Scael

What Scael does

Groupe SCAEL is an agricultural cooperative (Société Coopérative Agricole d'Eure-et-Loir) founded in 1886 and headquartered in Chartres, France, structured as an SCA à capital variable and owned by its farmer-members. The group operates six business poles — Agricultural (full cereal value chain from seed multiplication through harvest collection and commercialization), Export Trading (Terris Union and Lecureur), Laboratories and Services (Microsept, Ceralim, Olcéa), Public Distribution (Gamm vert garden centers), Innovation and Development, and Transport (Agritransport) — serving approximately 3,000 farmer-members across Eure-et-Loir and neighboring departments.

The technical stack pairs proprietary farm-management and compliance tooling (Smag Farmer parcel management with 40+ automated control points, Abelio decision-support for crop management) with established precision-agriculture integrations such as Farmstar satellite imagery. Core operating capabilities include 554,000 tonnes of storage capacity, 1.05 MT of annual collection, and 5 MT commercialized through pooled Terris Union logistics and MATIF hedging, plus cooperative seed multiplication (Lecureur Semences, 100,000+ tonnes/year, 130 multipliers), bulk grain transport, and food/cosmetic microbiological laboratory services.

Revenue mechanics combine grain trading margins (high volume, low margin pass-through), input supply to members, retail sales via Gamm vert, laboratory professional services fees, and seed multiplication revenue (Lecureur Semences at ~€6M). Consolidated revenue reached €1.144B with EBE of €21M and €80M in shareholders' equity across 622 employees. The cooperative model means members are simultaneously suppliers, customers, and owners — creating structural stickiness and reinvesting margins into the territory rather than distributing to outside shareholders.

Name

Scael

Legal name

S.C.A.E.L. – Société Coopérative Agricole d'Eure-et-Loir

Website

https://groupe-scael.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Groupe SCAEL is a French agricultural cooperative founded in 1886 and headquartered in Chartres, serving ~3,000 farmer-members across six business poles spanning seed supply, grain collection and export, food-safety laboratories, garden-center retail, transport, and digital agronomy tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Cooperative Services

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming (111191), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Certified Seed Production (AFAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK), Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Agricultural cooperative services
• Cereal trading export
• Seed multiplication production
• Food laboratory testing
• Garden center retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Chartres

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cereal Collection and Trading: Core cooperative activity involving the collection, storage, and commercialization of cereal and oilseed harvests from farmer-members on national and international markets. Revenue derives from margins on grain trading, export operations, and price risk management through MATIF hedging. Terris Union (cooperative union) commercializes approximately 1.3 million tonnes of cereals from member cooperatives.
2. Public Distribution (Gamm vert Garden Centers): Retail sale of gardening, plant, pet, and garden tool products to the general public through Gamm vert store network, reconnecting producers and consumers.
3. Laboratory and Testing Services: Microbiological analysis services on food, water, cosmetics, and dietary supplements delivered through subsidiaries Microsept, Ceralim, and Olcéa. Also includes sampling and client audit services.
4. Seed Production and Multiplication: Production and marketing of certified seeds through Lecureur Semences, with over 100,000 tonnes per year. Includes organic seed production (certified AB) and a network of 130 seed multipliers.
5. Transport and Logistics: Specialized transport operations (grain tipper trucks, livestock feed tankers) via Agritransport, with five trucks running on Oléo100 (100% vegetable fuel from colza).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Groupe SCAEL is a French agricultural cooperative providing 3,000 farmer-members with end-to-end agricultural services spanning certified seed multiplication, agronomic advisory, harvest collection and storage, and cereal/oilseed trading and export through Terris Union and Lecureur. The group also operates certified seed production via Lecureur Semences (over 100,000 tonnes annually), microbiological laboratory testing through Microsept, Ceralim, and Olcéa, retail distribution through Gamm vert garden centres, and bulk grain transport via Agritransport.

