COOPÉRATIVE DES PRODUCTEURS DE REBLOCHON FERMIER

What COOPÉRATIVE DES PRODUCTEURS DE REBLOCHON FERMIER does

COOPÉRATIVE DES PRODUCTEURS DE REBLOCHON FERMIER, operating under the brand "Le Farto," is a private agricultural cooperative founded in 1971 in Thônes, Haute-Savoie, France, and registered as SARL La SICA DES ALPAGES. It is the only affineur (cheese-aging specialist) cooperative dedicated to fermier (farm-made) Reblochon, aggregating production from approximately 70 dairy farmer-members and over 70 salaried employees across three sites: the Thônes headquarters and aging caves, the 400-meter historic railway tunnel at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (acquired 2007, robot-equipped since 2018), and the partner Coopérative des Hauts Fleury at Mieussy. The cooperative ages, selects, and commercializes a portfolio of AOP and IGP-certified Savoyard cheeses including Reblochon de Savoie AOP, Tomme de Savoie IGP, Beaufort AOP, Raclette de Savoie IGP (including a 2023 smoked variant), Abondance AOP, Chevrotin AOP, and Emmental de Savoie IGP, with annual sales of approximately 2,500 tonnes.

The cooperative's revenue model combines direct-to-consumer retail through its flagship "Le Farto de Thônes" store (operating since 1987), phone/email pre-orders with next-day pickup, wholesale channels to local retailers and restaurants, and tourism-based experiential revenue from guided cave tours (€2 per adult). It is governed democratically by its producer-members under a one-person-one-vote structure, with a contractual commitment to purchase 100% of member production regardless of season, providing price stability and supply security. The cooperative's go-to-market is overwhelmingly regional, concentrated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area, with tourism-season concentration of consumer traffic.

The business is supported by a quality-control laboratory, traditional natural cave aging infrastructure at two locations, automated aging-care robotics deployed progressively since 2018, and a web/email newsletter ("La Gazette") plus Facebook presence for customer engagement. In June 2024 it announced a strategic alliance with the Coopérative fruitière du Val d'Arly (Flumet, Savoie) under shared governance while preserving each cooperative's autonomy, signaling a cooperative-consolidation trajectory across the broader Aravis/Savoie region.

Name

COOPÉRATIVE DES PRODUCTEURS DE REBLOCHON FERMIER

Legal name

SARL La SICA DES ALPAGES

Website

https://reblochon-thones.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Farto is a French agricultural cooperative in Thônes, Haute-Savoie, that ages and commercializes AOP and IGP-certified Savoyard cheeses, including fermier Reblochon, for 70 farmer-members, serving consumers through its direct retail store, wholesale buyers, and cheese-tourism experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cheeses

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Aging/Affineur Services (Maturation & Cave-Aging) (AFAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)

Keywords

• Traditional cheese aging
• Alpine dairy cooperative
• Farm-made reblochon
• Savoyard cheese production
• Artisanal cheese affinage

Headquarters

HQ city

Thônes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Sales: The cooperative sells AOP and IGP certified cheeses (Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie, Beaufort, Raclette, Abondance, Chevrotin) through its direct sales store and potentially to retailers and restaurants.
2. Direct Retail Sales: The cooperative operates a physical retail store in Thônes open Monday-Saturday 8h00-19h00 and Sunday mornings, offering cheese and regional products directly to consumers.
3. Phone/Mail Orders: The store offers phone and email ordering with next-day pickup, adapting to customer needs with reservation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Le Farto is the only French cooperative specializing in the aging (affinage), selection, and commercialization of traditional farm-made (fermier) Reblochon and other Savoie cheeses (Reblochon AOP, Tomme de Savoie IGP, Beaufort AOP, Raclette de Savoie IGP, Abondance AOP, Chevrotin AOP, Emmental de Savoie IGP). It operates natural aging caves at Thônes and a 400-meter historic tunnel at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, aging 2,500 tonnes of cheese annually from approximately 70 fermier producer-members. The cooperative sells directly to consumers at its Thônes retail store and offers guided tours of its aging facilities.

