Provendi Laboratoire

What Provendi Laboratoire does

Provendi Laboratoire is a French société par actions simplifiée (SAS) founded in 1950 and headquartered in Bons-en-Chablais, Haute-Savoie. The company operates a single integrated site on which it carries out traditional hot saponification of vegetable oils in cauldrons, producing liquid Marseille soap (Rotative soap), Marseille-style cubes, and a derived cosmetics range that includes alum-based deodorants, hemostatic pencils, soap holders, and customized soap bars. Following the 2022 acquisition of Osma Manufacturing, it also became the only French and European producer of natural alum stone, a regulated deodorant and shaving-care ingredient.

The company holds the "Maître Artisan Savonnier" title (granted 1950) and, more recently, "Maître Artisan Alunier," together with the EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label awarded in 2022, Cosmos Organic/Natural, Ecodétergence, RSPO, and AFSM certifications, plus the Entreprise Apprenante designation. These credentials anchor its positioning in the heritage clean-beauty segment and are required by many of its brand clients.

Commercial activity runs through four channels: own-brand D2C e-commerce with international shipping (under names including Les Savonneries de l'Atlantique and Epeda), B2B supply to brand clients ("Clients Marques") focused on clean-beauty customers, B2B contract manufacturing or "façonnage" ("Clients Façonniers"), and selective trade-show activity at Cosmoprof, in-cosmetics, and Cosmetic 360. The firm also acts as a commodity trader of innovative active ingredients for cosmetic formulators. Governance sits with founder-family management, including CEO Mr. Thiry.

Name

Provendi Laboratoire

Legal name

LABORATOIRES PROVENDI

Website

http://provendi.fr/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Provendi Laboratoire is a French specialty soap and cosmetics manufacturer (founded 1950, Bons-en-Chablais) producing traditional hot-saponified Marseille-style soap, alum-stone deodorant products, and custom contract-manufactured cosmetics for clean-beauty brand clients across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-didier-en-chablais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct consumer product sales: E-commerce sales of branded rotative soaps, soap holders, and refills to consumers through the online store. Products sold include various fragrances (lavender, almond, apple-lemon, cedar, rose, verbena) and formats (individual soaps, 2-pack refills, 6-pack refills).
2. B2B contract manufacturing (Clients Façonniers): Sale of raw materials and concentrated bases to contract manufacturers and cosmetics professionals. Products include liquid soap concentrates, bulk formulations, alum powder, and trading of raw materials. Delivered in IBC containers, bag-in-box, or 24-ton tanks.
3. Full-service cosmetic manufacturing (Clients Marques): Comprehensive B2B service including R&D formulation, production, packaging, quality control, and regulatory compliance for custom cosmetic products. Full-service offering from brief definition to finished product delivery.
4. Hemostatic pencils and alum products: Sale of natural alum stone products (stones, sticks, blocks, powder) and hemostatic pencils for shaving and cosmetic use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Laboratoire Provendi manufactures liquid Marseille soap and natural alum stone products using traditional artisan methods (hot saponification, alum stone processing) while providing B2B contract manufacturing services spanning R&D formulation, production, packaging, and regulatory compliance for brand clients in the natural cosmetics and ecological detergents industries. It also operates a direct-to-consumer e-shop selling its historic 'Savon des écoliers' rotative soap line and accessories.

Product overview

Laboratoire Provendi is a French cosmetics and soap manufacturer offering a portfolio of products centered on three core specialties: (1) Savon Rotatif Provendi - the historic rotative school soap produced since 1950 in Haute-Savoie; (2) Savon Liquide de Marseille - liquid Marseille soap using traditional hot saponification, offered as concentrate, bulk, or finished product with certifications; and (3) Natural alum stone products through its OSMA Manufacturing subsidiary. The company operates as a contract manufacturer (façonnier) providing full-service cosmetic development including R&D, production, and packaging for brands, as well as supplying raw materials and concentrates to other manufacturers. Additional offerings include hemostatic pencils for shaving, soap holders/accessories, and commodity trading of cosmetic ingredients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OSMA Manufacturing: Sub-brand focused on natural alum stone products and potassium alum powder for cosmetic formulations. The only French manufacturer of natural alum stone with over 50 years of experience as Master Alum Maker.

