Fromagerie Graindorge

What Fromagerie Graindorge does

Fromagerie Graindorge, established in 1910 in Livarot, Normandy, is an artisanal cheese producer legally structured as SAS Fromagerie de Livarot and operating as a subsidiary of Lactalis Nestl\u00e9 Ultra Frais Marques. The company specializes in the four AOP-certified Norman cheeses \u2014 Livarot, Pont-l'\u00c9v\u00eaque, Camembert de Normandie, and Neufch\u00e2tel \u2014 alongside a portfolio of specialty cheeses (Camembert au Calvados, Pav\u00e9 d'Auge, Coulommiers, Le Fondant Normand) and recipe books. Production is anchored in traditional methods: raw milk (lait cru) sourced exclusively from Norman-cow herds at two partner farms in the Pays d'Auge (Ferme de la Tuilerie and Ferme de la Chesnaye), hand ladle-moulding of Camembert (approximately 5 hours per PDO cheese), washed-rind aging for Pont-l'\u00c9v\u00eaque, and sedge binding of Livarot performed by specialized binders. The headquarters and manufacturing facility are co-located with the Village Fromager visitor attraction in Livarot, supporting both production and agri-tourism.

The business model combines transactional cheese sales with recurring community engagement and tourism revenue. Primary go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the proprietary e-commerce boutique on graindorge.fr (delivering across Metropolitan France through Chronofresh cold-chain logistics, Monday\u2013Thursday) and the on-site retail boutique at Village Fromager. Pricing is unit-based at \u20ac3.20\u2013\u20ac9.60 per cheese across AOP and specialty SKUs, with recipe books at \u20ac6.00. Recurring revenue comes from the Club des Amateurs de Fromages cow-sponsorship subscription (launched 2002), and event-driven revenue from the Village Fromager \u2014 guided tours, group visits, school-group workshops (\u20ac2.70 per student), and community events such as Fermes Ouvertes. Customer segments span individual French and international culinary consumers, school groups seeking educational experiences, and organized tour groups. Brand reach is supported by 145,479 Facebook fans, Instagram presence, an active recipe-content library, email newsletters, and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence recognition (2016).

The technology stack is entirely conventional: there are no APIs, SDKs, apps, AI/ML capabilities, or disclosed digital platforms. Distribution and marketing channels span organic social, recipe content, earned media, events, and email. Recent strategic signals include the 2025 launch of Le Fondant Normand, the 2021 Abeille Normandie du Calvados partnership (limited-edition Livarot AOP supporting Black Bee of Normandy conservation), the 2016 launches of Petit Camembert au Four and Livar'Oflette at Salon du Fromage, and a 2016 Prix d'Excellence from the Concours G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Agricole for Camembert de Normandie AOP production. Geographic expansion is currently constrained to Metropolitan France, with international shipping explicitly unavailable.

Name

Fromagerie Graindorge

Legal name

SAS Fromagerie de Livarot

Website

https://graindorge.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fromagerie Graindorge is an artisanal Normandy cheese maker established in 1910, producing four AOP-certified cheeses (Livarot, Pont-l'\u00c9v\u00eaque, Camembert de Normandie, Neufch\u00e2tel) via traditional raw-milk methods, selling direct to French consumers through e-commerce, the Village Fromager tourist site, and a subscription cow-sponsorship community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan AOP Cheese Production

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese production
• AOP Norman cheeses
• Raw milk cheesemaking
• Camembert de Normandie
• Cheese tourism experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Livarot

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Product Sales: Sale of artisanal Normandy cheeses including AOP-certified cheeses (Livarot, Pont-l'Evêque, Camembert de Normandie, Neufchâtel) and specialty cheeses (Camembert au Calvados, Pavé d'Auge, Coulommiers, Crème fraîche) through e-commerce and physical boutique.
2. Tourism and Visitor Experience: Revenue from the Village Fromager tourist attraction offering individual visits, group tours, and school visits with educational workshops. Includes sales from the on-site boutique selling local Norman products.
3. Club des Amateurs Membership: Community-driven revenue through the Club des Amateurs de Fromages, a cow sponsorship program established in 2002 where members sponsor Norman cows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fromagerie Graindorge produces and sells the four AOP-certified cheeses of Normandy (Livarot, Pont-l'Évêque, Camembert de Normandie, and Neufchâtel) using traditional raw-milk methods and milk from Norman cow herds. In addition to AOP cheeses, the company offers specialty cheeses (Pavé d'Auge, Coulommiers, Camembert au Calvados, Le Fondant Normand), recipe books, and a cheese-tourism experience at the Village Fromager in Livarot.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Père Eugène: Premium cheese brand line including Livarot AOP au lait cru Père Eugène, Pont-l'Evêque AOP au lait cru P.Eugène, and Camembert de Normandie AOP Père Eugène.
• Coeur de Bray

