arnauld Daudruy and Caroline Mayaud have decided to promote the polyunsaturated fat in their fish oil and invest in the international market.
The turnover for the business has increased 40 fold in the space of 25 years
How Olvea grew from a small Fécamp business to a global leader
Result: the Fécamp SME has become a high-flying group in less than 100 years. It’s one of the world leaders in the industry, producing 60,000 tons of oil with 245 million EUR in turnover and 350 employees. “Our Omega 3 fish oil is primarily for the nutraceuticals industry whilst our vegetable oil is for the cosmetics industry. We’re also involved in some niche markets: our avocado oil is made in Kenya and sold in places like the US for human consumption: the Californians can’t get enough of it…,” says the CEO of OLVEA.
The Fécamp SME began setting up its own factories around the world in the early 2000s. They started with Agadir in 2003, Morocco being the biggest sardine producer in the world. Two more Moroccan sites opened to make argan oil and hazelnut oil. Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Kenya followed suit, making fish, avocado, macadamia, shea, sesame oil and more. “Over time, we set up in the countries that produce our main ingredients. That gives us total control over our food safety and product traceability for our clients,” says Arnauld Daudruy.
Fécamp is still its international and logistics hub
Whilst we’re on the subject, Fécamp is still the company’s home port with its HQ and main factory here (145 employees in total). It gives OLVEA a competitive advantage.
Our Seine-Maritime location on the doorstep of two leading logistics ports, Le Havre and Fécamp, is a huge asset when it comes to importing our raw materials.
OLVEA receives shipments of around 2000 oil containers from its integrated network in Le Havre every year. Tankers at Fécamp port fill its fifteen storage tanks using direct feeds. “Our international hub is here,” the director says.
Investing in Normandy
For example, OLVEA opened its new eco-refinery on its Normandy site in 2018. It’s called OLVEA Green Technologies and has two refining lines with a daily capacity of 100 tons. The company invested 40 million EUR to give it more control over its processes, such as going carbon free. The new factory has enabled the group to move its oil refinery in-house from the Netherlands. “OLVEA has significantly reduced its CO2 emissions by cutting out return journeys and processing our oil in our eco-refinery,” says the CEO. We’ve also pledged to make the switch from fossil fuel to biomethane (100% biofuel) by 2029. “
One of the first eco-refining units in Europe
OLVEA Green Technologies is one of the first eco-refining units in Europe. The building and refining processes have been designed to have as little impact on the environment as possible. The plant is in a fully-renovated factory with 9000m2 of buildings and 1300m2 of solar panels. The energy they produce covers some of its needs. The rest is procured from green electricity suppliers. OLVEA Green Technologies has earned the Platinum award from EcoVadis and is one of Europe’s most advanced factories in terms of CSR.
People, key to OLVEA’s CSR policy
A strong focus on the environment may be integral to OLVEA’s CSR policy, but people are just as important. “We have to look after our staff as they’re what make the company what it is. Like the oils we make, we’re nothing without them…,” says Arnauld Daudruy. Its “Ambition RSE 2029” (CSR Objectives for 2029) seals the company’s pledge to have “a positive social impact throughout its ecosystems and value chain (…) and make a positive contribution to development in the areas in which it is based.” In the meantime, the company founded its own foundation in 2007: the OLVEA Foundation. The foundation is overseen by Arnauld’s sister, Stéphanie Michaut-Daudruy, and supports general interest projects, mainly in the Fécamp region and countries where the OLVEA group is based.
Looking towards the future
The company is celebrating its centenary in 2029. What’s the secret to its long life? “Good management, common sense, an open mind and the ability to seize opportunities,” says Arnauld Daudruy. Plus a strong vision for the future. OLVEA unveiled a new 27 million EUR investment plan for 2025-2027. It includes setting up a new innovation site in Fécamp. It will house a new research lab, a lipid chemistry technology base and a fleet of technical equipment. “The new hub will spearhead our new R&D policy,” says OLVEA’s CEO. Fifty staff will be hired over the next three years to operate it. The company is currently looking for technicians and engineers.
Thematics
