What Arcadie SA does

Arcadie SA is a French organic food company founded in 1990 (legally constituted 1991) by the Kimmel family, headquartered in Méjannes-lès-Alès in the Cévennes region. It operates a dual-brand portfolio: Cook for organic spices, aromatics, blends, and baking aids, and L'Herbier for herbal teas and medicinal plants covering 50+ varieties in simples and blends. The technical operation encompasses sourcing, quality control, drying, cutting, grinding, sorting, and packaging of organic raw materials, sourced through direct producer partnerships in Madagascar, Iran, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Paraguay, and French regions (Ardèche, Drôme, Massif Central). Notable technical features include paper-based eco-recharge refills reducing plastic 14x versus bottles, 100% rPET bottles replacing glass on lifecycle grounds, and the co-founded Windcoop sailing cargo initiative (85m vessel construction started December 2025, launch expected mid-2027) projected to cut CO2 emissions on Madagascar routes by 60% versus conventional shipping.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer sales through the arcadie.fr e-commerce boutique (with home delivery, point relay, on-site pickup, and a loyalty points program of 1€ = 1 point / 100 points = 10€ discount) with a regional field sales force of dedicated representatives covering five French regions and Belgium to serve B2B customers. Distribution flows through three channels: Arcadie's own e-commerce, independent bio and natural retail stores, and direct B2B ingredient sales to food industry manufacturers — including a long-running private label arrangement with LEA Vital (Le Jardin Biologique). Pricing is unit-based for B2C and transaction-based with multi-year contracts for B2B, with free mainland France shipping above €49. As of January 1, 2026, Arcadie operates as a SCIC (Société Coopérative d'Intérêt Collectif), a multi-stakeholder cooperative involving producers, employees, consumers, and citizens, having previously transitioned from SCOP to SARL to SA in 1996. Holacracy self-management governance was adopted in 2017.

Name

Arcadie SA

Legal name

SA Arcadie

Website

https://arcadie.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Arcadie SA, founded 1990 in France, sells certified-organic spices (Cook brand) and herbal teas (L'Herbier) via e-commerce, bio retail, and B2B channels in France and Belgium, sourcing from organic producers across multiple continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Spices and Herbal Teas

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Ground & Powdered Spices (AFAJANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole Spices (Seeds, Pods, Bark, Roots) (AFAJANAA), Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)

Keywords

• Organic spice manufacturing
• Herbal tea production
• Fair trade ingredients
• Organic food processing
• Aromatic plant sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Méjannes-lès-alès

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spice product sales (Cook brand): Direct sales of organic spices and aromatics under the Cook brand through e-commerce and retail distribution. Revenue generated from unit product sales at various price points (e.g., 2.09€ per 18g sachet).
2. Herbal tea sales (L'Herbier brand): Direct sales of organic medicinal and aromatic plants for tisanes/infusions under the L'Herbier brand. Over 50 plant varieties in simples or blends for wellness and pleasure.
3. Professional B2B ingredients: B2B sales of organic spices and plants to food industry processors and manufacturers under the Arcadie B2B brand.
4. Loyalty program: Customer loyalty points program (1€ = 1 point, 100 points = 10€ discount) driving repeat purchases and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arcadie SA sources, processes (drying, cutting, grinding, sorting), packages and distributes 100% certified organic spices, aromatics, and medicinal/herbal plants under its Cook (spices) and L'Herbier (herbal teas) brands. It sells these products through a B2C e-commerce boutique and organic retail stores, as well as a B2B channel supplying organic ingredients to food industry manufacturers across France, Belgium, and international export markets.

Product overview

Arcadie SA operates as a dual-brand organic food company commercializing spices and herbal teas. The core offerings consist of Cook (spices and aromatics including individual spices, blends, peppers, and baking aids) and L'Herbier (herbal teas and medicinal plants including simples and wellness blends), both marketed under the Arcadie parent brand. A notable product line is the 'Osez les épices' collection of six vegetable-focused spice mixes. Products are distributed through e-commerce, retail stores, and professional channels, with sustainability features including eco-recharges that reduce plastic use by 14x compared to standard packaging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cook: Brand for spices and aromatic seasonings, 100% organic. Sells individual spices, blends, and recipe mixes.
• L'Herbier

