What Cofigeo does

Cofigeo is a privately held French industrial food group headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, specializing in appertized (heat-preserved, shelf-stable) ready meals, cooked vegetables, and sauces. The group operates 9 production sites and 2 logistics warehouses across France and employs approximately 1,200 people, producing roughly 1.8 billion cans (100,000 tonnes) per year. Its portfolio comprises heritage French brands (William Saurin since 1898, Raynal et Roquelaure since 1876, Petitjean since 1863), the Italian cuisine brand Zapetti (since 2005), the exotic cuisine brand Garbit, and the institutional catering brand Soulié Restauration, alongside licensed manufacturing for Panzani and Weight Watchers — collectively spanning approximately 450 recipes.

The company's core technology is appertization, a thermal food-preservation method that allows products to be stored at room temperature for 15 to 36 months without preservatives, using a variety of BPA-free packaging formats (metal cans, trays, sachets, tubes, bricks). All sites are IFS Food certified, with selected BRC and ISO 14001 certifications, plus product-level VBF, Halal, and Organic credentials.

Cofigeo monetizes through three primary channels: (1) consumer branded products and private-label (MDD) manufacturing sold through French GMS retailers, (2) out-of-home dining (RHF) products sold directly to hospitals, retirement homes, school canteens, military, and vending operators via Soulié Restauration, and (3) international export to approximately 60 destinations representing over 10% of revenue. Pricing is quote-based for institutional and B2B customers and undisclosed for retail; the company also earns licensing/manufacturing fees on Panzani and Weight Watchers products.

Name

Cofigeo

Legal name

COFIGEO

Website

https://cofigeo.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cofigeo is a privately held French industrial food group specializing in appertized (shelf-stable) ready meals, cooked vegetables, and sauces. It operates 9 production sites and ~1,200 employees, selling heritage-owned and licensed brands (William Saurin, Raynal et Roquelaure, Zapetti, Garbit, Petitjean) to French retail, institutional catering, and ~60 international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preserved Ready Meals

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Other Food Manufacturing (3119), Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals (CRADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Couscous, Bulgur & Other Processed Grain Foods Manufacturing (AFAKABAJ), Temperature-Controlled Foodservice/Institutional Supply Wholesale (AFAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Preserved cooked meals
• Ready meal manufacturing
• Private label food production
• Institutional food catering
• Ambient packaged foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Issy-les-moulineaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consumer Branded Products (GMS): Sale of branded ready-to-eat meals, cooked vegetables, sauces, and pates under owned brands (William Saurin, Raynal et Roquelaure, Zapetti, Garbit, Petitjean) through large and medium retail chains (GMS) in France and internationally.
2. Private Label / MDD Manufacturing: Manufacturing products for retailer own brands (marques de distributeurs), responding to specific technical, marketing, and commercial requirements of major retail chains.
3. Out-of-Home Dining (Restauration Hors Foyer): Sale of ready-to-eat meals and food products to professionals including hospitals, retirement homes, school canteens, military, and vending machine operators through Soulié Restauration subsidiary.
4. International Export: International sales reaching approximately 60 destinations worldwide, representing over 10% of revenue, with 80 years of international expertise.
5. Licensed Brand Products: Manufacturing and commercializing products under licensed brands including Panzani (Italian cooked dishes) and Weight Watchers (balanced nutrition recipes).

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cofigeo manufactures and markets appertized (heat-preserved) ready meals, cooked vegetables, sauces, quenelles, and exotic-cuisine dishes under multiple owned heritage brands (William Saurin, Raynal et Roquelaure, Zapetti, Garbit, Petitjean, Soulié Restauration) and through private-label manufacturing for major French retailers. The group also operates institutional out-of-home catering through Soulié Restauration, serving hospitals, retirement homes, school canteens, military, and vending operators. Production spans 9 sites in France using natural appertization technology, with products stored at ambient temperature for 15 months to 3 years without preservatives, and certified under IFS Food, BRC Global Standard, and ISO 14001.

Product overview

Cofigeo is a French leader in ambient ready meals (appertized/canned foods) operating as a diversified food manufacturing group with multiple owned brands and licensed brands. The portfolio includes French cuisine brands (Raynal et Roquelaure since 1876, William Saurin since 1898, Petitjean since 1863), Italian cuisine brand Zapetti (since 2005), exotic cuisine brand Garbit, and out-of-home catering brand Soulié Restauration. The company also produces under licensed brands Panzani and Weight Watchers. Core products span ready meals, cooked vegetables, sauces, and innovative packaging solutions, all preserved through appertization technology without preservatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zapetti: Italian prepared dishes, sauces, and exotic cuisine brand. Preferred ravioli and sauces for mothers. 100% of recipes with Nutriscore A or B.
• Raynal et Roquelaure
• William Saurin
• Garbit
• Petitjean
• Soulié Restauration

