Saipol

What Saipol does

Saipol is the French leader in oilseed processing and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Avril, founded in 1983 to industrialize the French rapeseed and sunflower value chain. The company operates an end-to-end crushing, refining, and transformation platform that processes 3.4 million tonnes of rapeseed and sunflower seeds annually across six industrial sites (Grand-Couronne, Lezoux, Le Mériot, Dieppe, Sète, Verdun) and two port terminals (Bassens-Bordeaux, Sète), producing 1.8 million tonnes of protein meal for animal feed, 0.9 million tonnes of refined and pre-treated vegetable oils for food and industry, and 1 million tonnes of renewable energies — primarily biodiesel (Diester) and B100 biofuel (Oleo100) for transport decarbonization.

The company monetizes across three primary revenue streams: industrial B2B sales of commodities and specialty products (vegetable oils, protein meals, glycerin, lecithins); renewable energy sales via Oleo100 direct-to-fleet-operator relationships and the 7-8% mandated Diester blend in French diesel; and digital/transactional revenue through the Oleomarket.fr marketplace (OleoZE for seed sourcing with GES bonus payments, Feedmarket for meal purchasing). Pricing is unit-based and B2B with notable published figures of €600/tonne for camelina intermediate crop seeds and GES bonuses averaging €20-40/tonne paid to farmers. Saipol's vertically integrated model links upstream regenerative agriculture (Empreinte by Saipol, 1,000+ farmers, 11,000+ documented sustainable practices) to downstream certified low-carbon products (10-50% GHG reduction for food oils; 60-80% CO2 reduction for Oleo100) with independently verified carbon data.

Recent strategic positioning has focused on three vectors: transport decarbonization (Oleo100 Bas GES targeting 80% GHG reduction launched in 2026; DUPESSEY&CO as flagship customer consuming 750,000+ liters); sustainable aviation fuel feedstock (Jetsun sunflower, camelina intermediate crops, HEFA processing); and food protein extension via the OLATEIN joint venture with DSM-Firmenich producing CanolaPRO at Dieppe. Strategic acquisitions of Champlor (Verdun, Feb 2026) and SPBS port silo (Bordeaux, June 2026), plus the PepsiCo partnership committing up to 60% of volumes to the Empreinte program, indicate active expansion despite a recent restructuring at Montoir-de-Bretagne that closed biodiesel production and eliminated 33 positions.

Name

Saipol

Legal name

SAIPOL S.A.S.

Website

https://saipol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Saipol is the French leader in oilseed processing, transforming 3.4 million tonnes of rapeseed and sunflower annually into vegetable oils, protein meals, biodiesel, and bio-based products for food, animal nutrition, transport, and chemicals industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oilseed Processing and Biofuel Manufacturing

NAICS

Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegetable Oil Crushing & Refining (Soy, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cottonseed) (AFAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commodity Edible Vegetable Oils (Refined/Bleached/Deodorized) (AFAJALAA), High-Oleic & Specialty Oilseed Oils (AFAJALAC)

Keywords

• Oilseed processing
• Vegetable oil refining
• Biodiesel production
• Protein meal supply
• Regenerative agriculture biofuels

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand-couronne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vegetable Oils: Sale of crude, pre-treated, and refined vegetable oils from rapeseed and sunflower to food industry clients and oil companies for co-refining. Includes specialty oils under the Empreinte by Saipol program.
2. Protein Meals (Tourteaux): Sale of protein-rich rapeseed and sunflower meal to livestock farmers and feed manufacturers via the Feedmarket digital platform.
3. Renewable Energies (Biodiesel/Oleo100): Production and sale of biodiesel (Diester) and B100 biofuel (Oleo100) to transport companies, local authorities, and energy companies. Oleo100 Bas GES provides minimum 80% GHG reduction.
4. Vegetable Glycerin: Crude vegetable glycerin co-product from biodiesel/energy production, sold to cosmetics and chemical industries.
5. Lecithins: Sunflower and rapeseed lecithins produced and commercialized by specialized subsidiaries within the Avril group.
6. GES Bonus / Carbon Bonus: Revenue from sale of low-carbon energies enables payment of GES bonuses to farmers for sustainable agricultural practices. 11,000 sustainable practices valued; 20 million euros reversed to upstream agricultural sector via bonuses averaging 29 euros/tonne.
7. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF): Production of feedstock oils from intermediate crops (Jetsun sunflower, camelina) for SAF via HEFA process, targeting aviation sector decarbonation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Saipol is the French leader in oilseed processing, transforming 3.4 million tonnes of rapeseed and sunflower annually into refined and pre-treated vegetable oils for the food industry, protein-rich meals for animal feed, and renewable biofuels (biodiesel Diester and Oleo100 B100) for transport decarbonation. It also produces vegetable glycerin and lecithins, and is developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) feedstock via intermediate crops (Jetsun, camelina). Its Oleomarket.fr platform connects farmers/cooperatives and feed manufacturers while OleoZE pays GES bonuses to farmers practicing regenerative agriculture.