Product overview

Le Farto is an affineur (cheese aging) cooperative specializing in traditional Savoyard cheeses. The cooperative offers a portfolio of AOP and IGP protected cheeses including Reblochon de Savoie AOP (fermier and laitier varieties distinguished by casein spots), Tomme de Savoie IGP, Raclette de Savoie IGP including a smoked variant, Chevrotin AOP, Abondance AOP, and Beaufort AOP. The cooperative also produces specialty tommes (Roche de Thônes, Le Montagnard, Tomme au Chniu, Tomme au Fenugrec) and Emmental de Savoie IGP. Services include a direct sales store in Thônes and guided tours of aging caves. The cooperative connects approximately 70 fermier producers and 20 laitier producers, aging cheeses at its Thônes facility and the historic tunnel at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reblochon de Savoie AOP Traditional raw cow's milk cheese from the Aravis valley, produced under AOP protection since 1958. Available in fermier (single-herd, green casein) and laitier (multi-herd, red casein) variants. Sold to consumers seeking authentic, terroir-driven Savoyard cheese.
• Tomme de Savoie IGP Pressed uncooked cheese with rustic appearance, flora that may include white, yellow, or red mold, and a tender, fragrant paste with nuanced aromas. Available in fermière and laitière variants. IGP protection since 1996.
• Raclette de Savoie IGP Traditional Savoyard cheese suited for melted preparation, with typical terroir aromas. IGP protection obtained in 2017.
• Raclette fumée (Smoked Raclette) Smoked raclette cheese produced using traditional beechwood smoking, without colorant additives. Launched in 2023 through installation of a traditional smokehouse.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2500 tonnes of cheese sold annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Office de tourisme Praz-de-Lys-SommandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Partnership signed with Hauts Fleury fruitière and the tourism office to promote local products, support mountain agriculture, and strengthen territorial attractiveness.
• Coopérative fruitière du Val d'ArlycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024New alliance announced June 2024 with the fruit cooperative based at Flumet in Savoie. Both cooperatives share a unique management model where producers are both members and managers. They will maintain autonomy but create common governance while preserving their identities. The union aims to strengthen the local agricultural fabric of the Aravis region.
• Coopérative de Pers-JussyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner cooperative that participated in the November 2022 joint gathering with Farto and Hauts Fleury members to visit the Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval aging tunnel.
• Coopérative laitière des Hauts Fleury (La Fruitière de Mieussy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Key partner cooperative located in Mieussy (74). Founded in 1997 with a manufacturing workshop and store. Produces reblochon laitier (fruitier) identifiable by red casein dots, Abondance, and Tomme de Savoie. Works with about fifteen producers. The Farto values their production year-round and shares solidarity with the cooperative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: French specialty cheese group (Euronext-listed) with broad traditional and branded cheese ranges. Overlaps with the cooperative through French AOP categories at a much larger, more diversified scale.
• Bel Group: Major French cheese manufacturer (Laughing Cow, Babybel, Kiri) with growing exposure to PDO specialties. Comparable at an industry level rather than at the artisanal affineur niche.
• Lactalis: World's largest dairy company, family-owned French, with a vast portfolio including Président branded cheeses. Overlaps with the Farto's categories through industrial processing but does not compete in cave-aged fermier niche.
• Sodiaal: France's largest dairy cooperative, owner of Entremont and a wide portfolio of cheese brands. Overlaps in Savoie AOP categories but competes as a mass-market, multi-category incumbent.

Direct peers

• Fromageries Marcel Petite: Jura-based affineur of Comté, operating under an analogous cooperative-style aging model in natural Fort des Rousses cellars. Closely comparable as a French PDO affineur specializing in traditionally cave-aged hard cheese from member/partner producers.
• Coopérative Laitière des Hauts Fleury (La Fruitière de Mieussy): Partner cooperative producing reblochon laitier, Abondance, and Tomme de Savoie from a 15-producer base with its own retail store. Closely comparable operating model and product mix.
• Fruitière du Val d'Arly: Savoie fruitière cooperative at Flumet that entered an alliance with the Farto in June 2024 under shared governance. Comparable cooperative structure, AOP/IGP cheese portfolio, and direct retail model.
• Coopérative Laitière du Beaufortain: Alpine cooperative producing Beaufort AOP, one of the six AOP/IGP cheeses the Farto handles. Highly comparable as a mountain dairy cooperative aging traditional Savoie cheese from member farmers.

Others

• Fromages de Savoie (Interprofession): Inter-professional body for Savoie cheeses that defends and promotes AOP/IGP designations central to the Farto's portfolio. Not a competitor but a structural enabler for the cooperative's certification moat.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fartodethones

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 COOPÉRATIVE DES PRODUCTEURS DE REBLOCHON FERMIER