Product overview

Groupe SCAEL is an agricultural cooperative group structured around six complementary business poles: Agricultural (seeds, collection, cereal marketing), Export Trading (via Terris Union and Lecureur), Laboratory and Services (food safety microbiology via Microsept, Ceralim), Public Distribution (Gamm vert garden centers), Innovation and Development (digital tools, new filières), and Transport (Agritransport). The group distributes its own subsidiaries including Lecureur Semences (certified seed multiplication), Prestafarm (agricultural contracting), and Olcéa (laboratory services). Digital tools offered or recommended to members include Farmstar (satellite imagery), Abelio (crop decision support), and Smag Farmer (digital phytosanitary register). Digital platforms include Sur Le Champ! (producer-consumer connection) and Cereapro.com (agricultural comparator). The group serves 3,000 farmer members across Eure-et-Loir and neighboring departments, managing 554 KT storage capacity and 1.05 MT annual collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pôle Agricole – Agricultural Support Services Full agricultural value chain services covering seed supply, agronomic advisory, harvest collection, storage, and commercialization under certified cereal and oilseed filieres. SCAEL field teams accompany farmer-members daily in collaboration with the Agronomic Department.
• Pôle Négoce Export – Cereal and Oilseed Trading and Export Cereal and oilseed trading and export services that valorize harvests on national and international markets. Operates through Terris Union and the Lecurek subsidiary, managing price risk (MATIF hedging) and commercializing approximately 1.3 million tonnes of cereals.
• Pôle Laboratoires et Services – Laboratory Analysis and Advisory Laboratory analysis and advisory services ensuring product quality and food safety. Includes Microsept (food and environmental microbiology), Ceralim, and Olcéa subsidiaries offering tailored analyses, training (Microsept Formation), and digital solutions (Microsept Digital).
• Pôle Distribution Grand Public – Gamm vert Garden Centre Retail Retail distribution reconnecting producers with consumers via Gamm vert garden centre franchise stores, specializing in gardening, plants, pet supplies, and garden tools. Gamm vert is the leader in French gardening retail.
• Pôle Innovation et Développement – Innovation Services Innovation and development services designing sustainable solutions for tomorrow's agriculture. Includes digital tools (Abelio crop decision-support, Farmstar satellite imagery), crop management advisory, and the development of new filieres such as lavandin and cameline essential oils.
• Pôle Transport – Agritransport Bulk Transport Services Unified transport activity management strengthening synergies across the cooperative. Specializes primarily in grain tipper truck transport for cereal collection and livestock feed tankers, with five trucks running on Oléo100 (100% vegetable fuel from colza).
• Lecureur Semences – Certified Seed Multiplication and Sale Seed multiplication subsidiary producing and commercializing certified conventional and organic (AB-certified) seeds. Operates with 10 collaborators shaping and selling over 100,000 tonnes of seeds annually through a network of 130 seed multipliers. Approximate revenue of €6 million.
• Sur Le Champ! – Producer-to-Consumer Digital Platform E-commerce and producer-direct platform connecting producers with consumers, offering various services including sales, deliveries, and administrative services for agricultural professionals.
• Cereapro.com – Agricultural Comparator Platform Agricultural comparator platform helping farmers compare products and services in the agricultural sector.
• Prestafarm – Agricultural Contracting Services Agricultural work services subsidiary (ETA) providing farm contracting services including agricultural work in fields and harvest assistance for cooperative members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Score of 91/100 on the Gender Equality Index (Index d'égalité professionnelle) for 2025, reflecting progress in pay equity and representation among top earners.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Smag FarmercoreTechnology or Integration · 17 March 2026Smag Farmer is a parcel management and traceability software used by SCAEL to guide farmer-members through the 2027 digital phytosanitary registry mandate. SCAEL actively promotes and supports the adoption of Smag Farmer among its farmer-members as part of the SCAEL2030 project. The tool integrates over 40 automated regulatory control points and supports direct field-entry of interventions.
• Sigma ConseilsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Market analysis firm specializing in cereal and oilseed market analysis. Presentes at the SCAEL student community's Paris day to educate alternates on international market dynamics. Works in the context of Terris Union's commercialization activities and price risk management.