Products and services

• Savon Rotatif Provendi (Rotative Soap / 'Savon des écoliers') The historic Provendi rotative soap, popularly known as 'savon des écoliers' (school soap), a 295g solid soap produced in Haute-Savoie using a traditional recipe. Available in multiple fragrances (Lavender, Rose, Almond, Apple-Lemon, Cedar Exfoliating, Verbena) with clip-on or screw-on mounting options. Sold direct-to-consumer via e-shop in 2-pack refills (€12.24 TTC), 6-pack refills (€29.67 TTC), and in combo boxes with soap holders. RSPO certified.
• Savon Liquide de Marseille (Liquid Marseille Soap - B2B concentrate, bulk, and finished product) Liquid Marseille soap produced using the traditional hot saponification method of vegetable oils, offered as concentrated formula, bulk format, or finished product. Can be certified Cosmos Organic, Cosmos Natural, or Ecodétergence. Provendi positions itself as the French leader in manufacturing liquid Marseille soap. Delivered to B2B clients in IBC containers (1 ton), bag-in-box (1 ton), or 24-ton tanks.
• Porte-savon à vis / Clip (Wall-mounted Brass Soap Holders) Wall-mounted brass soap holders with bronze, chrome-plated, or matte brass finishes, designed to hold the rotative soap securely. Screw soap holder priced at €22.92 TTC; combo box with holder and rotative soap at €22.84 TTC. Made in France. Sold direct-to-consumer via e-shop.
• Cosmétique sur mesure (Custom Cosmetics / Full-Service Contract Manufacturing) Full-service cosmetic contract manufacturing for brand clients, covering R&D formulation, production, and packaging of a wide range of custom cosmetic products: shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, exfoliants, shower oils, dry oils, micellar waters, creams, lotions, and oleocalcareous liniments. Formulas available as standard or certified Cosmos Natural/Organic. Sold B2B with personalized support throughout the product development cycle.
• Pierre d'alun naturelle (Natural Alum Stone - stones, sticks, blocks, powder) Natural alum stone products derived from natural potassium alum, offered in stone, stick, block, and powder formats for use as natural deodorant and after-shave product. Provendi is the only French and European manufacturer of natural alum stone through its wholly-owned OSMA Manufacturing subsidiary. Powder is micron-sieved and Ecocert certified for cosmetic formulations including roll-ons, shaving creams, and powders.
• Crayons hémostatiques (Hemostatic Pencils) Medical devices designed to stop bleeding from shaving cuts by tightening pores. Two standard models available, customizable to brand requirements. Used by barbers, boxers, and rugby players. Sold B2B as a customizable branded product.
• Savon noir cosmétique ou ménager (Black Soap) Black soap (savon noir) for cosmetic or household use, produced using traditional saponification methods. Sold B2B through the Clients Façonniers raw materials offering.
• Matières premières et concentrés (Concentrated Raw Materials and Bulk Formulations) Liquid soap concentrates and bulk formulations for contract manufacturers and cosmetics professionals, produced from various vegetable oils. Available in conventional or Cosmos-certified options, customizable to specific formulation needs. Includes liquid soap concentrates, shower gels, creams, and white cosmetics (creams, milks, lotions) for sensitive formulations. Delivered in IBC containers (1 ton), BIB containers (1 ton), or 24-ton tanks.
• Négoce de matières premières (Commodity Trading of Innovative Active Ingredients) Trading service for innovative active ingredients offered to clients to simplify sourcing of new materials to refine concentrates in natural cosmetics and ecological detergents formulations.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bpifrance / ADEME / Ministry of Ecological Transition (Coq Vert Community)coreOthers · 1 January 2023Provendi joined the Green Rooster (Coq Vert) community of over 1,600 French business leaders committed to ecological and energy transition. The partnership provides access to experience sharing to support Provendi's transition to sustainable industry practices.
• Osma Manufacturing (Laboratoire Osma Manufacturing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquisition and integration of Osma Manufacturing, the only French and European manufacturer of natural alum stone. This partnership brought over 50 years of Master Artisan Alunier expertise and expanded Provendi's product portfolio to include natural alum stone products (stones, sticks, blocks, powder) for deodorant and after-shave use.
• COSMEBIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing member of the Cosmebio association, which organizes the Semaine de la Cosmétique Bio (Bio Cosmetics Week) dedicated to natural and organic cosmetics.
• NON NOBIS OrganizationminorOthersPartnership with the NON NOBIS organization working in Haute-Guinea for Diwasi Park protection. Provendi sponsors Lanciné Kourouna and Doussou Kakoro, two deaf and mute children, and supports access to education for young children.
• Nicolas Momein (Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with young artist Nicolas Momein who transforms industrial know-how into art. The Provendi rotative soap has been featured in his sculptures, including his 2013 Grand Prix Edouard Barbe at Centre d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble. The artist sources inspiration from Provendi's production workshop.
• International Scout Aid of ClusesminorOthersAnnual donations of soaps to the International Scout Aid organization which provides emergency aid in Europe, Africa, and Middle East. Provendi has become part of this solidarity chain.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fareva: Major French contract manufacturer of cosmetics, household, and personal care products. Most relevant B2B peer — Provendi's full-service Clients Marques offering (R&D, formulation, packaging, regulatory) competes directly with Fareva's contract cosmetics division for indie and mid-market beauty brand contracts.
• Savonnerie Marius Fabre: Historic French family-owned Marseille soap manufacturer operating since 1900. Most directly comparable peer — same heritage positioning, similar Maître Artisan credentials, AFSM-labelled Marseille soap production, and combined B2B/B2C distribution of traditional soaps and natural cosmetics.
• La Corvette / Savonnerie du Midi: Authentic Marseille soap producer operating the historic Savonnerie du Midi soap factory in Marseille. Direct peer in AFSM-labelled traditional soap manufacturing, natural ingredient sourcing, and dual B2B/D2C distribution in France and export markets.
• Savonnerie Fer à Cheval: Traditional Marseille soap manufacturer founded in 1856, based in Salon-de-Provence. Closely comparable in heritage, authentic Marseille soap production under AFSM rules, and natural cosmetics contract manufacturing. Operates in the same B2B contract manufacturing and branded retail channels.
• Compagnie des Savons de Marseille: Marseille-based cooperative producing authentic Savon de Marseille. Direct competitor in the same AFSM-certified traditional soap category, with comparable B2C brand presence and a focus on natural, eco-detergent product lines overlapping Provendi's Clients Façonniers offering.

