Lecapitaine
Lecapitaine is a French manufacturer (founded 1936) of custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork for vans and trucks, serving food, logistics, and pharmaceutical cold chain customers across Europe as a subsidiary of the Petit Forestier Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersSaint-lô, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lecapitaine does
Lecapitaine is a French industrial manufacturer of custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork (carrosserie frigorifique), founded in 1936 and headquartered in Saint-Lô, France, with 101–250 employees. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Petit Forestier Group, a diversified conglomerate in refrigerated vehicle solutions. Lecapitaine designs and builds temperature-controlled bodies installed on chassis from virtually every major European OEM — Renault Trucks, Mercedes-Benz, Iveco, MAN, Volkswagen, Stellantis brands (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel/Vauxhall, Fiat Professional), Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Volvo Trucks, Scania, and Fuso — spanning vans (under 3.5 tonnes) to heavy goods vehicles (up to 26 tonnes). Production is offered in three formats: complete mounted bodies, EFAS (bodies awaiting chassis installation), and kit form, with bespoke fittings such as meat hooks, adjustable shelving, multi-temperature partitions, tail lifts, and EasyAcc'Air sectional doors.
The company's proprietary technology base includes the patented RigidLink self-supporting bodywork structure and the patented EasyAcc'Air sectional door, complemented by integration with market-leading refrigeration units from Carrier and Thermo King. Lecapitaine maintains a dense regulatory and certification footprint — ISO 9001:2015, ATP, Certicold Pharma, UTAC Qualified Operator (VUL and Poids Lourds), Hydrotest, refrigerant handling competence, and Conformity of Production attestations for France, the UK, and Wallonia — which is particularly load-bearing for pharmaceutical cold chain and perishable goods transport.
Lecapitaine serves six professional verticals: institutional catering, food trades (butchers, bakeries, delicatessens), food wholesalers, transport and logistics, event catering, and the pharmaceutical industry. The commercial model is B2B with quote-based pricing, executed through direct sales via the company website and a network of regional coachbuilders/carrossiers across France and Europe. Geographic reach is concentrated in France, with active commercial presence in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom supported by localized multilingual websites. Recent strategic emphasis has been on alternative-energy vehicles (electric, CNG, hybrid) and urban last-mile delivery formats, materialized through sub-brands such as 'Urban by Lecapitaine' and partnerships with electric utility vehicle makers (Goupil, K-Ryole, Kleuster, Ligier).
Lecapitaine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lecapitaine
- Legal name
- LECAPITAINE
- Website
- https://lecapitaine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lecapitaine is a French manufacturer (founded 1936) of custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork for vans and trucks, serving food, logistics, and pharmaceutical cold chain customers across Europe as a subsidiary of the Petit Forestier Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lecapitaine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refrigerated Vehicle Bodywork Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing (336211), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)
- SIC
- Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD)
Keywords
Where Lecapitaine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint-lô
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lecapitaine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Refrigerated Vehicle Body Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom refrigerated bodywork (carrosseries frigorifiques) for commercial vehicles including vans, platform cabs, chassis cabs, and heavy goods vehicles. Customers select from various brands (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Iveco, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes, MAN, Volkswagen, etc.) and Lecapitaine installs specialized refrigeration bodies. Revenue comes from direct vehicle body sales with customization options.
- Customization and Options: Additional revenue from bespoke fittings including meat hooks, adjustable shelving, removable intermediate shelves, double doors, swinging doors, and tail lifts. Three production types available: complete bodies mounted on chassis, EFAS (bodies awaiting chassis installation), and kit form (disassembled components).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lecapitaine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lecapitaine designs and manufactures custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork (carrosseries frigorifiques) installed on third-party OEM chassis for professional cold-chain transport. The portfolio covers vans (under 3.5t), platform cabs, chassis cabs (3.5–7.2t), and heavy goods vehicles (7.5–26t), plus alternative-energy and last-mile variants, with bespoke fittings such as meat hooks, shelving, tail lifts, and multi-temperature compartments. Customers in food logistics, catering, pharmaceutical, and event-catering sectors procure fully customized or standard refrigerated bodies through direct quotes.
Product overview
Lecapitaine is a specialist in custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork manufacturing and is part of the Petit Forestier Group. The company offers a complete portfolio of refrigerated vehicle solutions organized into four core product categories: Fourgons (vans) for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, Planchers cabine (platform cabs) for light commercial vehicles, Châassis cabine (chassis cabs) for medium-duty vehicles from 3.5 to 7.2 tonnes, and Porteurs (heavy goods vehicles) for vehicles from 7.5 to 26 tonnes. Specialized sub-brands include Urban by Lecapitaine (urban delivery-focused models) and Intencity by Lecapitaine (comprehensive van range), along with patented features such as RigidLink self-supporting structure and EasyAcc'Air sectional door. The company serves six professional sectors: institutional catering, food trades/catering, food wholesalers, transport & logistics, special event catering, and health & pharmaceutical industries. Vehicles are available in standard configurations or fully customized solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Urban by Lecapitaine: Urban vehicle range designed for city deliveries with optimized dimensions
- Intencity
- Certicold Pharma
- RigidLink
- EasyAcc'Air
Products and services
- Fourgons (Refrigerated Vans) Refrigerated van bodywork for vehicles with gross vehicle weight under 3.5 tonnes, available across numerous OEM chassis including Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Iveco, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes, Volkswagen, MAN, and Opel/Vauxhall. Designed for professional cold-chain delivery.
