Charles & Alice

What Charles & Alice does

Charles & Alice SAS is a French privately-held food manufacturer founded in 1999 and headquartered in Allex (Drôme), with additional production facilities in Alixan, Monteux, and Sorgues, and operating as a subsidiary of the diversified group CHARLES FARAUD SAS. The company specializes in fruit-based desserts and plant-based products, organized around a core range of fruit desserts with no added sugars (Sans Sucres Ajoutés) — a category the company pioneered in France — and extended through specialized lines including Bio (organic), Gourmand (fruit chunks), Végétal (coconut-milk plant-based), Sorbets et Glaces Végétales (plant-based sorbets and ice creams), Gourdes (fruit pouches for on-the-go snacking), and Poches Familiales (family-size ambient pouches). The product portfolio is further differentiated by sub-brands such as Virgin Cocktail, Inspirations du Monde, and Trio de Fruits. Raw materials are sourced from orchards in the Drôme and Vaucluse regions, with French apples traveling on average 190 km to production, supporting the brand's local-sourcing and eco-responsible narrative.

The company employs more than 400 people and distributes products through major French grocery retailers (Monoprix, Franprix, U Express, Carrefour, Intermarché, G20) under the GMS channel and through out-of-home catering (RHF) via a dedicated B2B site (charlesetalice-restauration.fr). Revenue is generated through one-time retail and foodservice sales of packaged food SKUs across fresh, frozen, and grocery aisles; specific pricing and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Marketing is executed through Facebook, Instagram, seasonal loyalty campaigns (Plaisirs de Printemps), and digital voucher programs. Geographic reach is currently limited to France.

The company's strategic posture in 2025-2026 centers on flavor innovation velocity, expansion of plant-based and frozen formats, and ambient-grocery penetration via family-size pouches, supported by a recently appointed CMO and active sub-brand extensions. There are no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or international expansion plans, and ownership remains within the Charles Faraud group.

Name

Charles & Alice

Legal name

CHARLES & ALICE SAS

Website

http://www.charlesetalice.fr/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Charles & Alice SAS is a French manufacturer of fruit-based and plant-based desserts, pioneering the no-added-sugars compote category in France since 1999, serving French consumers via major retailers and out-of-home catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fruit-based desserts and packaged foods

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Fruit Snacks & Dried Fruit (CRADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)

Keywords

• Fruit desserts
• Fruit compotes
• Plant-based desserts
• Fruit pouches snacks
• Fruit sorbets ice creams

Headquarters

HQ city

Portes-lès-valence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fruit Desserts Sales: Charles & Alice generates revenue through the sale of packaged fruit desserts, compotes, fruit pouches, sorbets, and plant-based desserts through retail grocery stores and out-of-home catering channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Charles & Alice manufactures and markets packaged fruit-based desserts, compotes, sorbets, plant-based desserts made with coconut milk, organic fruit desserts, and fruit pouches marketed under its own brands. Its products are designed for families and health-conscious consumers seeking French-origin, no-added-sugar, organic, or plant-based dessert and snacking options, and are primarily sold through French supermarket chains (GMS) and out-of-home catering (RHF) channels in France.

Product overview

Charles & Alice is a French food company specializing in fruit-based desserts, operating as a single unified product portfolio centered on fruit desserts. The core offering consists of Desserts aux Fruits Sans Sucres Ajoutés (sugar-free fruit desserts), which form the foundation of the business. This is supplemented by three specialized product lines: Desserts Végétaux (plant-based coconut milk desserts), Desserts aux Fruits Bio (certified organic fruit desserts), and Desserts aux Fruits Gourmands (gourmet fruit desserts with chunks). Additional offerings include Sorbets et Glaces Végétales (sorbets and plant-based ice creams), Gourdes (convenience fruit pouches for on-the-go snacking), and Poches Familiales (family-size formats for household use). The portfolio is extended through sub-brands including Virgin Cocktail (cocktail-inspired flavors), Inspirations du Monde (exotic international flavors), and Trio de Fruits (three-fruit combinations). All products emphasize French-origin fruits, no added sugars, and sustainability commitments, with distribution through French supermarkets (GMS) and food service (RHF).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Charles & Alice Bio: Organic fruit desserts made with French organic fruits
• Charles & Alice Gourmand
• Charles & Alice Sans Sucres Ajoutés
• Charles & Alice Végétal
• Charles & Alice Gourdes
• Charles & Alice Sorbets et Glaces
• Inspirations du Monde
• Virgin Cocktail
• Trio de Fruits
• L'Escape Fruit
• Poches familiales