Products and services

• Raynal et Roquelaure Heritage French brand specializing in terroir cuisine since 1876, offering traditional cooked vegetables and hearty French dishes such as cassoulet and lentils, produced at the historic Capdenac facility in Aveyron.
• William Saurin French ready-meal brand established in 1898, offering varied, healthy and balanced French recipes including iconic dishes like cassoulet, choucroute garnie, and saucisses haricots.
• Zapetti Leading Italian cuisine brand featuring ravioli, cannelloni, and pasta sauces, with 100% of recipes achieving Nutriscore A or B ratings, including whole-wheat Italian pasta ranges.
• Garbit Exotic cuisine brand offering Mediterranean and South American inspired dishes with mild spices, including couscous, paella, chili con carne, and tabbouleh.
• Petitjean Quenelle specialist since 1863, producing quenelles and bite-sized garnishes using noble ingredients and French eggs in the pure Lyon tradition.
• Soulié Restauration Out-of-home catering brand since 1973, providing tasty and balanced recipes for professionals including hospitals, retirement homes, school canteens, and automatic distribution operators, with micro-waveable trays designed for institutional food service.
• Panzani (Licensed Brand) Italian ready meals manufactured under license from Panzani, featuring fresh pasta and gourmet sauces in the Italian tradition including bolognese ravioli, spaghetti bolognese, and parmesan chicken risotto.
• Weight Watchers (Licensed Brand) Partnership with Weight Watchers offering balanced nutritional ready-meal recipes combining wellness, indulgence, and convenience, without preservatives or colorants and with limited fat content.
• Plats Cuisinés (Ready Meals) Core ready-meal product line encompassing French, Italian (ravioli, cannelloni), and exotic (couscous, paella, tabbouleh) cooked dishes, available in metal cans and microwaveable trays.
• Légumes Cuisinés (Cooked Vegetables) Cooked vegetables including lentils, flageolets, white beans, and potatoes, produced by Raynal & Roquelaure as the reference actor for cooked lentils since 1876.
• Sauces Tomato and meat-based pasta and pizza sauces, manufactured in Provence near tomato fields for 60 years, including cooked tomato sauces, meat sauces, and natural tomato sauces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products can be stored at room temperature for 15 months to 3 years without preservatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• D'Aucy (Euralis): French canned vegetables, prepared dishes, and pulses brand under the Euralis cooperative. Direct competitor to Cofigeo/Raynal et Roquelaure in canned cooked vegetables (lentils, flageolets, cassoulet) and competes for the same French retail and institutional buyers.
• Bonduelle: French global leader in canned and frozen vegetables with a strong private label and B2B foodservice business. Direct overlap with Cofigeo's appertized vegetables (lentils, flageolets, beans) and ambient ready meal product lines, and direct competition for French GMS shelf space and institutional catering contracts.
• Cassegrain: Historic French canned vegetables and prepared dishes brand (now part of Bonduelle Group). Direct peer in appertized French cuisine and canned vegetables, sharing Cofigeo's GMS distribution model and heritage brand positioning.
• Fleury Michon: French prepared meals and charcuterie manufacturer (€700M+ revenue) serving GMS and RHF. Direct peer in branded ready meals (jambon, plats cuisinés), with comparable French retail distribution, RHF penetration, and similar challenge of pivoting from ambient to chilled formats.
• Herta (Nestlé France): Nestlé's French ready meals and charcuterie brand. Direct overlap with Cofigeo's William Saurin, Raynal et Roquelaure, and Petitjean brands in GMS ready meals, pâté, and charcuterie — competing for the same French consumer occasions and institutional contracts.
• Saupiquet (Thai Union): French canned fish and seafood brand, owned by Thai Union Group. Comparable in operating model (appertized canned foods sold in French GMS) and size, with shared French retail distribution and ambient meals heritage.

Broad incumbents

• Elior Group: French-listed contract catering and food services group. Direct overlap with Soulié Restauration in school, hospital, and corporate catering; competes for the same institutional meal contracts and nutrition compliance frameworks in France.
• Sodexo: Global French food services and facilities management company. Overlaps with Cofigeo's RHF (Soulié Restauration) and institutional catering in hospitals, schools, and corporate sites, but operates at much larger scale as a contract caterer rather than manufacturer.

Emerging players

• Tipiak: French prepared foods group specializing in frozen ready meals, savory and sweet grocery, and pulses. Comparable mid-sized French food company competing in adjacent ready meals and cooked vegetable categories, including GMS private label and branded lines.
• Saint Jean (Saint Jean pasta): French fresh and dry pasta, ravioli, and quenelle producer. Adjacent competitor in French ravioli and quenelle categories where Cofigeo competes via Zapetti and Petitjean, with stronger fresh-pasta positioning but smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cofigeo

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cofigeo