- Planchers cabine (Refrigerated Platform Cabs) Refrigerated platform cab bodywork installed on van chassis with gross vehicle weight under 3.5 tonnes, featuring low loading thresholds, easy access, and high payload capacity for frequent urban deliveries.
- Châssis cabine (Refrigerated Chassis Cabs) Refrigerated chassis cab bodywork for vehicles with gross vehicle weight from 3.5 tonnes to 7.2 tonnes, bridging light commercial vans and heavy goods vehicles in the product range.
- Porteurs (Refrigerated Heavy Goods Vehicles) Refrigerated heavy goods vehicle bodywork for vehicles with gross vehicle weight from 7.5 tonnes to 26 tonnes, suitable for both urban distribution and long-distance refrigerated transport.
- Véhicules du dernier kilomètre (Last-Mile Delivery Vehicles) Specialized lighter, more agile, and cleaner refrigerated vehicles designed for last-mile urban deliveries, including electric cargo trikes (Kleuster Freegônes), compact EVs (Goupil G4/G5, Ligier Pulse 4), and electric-assist trailers (K-Ryole).
- Véhicules à énergies alternatives (Alternative Energy Vehicles) Refrigerated vehicles adapted for alternative-energy powertrains including electric, CNG (GNC), and hybrid drivetrains for urban distribution and low-emission zones.
- Urban by Lecapitaine Urban-focused refrigerated vehicle sub-brand optimized for city deliveries with compact dimensions, available on Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Master, Iveco Daily, Volkswagen Crafter, and MAN TGE chassis.
- Intencity by Lecapitaine Refrigerated van sub-brand available across multiple OEM platforms including Nissan Interstar/Primastar, Toyota Proace/Proace City/Proace Max, Renault Trucks Trafic/Master/Kangoo, Volkswagen Crafter, Iveco Daily, MAN TGE, Opel Movano/Vivaro/Combo, Peugeot Boxer/Expert/Partner, Citroen Jumper/Jumpy/Berlingo, and Fiat Ducato/Scudo/Doblo.
- Custom Manufacturing (Sur-mesure) Bespoke refrigerated bodywork manufacturing service combining Lecapitaine's expertise and patented innovations to meet specific customer requirements, with options including meat hooks, shelving, removable intermediate shelves, double doors, swinging doors, and tail lifts.
Companies that use Lecapitaine
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Lecapitaine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Lecapitaine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred, major and minor.
- Petit Forestier GroupcoreLecapitaine is a subsidiary company of the Petit Forestier Group, a major player in refrigerated vehicle solutions. This parent company relationship provides strategic backing and access to group expertise in refrigeration technology and cold chain solutions.
- CarrierpreferredCarrier is a leading refrigeration unit provider. Lecapitaine works with Carrier as one of their market-leading partners to provide the appropriate refrigeration unit based on customer requirements.
- Thermo KingpreferredThermo King is a market-leading refrigeration unit provider. Lecapitaine partners with Thermo King to offer customers a choice of refrigeration solutions based on their specific needs.
- Renault TruckscoreRenault Trucks is a key vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Renault chassis including Master, Trafic, Kangoo, and D Series vehicles.
- NissancoreNissan is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Nissan chassis including Primastar and Interstar vehicles.
- ToyotacoreToyota is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Toyota chassis including Proace and Proace City vehicles.
- VolkswagenmajorVolkswagen is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Volkswagen Crafter chassis.
- IvecocoreIveco is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Iveco chassis including Daily, Eurocargo, and S-Way vehicles.
- Mercedes-BenzmajorMercedes-Benz is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Mercedes chassis including Vito, Sprinter, and Actros vehicles.
- MAN (Traton Group)majorMAN is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on MAN chassis including TGE and TGM vehicles.
- Fiat ProfessionalcoreFiat Professional is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Fiat chassis including Ducato, Scudo, and Doblo vehicles.
- PeugeotcorePeugeot is a vehicle manufacturer partner (Stellantis). Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Peugeot chassis including Partner, Expert, and Boxer vehicles.
- CitroëncoreCitroën is a vehicle manufacturer partner (Stellantis). Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Citroën chassis including Berlingo, Jumpy, and Jumper vehicles.
