// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Lesaffre say to the dough? "You knead me.
 Historic facilities of the company in Marcq-en-Barœul | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food |
| Founder | Louis Lesaffre |
| Headquarters | Marcq-en-Barœul |
| Website | www |
Lesaffre is a French yeast manufacturer, and the world's largest producer.
History
[edit]The company was founded by Louis Lesaffre, the co-founder of Bonduelle, in the mid-19th century.[1][2]
One of its subsidiaries, Bio Springer,[3] was founded by Baron Max de Springer in 1872 in Maisons-Alfort.[4]
In 2004, it formed a North American joint-venture with Archer Daniels Midland, known as Red Star Yeast.[5]
In 2006, the end of the malt business, via its subsidiary International Malting Company (IMC), then the fifth largest maltster in the world, created tension among the family shareholders.[6] IMC was acquired at 100% by ADM.
In 2007, it was the world's largest producer of yeast.[2] In 2011, it bought the factory of "Voronezh Yeast" LLC in Voronezh.[citation needed]
After the foundation of the Lesaffre Advanced Fermentations (LEAF) subsidiary, the Swiss biofuel start-up Butalco, founded by Eckhard Boles and Gunter Festel, was acquired in July 2014.[7] With this acquisition, Lesaffre entered the market for second generation, waste-based bioethanol and biobutanol.[8]
Lesaffre business units include: Biospringer, Fermentis, and Ennolys (Food, Taste & Pleasure); Gnosis, Phileo, and Agrauxine (Healthcare); and Leaf, Procelys, and LIS (Industrial Biotechnology).[9]
In 2014, it had an annual turnover of 1.5 billion euros, 7,700 employees and 80 subsidiaries in various countries.[10] The capital is not listed on the stock exchange, but shared among 400 shareholders from the founders' family, whose professional fortune is estimated at 3 billion euros.[11]
In 2018, the group took control of Tunisian Rayen Food Industries, which specializes in the production of baker's yeast, and of a Serbian Alltech plant specializing in yeast extracts.[12]
In 2021, it was ranked 8th on FoodTalks' list of Top 30 Global Probiotic Food Ingredient Companies.[13] According to current data, the company generates annual sales of €2 billion with more than 10,000 employees and 80 subsidiaries in 50 countries.[14]
In 2024, it acquired the control of Brazilian yeast products manufacturer Biorigin from Zilor group.[15]
Controversies
[edit]Biospringer plant in Maisons-Alfort
[edit]In March 2025, residents launched a petition regarding the odors, although it received only limited support. In September 2025, the company undertook technical works intended to reduce the nuisance, but complaints from nearby residents continued through December.[16][17]
On 6 April 2023, two ammonia leaks were detected in a storage tank at the facility, resulting in minor injuries to two workers. The following day, approximately 500 residents living near the site were instructed to remain indoors as a precaution, and nearby schools were temporarily closed.[18][19][20]
On 14 November 2024, the prefecture of Val-de-Marne imposed an administrative fine of €15,000 on the company for exceeding authorized limits on water withdrawals from the Seine between 2016 and 2024.[21][22]
References
[edit]- ↑ "History". Lesaffre. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- 1 2 Lenoir, Alexandre (July 13, 2007). "La saga d'une gros se légume". L'Express (in French). Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "About Us". Bio Springer. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "Visitez la fabrique de levure". Le Parisien (in French). October 21, 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ Greg Pletras. "Opened in 2005, the Red Star Yeast Co. plant in Cedar Rapids…". Efficient Plant. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ↑ Nouvelle, L'Usine (2014-03-13). "Lesaffre, la mue du roi de la levure" (in French).
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ "Lesaffre Acquire Butalco". Bio-based News. July 24, 2014.
- ↑ Lane, Jim. "Lesaffre acquires Butalco: will the race for sustainable butanol ever be the same?". Biofuel Digest. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ↑ https://www.lesaffre.com/websites/
- ↑ "The group in a nutshell". Lesaffre Group. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ Eric Tréguier (15 November 2018). [106 "les 500 fortunes..."] Challenges (in French).
{{cite journal}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ "Lesaffre, numéro un mondial de la levure, multiplie les acquisitions". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ↑ Zhao, Viola (2021-04-20). "2021年全球食用益生菌原料企业30强". FoodTalks (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ↑ "Marketing & Sales Analyst". Lesaffre. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ↑ "Zilor vende ativo à francesa Lesaffre em acordo de R$ 665 milhões". InfoMoney (in Brazilian Portuguese). Reuters. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ↑ à 19h03, Par Fanny Delporte Le 8 décembre 2025 (2025-12-08). "« Une puanteur insoutenable » : à Maisons-Alfort, les riverains ont toujours l'usine Biospringer dans le nez". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "« Vraiment écœurant » : une usine de levure provoque une odeur pestilentielle à Maisons-Alfort". Ouest-France.fr (in French). 2025-09-09. Archived from the original on 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- ↑ à 22h27, Par Sylvain Deleuze Le 6 avril 2023; À 07h40, Modifié Le 7 Avril 2023 (2023-04-06). "Fuite d'ammoniac à Maisons-Alfort : deux blessés légers évacués, des écoles fermées ce vendredi". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ à 18h20, Par Laure Parny Le 7 avril 2023 (2023-04-07). "Maisons-Alfort : après la fuite d'ammoniac, les habitants gardent confiance dans l'usine centenaire". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Maisons-Alfort : 500 personnes confinées et quatre écoles fermées après une fuite d'ammoniaque dans une usine - ICI". ICI, le média de la vie locale (in French). 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
- ↑ à 07h14, Par Fanny Delporte et Marine Legrand Le 16 décembre 2024 (2024-12-16). "Val-de-Marne : 15 000 euros d'amende pour l'usine Biospringer, qui puise trop d'eau dans le réseau public". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "A Maisons-Alfort, l'usine de levure Biospringer épinglée pour avoir trop puisé dans la Seine". Les Echos (in French). 2024-12-20. Archived from the original on 2024-12-21. Retrieved 2026-05-20.