Products and services

• Livarot AOP Cheese AOP-certified Norman washed-rind cheese made from raw milk, traditionally bound with five sedges. Sold under E. Graindorge (e.g., 450g €6.30) and Père Eugène (e.g., 500g €9.60) lines for individual consumers through e-commerce and on-site boutique.
• Pont-l'Évêque AOP Cheese AOP-certified Norman washed-rind cheese made from raw milk, washed several times during maturing to develop subtle terroir characteristics. Sold under E. Graindorge (e.g., 360g €4.65) and Père Eugène (e.g., 400g €6.50) lines to individual consumers.
• Camembert de Normandie AOP Cheese AOP-certified Norman Camembert made from raw milk and hand ladle-moulded using traditional techniques. Sold under E. Graindorge (250g €3.85) and Père Eugène (250g €4.90) lines to individual consumers.
• Neufchâtel AOP Cheese (Coeur de Bray) AOP-certified Norman cheese sold under the Coeur de Bray sub-brand (200g €3.20). Made from raw milk, available to individual consumers via e-commerce and the on-site boutique.
• Specialty Norman Cheeses Non-AOP specialty cheeses including Camembert au Calvados (250g €3.80), Coulommiers au lait cru (360g €4.60), Pavé d'Auge Traditions de Normandie (500g €8.60), Petit Pavé d'Auge (300g €4.60), and Grain d'Orge au Calvados (250g €4.55), sold to individual consumers.
• Le Fondant Normand 270g specialty cheese/dessert product (€4.95) added to the online shop in 2025, targeting individual consumers seeking Norman culinary specialties.
• Petit Camembert au Four and Livar'Oflette Specialty cheese products introduced at the Salon du Fromage 2016, including a baked petit camembert and a Livarot-based specialty, targeted at consumers and professional food audiences.
• E. Graindorge Recipe Books Printed recipe books (Les recettes E.Graindorge n°1 and n°2, each €6.00) sold to individual consumers through the e-commerce boutique to accompany cheese usage.
• Village Fromager Guided Tours and Cheese Tourism Guided tours, individual visits, group tours, and school visits at the Village Fromager in Livarot, offering educational cheese-making experiences, tastings, and access to the on-site boutique.
• School Pedagogical Workshops Hands-on pedagogical workshops for school groups at €2.70 per student, complementing free self-guided video tours and cheese tastings. Aimed at primary and secondary school classes.
• Club des Amateurs de Fromages (Cow Sponsorship Membership) Recurring membership program (Le Club des Amateurs de Fromages) launched in 2002, in which members sponsor Norman cows and participate in a community built around authentic terroir values, with associated cheese and product benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 hours of hand ladle-moulding required per Camembert
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Abeille Normandie du Calvados (ANC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2021 to protect the Black Bee of Normandy (Abeille Noire). Graindorge sells limited edition Livarot AOP and donates €0.20 per product to fund creation of a beehive at the fromagerie in Livarot.
• Ferme de la TuileriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner farm of Mathieu and Charlène Julien in Le Mesnil-Durand. Exclusively Norman cow herd producing milk for Graindorge AOP cheeses. Open to public visits. Farm boutique sells cider, apple juice, vinegar, and honey.
• Ferme de la ChesnayecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner farm of Ingrid and Stanislas Delabasle in Montreuil la Cambe. Norman cow herd grazing 8 months per year, practicing reasoned agriculture. Supplies milk for Livarot, Pont-l'Evêque, and Camembert de Normandie AOP production.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fromagerie Beillevaire: French artisan cheese affineur and dairy producer with direct-to-consumer boutiques, tourism experiences, and a curated specialty cheese portfolio — directly comparable artisan brand-building model.
• Fromagerie de la Bresse: Producer of Bresse Bleu and other French specialty cheeses — another family-rooted French cheese maker with AOP-adjacent positioning and comparable craft heritage.
• Triballat Noyal: French family-owned dairy company producing artisanal cheeses and dairy specialties with a similar heritage brand identity and specialty retail presence in France.
• Fromagerie Guilloteau: French specialty soft-cheese maker best known for Pavé d'Affinois, operating in the same premium soft-cheese category with comparable artisan positioning and specialty retail distribution.
• Isigny Sainte-Mère: Norman dairy cooperative producing Camembert de Normandie AOP, Pont-l'Évêque AOP, Isigny butter, and Isigny cream — same Normandy terroir, same AOP regulatory framework, and overlapping raw-milk craft tradition.
• Maison Hervé: French Camembert producer operating in Normandy with artisanal soft-cheese methods — comparable craft Camembert production and Norman heritage positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: Major French cheese group (Caprice des Dieux, St Môret, Chavroux) with a wide cheese portfolio — a broader incumbent competing in overlapping French cheese categories but at industrial scale.
• Lactalis: World's largest dairy company and ultimate parent group via Lactalis Nestlé Ultra Frais Marques — owns and operates broad French cheese brands (Président, Galbani, etc.) and competes across the same dairy landscape.
• Agrial: French agricultural cooperative with a dairy division producing cheese and other dairy products — vertically integrated competitor operating in the same French dairy supply chain.
• Fromagerie Bel: Large French cheese group (Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, Kiri) with multiple French cheese brands — competing in adjacent cheese categories with much broader distribution and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FromagerieGraindorge
• Instagraminstagram.com/fromageriegraindorge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fromagerie-graindorge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fromagerie Graindorge