- Opel/VauxhallcoreOpel (Vauxhall in UK) is a vehicle manufacturer partner (Stellantis). Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Opel chassis including Combo, Vivaro, and Movano vehicles.
- FordmajorFord is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Ford chassis including Transit vehicles for alternative energy and last-mile delivery solutions.
- Fuso (Daimler Truck)minorFuso is a vehicle manufacturer partner under Daimler Truck. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Fuso Canter chassis for urban delivery solutions.
- ScaniaminorScania (Traton Group) is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Scania P series chassis for heavy transport.
- Volvo TrucksminorVolvo Trucks is a vehicle manufacturer partner. Lecapitaine installs refrigerated bodywork on Volvo FL and FH series chassis.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lecapitaine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sofrigam: French specialist in pharmaceutical cold chain packaging and temperature-controlled logistics solutions. While primarily a packaging/logistics provider rather than body builder, it competes in the broader pharmaceutical cold chain space where Lecapitaine's Certicold Pharma offering also operates.
Direct peers
- Chéreau SAS: French manufacturer of refrigerated trailers and rigid bodies, also operating under the Joubert Group, with direct overlap on refrigerated body manufacturing for commercial vehicles and trailers in the European market.
- Lamberet SAS: French-based manufacturer of refrigerated and insulated vehicle bodies (vans to heavy trucks), headquartered near Lyon. Direct domestic competitor to Lecapitaine with overlapping product range (fourgons, châssis cabine, porteurs) and similar vertical specialization across food and pharma cold chain.
- Joubert Group: French commercial vehicle body manufacturer with refrigerated and specialty bodywork lines (including the Chéreau brand). Comparable to Lecapitaine in product scope and vertical market reach across food, pharma, and logistics customers.
- KRESS Fahrzeugbau: German-based manufacturer of refrigerated and insulated commercial vehicle bodies with a similar product mix (vans to heavy trucks) and European cross-market presence. Comparable to Lecapitaine in technology, customization, and ATP certification scope, but serving more of the DACH region.
- Triga S (Trigon Group): European manufacturer of insulated and refrigerated vehicle bodies with operations in multiple EU countries. Direct competitor in the refrigerated bodywork segment with similar ATP-certified product range and customization focus.
Others
- Petit Forestier Group: Parent company of Lecapitaine and one of Europe's largest refrigerated vehicle rental and leasing operators. While it serves as both owner and a key embedded customer, it is not a direct manufacturing competitor but rather a strategic shareholder and downstream demand source.
Broad incumbents
- Gruau Group: French-based commercial vehicle body converter (vans, ambulances, utility vehicles). It is a broad incumbent in vehicle body conversion but with less specialization in refrigerated/heavy-duty bodies — its refrigerated expertise is narrower than Lecapitaine's.
- Carrier Transicold: Global leader in transport refrigeration units and integrated refrigerated solutions for trucks, trailers, and containers. Although primarily a refrigeration unit supplier to Lecapitaine, Carrier offers end-to-end refrigerated transport systems and competes at the integrated solution level.
- Thermo King (Trane Technologies): Global manufacturer of transport refrigeration units for trucks, trailers, and vans. Lecapitaine partners with Thermo King for refrigeration units, but Thermo King's broader portfolio and direct-to-fleet solutions place it as a broad incumbent in adjacent refrigerated transport.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lecapitaine social profiles
Digital presenceLecapitaine compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Lecapitaine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lecapitaine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lecapitaine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lecapitaine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lecapitaine
What does Lecapitaine do?
Lecapitaine designs and manufactures custom refrigerated vehicle bodywork (carrosseries frigorifiques) installed on third-party OEM chassis for professional cold-chain transport. The portfolio covers vans (under 3.5t), platform cabs, chassis cabs (3.5–7.2t), and heavy goods vehicles (7.5–26t), plus alternative-energy and last-mile variants, with bespoke fittings such as meat hooks, shelving, tail lifts, and multi-temperature compartments. Customers in food logistics, catering, pharmaceutical, and event-catering sectors procure fully customized or standard refrigerated bodies through direct quotes.
Is Lecapitaine a public or private company?
Lecapitaine is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lecapitaine founded?
Lecapitaine was founded in 1936. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lecapitaine based?
Lecapitaine is headquartered in Saint-lô, France, in the Europe region.
How does Lecapitaine make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Refrigerated Vehicle Body Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are customization and Options.
Who are Lecapitaine's main competitors?
Sofrigam is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Chéreau SAS, Lamberet SAS, Joubert Group, KRESS Fahrzeugbau and Triga S (Trigon Group). Petit Forestier Group is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Gruau Group, Carrier Transicold and Thermo King (Trane Technologies).
Does Lecapitaine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lecapitaine.
What industry is Lecapitaine in?
Lecapitaine's product category is Refrigerated Vehicle Bodywork Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAGAD, Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics). Its NAICS code is 336211 and its SIC code is 3713.