• Lecureur (Export subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Part of the SCAEL group itself, Lecurek is the export arm and one of France's largest soft wheat exporters to third countries. Its activities were presented to the student community as part of understanding the full grain value chain. Manages international sales negotiations with brokers and oversees logistics execution.
• Terris UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Joint commercialization platform uniting three cooperatives: SCAEL, Bonneval Beauce and Perche, and Bellême, with a combined cereal volume of ~1.3 million tonnes. Manages price risk, MATIF hedging, logistics, and client relationships for all member cooperatives.
• HELPACcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2021Partner in the lavandin value chain (Sensoriel project) collaborating on the transformation process from harvest to distillation of lavandin essential oils. Supported by France Relance funding as one of 8 national laureates.
• Farmstar (Subsidiary of Airbus/Arvalis)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSatellite imagery-based crop monitoring service offered to farmer-members for over 15 years, providing precise nitrogen requirements at parcel level. Enables precision agriculture and supports input optimization decisions.
• TELLENTsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of the Recruitee recruitment software platform used by SCAEL to publish job listings, collect applications, and manage the candidate pipeline. TELLENT acts as a data processor under SCAEL's direction for recruitment management.
• Semences de FrancesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLecureur Semences participates in the Semences de France cooperative union for seed commercialization on both short and long supply chains, enabling broader national distribution of certified seeds beyond the regional cooperative network.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• InVivo Group: French agricultural cooperative union coordinating trading, seed, agricultural distribution, and retail (Gamm vert franchisor at the national level) for its member cooperatives. Overlaps with SCAEL across virtually every pole: grain trading, seed production (Semences de France is a union partner of Lecureur), lab/agri-services, and public distribution.
• Axereal: One of France's largest agricultural cooperatives, headquartered in central France, with grain collection, storage, malting, and animal nutrition operations. Directly comparable to SCAEL through overlapping farmer-member model, cereal trading via Union Invivo/Episens platforms, and seed multiplication activities — but at materially larger scale.
• Euralis: Southwest France cooperative active in grain, seed, and poultry (Rougié). Comparable through farmer-member model, grain collection, and seed activities; less direct overlap on the Eure-et-Loir cereal specialization.
• Agrial: Multi-sector French agricultural cooperative covering crop production, livestock, vegetables, and beverage distribution. Comparable to SCAEL through grain activities, farmer-member base, and a comparable diversified cooperative model — though broader in scope (e.g., beverages, vegetables).
• Terrena: Western-France agricultural cooperative with grain, livestock, and processed-food activities. Compares to SCAEL on cooperative governance, grain collection, and value-chain integration, though more diversified into animal proteins and branded retail.
• Maïsadour: Southwest France cooperative with strong maize, poultry (Delpeyrat), and seed activities. Comparable on cooperative structure and grain/seed operations; differs in core crop focus (maize vs. broad cereals/oilseeds) and stronger downstream branded food exposure.
• Limagrain: French farmer-cooperative and one of the largest seed producers globally (Vilmorin & Cie, Limagrain Ingredients). Direct comparison through certified seed multiplication, plant breeding, and cooperative ownership — though Limagrain is materially larger and more internationally oriented.
• Vivescia: French cooperative group specialized in grain collection, storage, malting barley, milling, and bakery ingredients. Comparable to SCAEL through farmer-member grain pooling, seed activities, and integrated downstream processing — though with stronger malting/milling industrial exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Soufflet Group: Major privately held French grain collector and trader (now part of InVivo post-2024 acquisition), with deep presence across Europe and into CIS origins. Comparable to SCAEL's grain collection and export activities (Lecureur arm) but operates at much larger industrial scale and without a farmer-member cooperative structure.

Emerging players

• Bioline by InVivo: InVivo's crop-inputs and digital agriculture subsidiary offering Smag (including Smag Farmer), seed treatments, and precision agriculture services. Direct technology overlap with SCAEL's adoption of Smag Farmer — represents both an upstream partner and a potential competitor for SCAEL's digital and advisory revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNQN6guCSZ6zytr4eaVQntg
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupe_scael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-scael

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries12 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 Scael