Broad incumbents

• Le Petit Marseillais: Mass-market French 'Marseille'-style personal care brand owned by Johnson & Johnson. Overlaps with Provendi on liquid Marseille soap, shower gels, and natural-positioned personal care, but competes at the mass-market price tier with industrial-scale manufacturing.
• Melvita: French organic and natural cosmetics brand (L'Occitane group). Comparable on Cosmos Organic certification, natural ingredient positioning, and French heritage, but operates a much broader branded skincare and body-care portfolio versus Provendi's soap-anchored offering.
• L'Occitane en Provence: Large publicly-listed French natural cosmetics company. Same 'Made in Provence/France' positioning, broad natural personal-care portfolio, and overlapping B2B contract and retail channels — though operating at vastly greater scale across skincare, body care, and fragrances.
• Roger & Gallet: Historic French soap and fragrance brand (L'Oréal group). Comparable heritage credentials and traditional soap expertise, but operates globally across perfumery, body care, and well-being with significantly larger scale than Provendi's B2C business.

Emerging players

• Alkos Group (Intercos / Alkos Cosmétiques): European contract manufacturer specialising in cosmetic pencils, sticks, and stick-format personal care products. Direct peer for Provendi's hemostatic pencil and stick-format alum stone business, and relevant comparison for custom cosmetic stick manufacturing capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Provendi Laboratoire