Product overview

Saipol is a multi-product platform offering vegetable oil processing (crude, pre-treated, and refined oils from rapeseed and sunflower), vegetable proteins (protein-rich meal for animal feed), renewable energies (biodiesel Diester and Oleo100 biofuel), vegetable glycerine, and lecithins. The company operates digital platforms including Oleomarket (integrating OleoZE for sustainable seed sourcing with bonus GES payments and Feedmarket for protein meal purchasing), and sustainability programs like Empreinte by Saipol for regenerative agriculture-based low-carbon oils. Saipol also develops specialty intermediate crops (Jetsun sunflower, cameline) for sustainable aviation fuel production. Key brands include Oleo100 (100% French rapeseed B100 biofuel), Diester (French biodiesel), and CanolaPRO (rapeseed protein for human food via Avril-DSM joint venture).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oleo100: 100% French rapeseed biofuel (B100) for captive fleet trucks, reducing CO2 emissions by 60% and particulate emissions by up to 80%
• OleoZE
• Feedmarket
• Diester
• Empreinte by Saipol
• Oleomarket
• Oleo100 Bas GES
• Jetsun
• Cameline

Products and services

• Huiles végétales (Vegetable Oils)
• Protéines végétales (Plant Proteins / Tourteaux) Rapeseed and sunflower meal (tourteaux) rich in plant proteins, sold to livestock farmers and feed manufacturers, with commercial reach extended via the Feedmarket digital marketplace.
• Diester (Biodiesel) French-made biodiesel from rapeseed oil, incorporated at 7-8% in standard diesel blends in France, with over 50% of esters exported to European and Scandinavian markets.
• Oleo100 (B100 Rapeseed Biofuel) 100% French rapeseed B100 biofuel for captive truck fleets enabling 60% CO2 reduction and up to 80% fine particle emission reduction without engine modifications; deployable on existing fleet infrastructure.
• Oleo100 Bas GES (Next-Generation Low-GHG Biofuel) Next-generation Oleo100 variant delivering minimum 80% GHG emissions reduction versus fossil diesel, built on the Empreinte by Saipol regenerative agriculture program.
• Glycérine végétale (Vegetable Glycerin) Crude vegetable glycerin commercialized as a co-product from the transformation of vegetable oils into biodiesel or Oleo100, for use in cosmetics and chemical industries.
• Lécithines (Lecithins) Sunflower and rapeseed lecithins produced by Saipol and commercialized by specialized subsidiaries within the Avril group.
• OleoZE (Low-Carbon Sourcing Service with GES Bonus) Digital sourcing solution enabling farmers and collecting organizations to supply oilseeds from conservation agriculture and receive bonus GES payments for sustainable practices (averaging 20-40 euros/tonne), with farm-level agronomic traceability integrated into Saipol's renewable energy markets.
• Feedmarket (Protein Meal Marketplace) Digital marketplace platform enabling livestock farmers and feed manufacturers to purchase protein-rich rapeseed and sunflower meal directly, with over 270,000 tonnes commercialized via more than 9,000 trucks.
• Oleomarket.fr (Oilseed and Meal Marketplace) Digital marketplace integrating OleoZE low-carbon seed sourcing and Feedmarket protein-meal purchasing services, connecting farmers and collecting organizations with feed manufacturers.
• Empreinte by Saipol (Low-Carbon Oils Program) Program offering a new generation of sustainable, low-carbon vegetable oils from regenerative agriculture, with South Pole-certified carbon data and RSE reporting for industrial food-sector clients, delivering 10-50% GHG emission reductions versus standard oils.
• Jetsun (Intermediate Sunflower Variety for SAF) Early-maturing sunflower variety cultivated during intercrop periods (between main cropping seasons) to produce feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) via the HEFA process without competing with food production.
• Cameline (Camelina Intermediate Crop) Camelina sativa cultivated in summer intercropping for SAF production, with yields around 10 q/ha and very low input requirements (zero pesticide treatment frequency index). Saipol pays 600 euros/tonne with a harvest guarantee in case of crop failure.
• CanolaPRO (Rapeseed Protein Isolate) High-quality rapeseed protein isolate for human food applications (vegan/vegetarian meat and dairy alternatives, beverages, bakery), produced through the OLATEIN joint venture at the Dieppe site.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.4 million tonnes of rapeseed and sunflower seeds processed annually
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• InVivo Grains (SPBS/Silo Portuaire de Bordeaux Saipol)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Acquisition of 95% of SPBS (formerly SPBL), a 12-hectare port storage facility at Bassens near Saipol's Bordeaux industrial zone. Expanded to 100% on June 24, 2026. Provides storage capacity and port access for seeds and meal logistics.
• PepsiCocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Partnership on regenerative agriculture. Commitment for 2027-2030: up to 60% of volumes to PepsiCo via Empreinte program; 30% carbon intensity reduction. Both have SBTi-aligned climate trajectories. Joint table round at Salon International de l'Agriculture 2026 on accelerating regenerative agriculture.
• Valtris (Champlor plant)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Acquisition of Champlor industrial plant at Verdun from Valtris. Plant processes ~400,000 tonnes/year of rapeseed from Grand-Est region. Strengthens Saipol's industrial footprint at one of France's main rapeseed production basins.
• AgroinvestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025Strategic partnership with Greek agro-food and bioenergy company to develop Mediterranean value chain for oils, protein meal, and biofuels. Addresses protein deficit in Mediterranean region while complementing Saipol's French processing activities. Includes shared expertise and organizational strengthening.
• Yara FranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to promote low-carbon rapeseed value chain in France, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and fertilizer optimization.
• OleoZE Partner Collecting OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Network of certified collecting organizations (organismes stockeurs) sourcing OleoZE oilseeds and providing on-the-ground farmer support for sustainable practice transitions. Seven certified collecting organizations engaged as of 2024.
• Programme Impact PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Durable engagement program for collecting organizations to support farmer transition and scale up volumes of low-carbon seeds. Built to complement OleoZE with technical accompaniment of engaged farmers.
• Axéréal (Centre Grains Sète acquisition)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Saipol acquired Centre Grains on the port of Sète from Axéréal and minority shareholders, strengthening Mediterranean port logistics for seed and meal handling.
• Initiative 4 pour 1000minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2021OleoZE contributes to the international '4 per 1000' initiative demonstrating the potential of agricultural soils for carbon sequestration, aligning with regenerative agriculture principles.
• Renault TrucksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 January 2021Commercial partnership for Oleo100 fuel. Renault Trucks manufactures trucks with engines designed to operate on 100% rapeseed biofuel. Joint commercial offer with VIVESCIA for fleet operators.
• DSM (Royal DSM, now DSM-Firmenich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2020Strategic joint venture OLATEIN (Avril 25%, DSM 75%) to produce CanolaPRO™ rapeseed protein isolate for human food at Saipol's Dieppe site. Includes new crushing unit, protein extraction facility, and biomethane production unit. Target: first production Q1 2022. Creates new employment at Dieppe site.
• South PolecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Emission calculation method for Empreinte by Saipol certified by South Pole, providing independent verification of carbon data for industrial clients' RSE reporting.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bunge: Global oilseed processor and trader following its merger with Viterra. Operates European crushing and refining assets that overlap with Saipol's rapeseed/sunflower platform, including downstream biodiesel and protein meal exposure.
• CropEnergies: European bioethanol producer (Südzucker subsidiary) operating renewable fuel plants across Europe. Comparable to Saipol in EU biofuel market exposure, sustainability certification, and food-versus-fuel dynamics.
• Louis Dreyfus Company: Privately held global merchandiser and processor of oilseeds, grains, and related by-products. Directly comparable to Saipol in French/European oilseed origination, refining, and value-added downstream oils, meals, and biodiesel.
• Verbio: German producer of biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomethane from agricultural feedstocks. Closely comparable to Saipol's specialty biodiesel and renewable energy positioning, particularly around B100-style products and EU RED-driven decarbonization.
• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): One of the world's largest oilseed processors with extensive European crushing capacity and biodiesel production. Competes with Saipol across oilseed origination, refining, and biofuel value chains serving food, feed, and energy customers.
• Tereos: French agricultural cooperative producing sugar, ethanol, and bioenergy from crops; comparable to Saipol's French agricultural value chain, biofuel exposure, and protein co-product monetization for animal feed markets.
• Cargill: Global agricultural commodity giant with major oilseed crushing and refining operations across Europe including France. Directly comparable to Saipol in rapeseed/sunseed processing, refined oils, biodiesel, and protein meal for animal feed.

Broad incumbents

• Neste: Global leader in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel with much larger scale and broader feedstock slate. Comparable to Saipol's renewable energy stream (Diester/Oleo100) and emerging SAF ambitions, but operates at a wider portfolio level.
• TotalEnergies: Integrated French energy major with significant French biofuel production, blending, and renewable diesel capacity. Overlaps with Saipol's Diester and Oleo100 commercial positioning toward French transport and energy customers.
• Südzucker: European sugar and bioethanol producer with diversified agricultural processing. Comparable to Saipol in European agricultural commodity processing, biofuel production, and protein co-product exposure to feed markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Saipol_officiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@saipol.officiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/saipol.officiel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saipol
• Instagraminstagram.com/saipol_officiel

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saipol