Products and services

• Desserts aux Fruits Sans Sucres Ajout\u00e9s (No Added Sugar Fruit Desserts) Fruit-based desserts made without added sugars, containing only the natural sugars present in fruits, including iconic flavors such as Pommes and Pommes-Poires plus seasonal varieties; targeted at health-conscious families and consumers in France.
• Desserts V\u00e9g\u00e9taux (Plant-based Desserts) Lactose-free, 100% plant-based desserts made with coconut milk, available in flavors including Chocolate, Stracciatella, Vanilla, Caramel, Coffee, and seasonal varieties; for consumers seeking plant-based dessert alternatives.
• Desserts aux Fruits Bio (Organic Fruit Desserts) Certified organic fruit desserts made with French organic fruits in flavors including Pommes-Ch\u00e2taignes, Pommes-Rhubarbe, Pommes-Poires, and Pommes-Abricots; for consumers seeking certified organic dessert options.
• Desserts aux Fruits Gourmands (Gourmet Fruit Desserts) Gourmet fruit desserts with generous fruit chunks in flavors including Ananas, Mangue, Poire, and P\u00eache; positioned for indulgent snacking moments.
• Sorbets et Glaces V\u00e9g\u00e9tales (Sorbets and Plant-based Ice Creams) Full-fruit sorbets and plant-based ice creams made with coconut milk, including Sorbet Fraise Senga Sengana, Sorbet Mangue Alphonso, and Glace V\u00e9g\u00e9tale Coco flavors (Chocolat, Stracciatella, Vanille); for consumers seeking frozen fruit-based or plant-based desserts.
• Gourdes (Fruit Pouches) Fruit pouches without added sugars sold in the grocery aisle in single flavors like Pommes and multi-flavor Panach\u00e9 packs, designed for convenient on-the-go snacking for children and families.
• Poches Familiales (Family Pouches) Family-size fruit pouches including Pommes, Pommes Bananes, Pommes Poires, and Pommes Vanille formats, sold in the grocery aisle for household consumption.
• Virgin Cocktail Sugar-free fruit desserts inspired by cocktail recipes in flavors including Virgin Punch (Pommes Oranges Ananas), Virgin Mojito (Pommes Citrons Verts Menthe), Virgin Daiquiri (Pommes Fraises Grenades), Virgin Spritz (Pommes Oranges Citrons), and Virgin Pina Colada (Pommes Ananas Coco).
• Inspirations du Monde Exotic, internationally inspired fruit dessert line with flavor combinations such as Pommes Vanille de Madagascar, Pommes Dattes, Pommes Passion, Pommes Coco Citron Vert, Pommes Cl\u00e9mentines, Pommes Ananas, and Pommes Litchis.
• Trio de Fruits Fruit dessert recipes combining three different fruits for intense flavor, available in various combinations including Panach\u00e9 multi-packs designed for sharing.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Andros Group: French family-owned fruit processing group producing compotes, jams, and fruit-based desserts under Andros and Bonne Maman brands. Directly comparable as a French compote/fruit dessert manufacturer with national GMS distribution and similar product positioning.
• Materne (Pom'Potes): French fruit pouch (gourde) brand owned by Hero, pioneering the fruit pouch format for children. Directly competes with Charles & Alice Gourdes in the same French supermarket aisles with the same target consumer (families and children).
• Hero Group: Swiss-based international food company owning Materne/Pom'Potes and producing jams, fruit spreads, and fruit-based desserts. Directly comparable parent of a French fruit pouch competitor and itself a compote/preserve manufacturer.
• Innocent Drinks: French/European fruit smoothie and fruit-based product brand (Coca-Cola owned) with strong health and no-added-sugar positioning. Comparable as a French-market fruit-based brand targeting health-conscious consumers in the same retail channels.
• Bonduelle Group: French family-owned leader in processed and cooked vegetables (canned, frozen), with strong French GMS distribution. Comparable on the cooked vegetable/canned vegetable side of Charles & Alice's portfolio and as a French branded food manufacturer.

Broad incumbents

• Danone: Global French food giant with fruit-based desserts, yogurts, and plant-based ranges (Danio, Alpro, Danette). Broad incumbent offering overlapping categories (fruit desserts, plant-based) in the same French retail channels but operating as a multi-category platform.
• Nestlé France: Global packaged food incumbent with significant French presence across dairy, confectionery, and frozen desserts. Competes at the shelf-edge for dessert and frozen dessert occasions, but at much greater scale and category breadth.

Emerging players

• Vitabio: French organic fruit compote and baby food brand. Comparable as a niche French player in organic fruit desserts, competing with Charles & Alice's Bio line in the same French GMS stores but at smaller scale and narrower organic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/charlesetalice
• Instagraminstagram.com/charlesetalice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Charles & Alice