Products and services

• Cook organic spices and aromatics Organic spice and aromatics product line under the Cook brand, offering a wide range of certified organic spices, dried herbs, peppers, chili peppers, condiments, and spice blends sourced through fair trade and sustainable partnerships. Sold to individual consumers via e-commerce and to retailers and food industry professionals via B2B channels.
• L'Herbier herbal teas and medicinal plants Herbal teas and medicinal plants product line under the L'Herbier brand, offering over 50 varieties of wild or cultivated aromatic and medicinal plants for wellness, health, and taste, available as simples or blends. Targeted at individual consumers, herbalism practitioners, and wellness-focused buyers.
• Osez les épices vegetable spice blends Curated line of six organic spice blends specifically designed for vegetables, including Légumes croquants, Légumes braisés, Légumes à l'Indienne, Légumes à la Thaï, Légumes rustiques, and Légumes douceur, targeting home cooks seeking to enhance vegetable dishes.
• Cook Moulins grinders Cook branded ceramic-mechanism mills with beech wood bodies, designed to fit Cook flacons and adjustable from crushed to powder consistency for grinding peppers, bay berries, dill, anise, cumin, coriander, fennel, and yellow mustard.
• Arcadie B2B organic ingredients supply Professional B2B offering supplying organic spices and plants to food industry processors and manufacturers under the Arcadie B2B brand, with multi-year contracts managed through a regional field sales team covering France and Belgium.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% CO2 reduction with sailing cargo transport vs conventional maritime
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WindcoopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-founded cooperative maritime company for sailing cargo transport of goods. Arcadie is founding member and primary chargeur (shipper). Construction of 85m sailing vessel 'Le Miaraka' started December 2025 with launch expected mid-2027. Will transport 80% of Cook spices from Madagascar at 60% lower CO2 emissions than conventional maritime transport.
• Zéphyr et BoréecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShip builder specializing in low-carbon maritime transport vessels with rigid sails. Designed and building the Windcoop sailing cargo ship. Co-founded Windcoop initiative with Arcadie.
• BiopartenairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair trade certification label created in 2002. Arcadie commits to labeling all producer partnerships as 'équitable' using this label. Requires 5% of purchase amounts reinvested in producer development funds managed by producers themselves.
• SICARAPPAM (wild plant harvesting cooperative)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench cooperative of wild plant harvesters in Massif Central. Partnership enables Arcadie to offer wild-harvested medicinal plants from Ardèche and Massif Central regions.
• EnercoopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst renewable electricity supplier under cooperative model. Julien Noé, Enercoop founder, co-founded Windcoop and provides guidance on cooperative business model development.
• Grain de SailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer company in modern sailing cargo transport. Jacques Barreau shared experience and expertise with Arcadie for Windcoop development. Operators of 24m and 47m sailing cargo vessels.
• Madagascar spice producerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing 25+ year partnership with turmeric, ginger, vanilla, and pepper producers. One of Arcadie's oldest partnerships. Biopartenaire certified since 2011. 25% of Arcadie supplies sourced from Madagascar. Development funds finance education, agriculture, infrastructure, water access, and reforestation.
• Iranian saffron and rose producerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Iranian farmers for saffron since early operations and Damask rose since 2011. Rose partnership Biopartenaire certified since 2016. Values ancestral farming and preparation know-how.
• Sri Lankan nutmeg producersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational supply chain partnership for nutmeg sourcing from Sri Lanka.
• South African rooibos producersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational supply chain partnership for rooibos sourcing from South Africa.
• Paraguayan sugarcane producersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair trade organic sugarcane supply chain from Paraguay.
• Ardèche, Drôme, and Massif Central French producerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench domestic supply chains for aromatic and medicinal plants, lime blossom (tilleul), garrigue plants, garlic/onion/shallot, lavender/melissa, and coriander/fenugreek. Supports local French organic agriculture.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Naturalia: French organic retail chain (part of Casino Group) carrying organic spices, tisanes, and wellness products. Functions both as a key distribution channel for Arcadie and as a comparable French organic retail stakeholder shaping shelf placement.
• Biocoop: France's leading organic retail cooperative network. Not a direct competitor but a critical distribution channel for Arcadie's products, and comparable as a French cooperative stakeholder in the organic food ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Ethiquable: French organic and fair-trade food cooperative (SCOP) selling spices, cocoa, coffee, and pantry staples through French retail and B2B. Comparable to Arcadie as a French values-driven cooperative with Biopartenaire-equivalent fair trade sourcing.
• Le Comptoir des Épices: French specialty spice retailer/brand offering a wide range of single spices, blends, and peppercorns through e-commerce and B2B channels. Closely mirrors Arcadie's Cook brand positioning in spice category, with similar B2C e-commerce plus retail distribution model.
• Priméal: French organic food brand offering cereals, grains, condiments, and culinary aids under the Ekibio umbrella. Comparable to Arcadie in French organic food positioning with broader pantry range and similar mid-market scale.
• Compagnie des Sens: French organic herbal tea and aromatherapy company selling tisanes, essential oils, and natural wellness products directly to consumers. Highly comparable to Arcadie's L'Herbier brand in product mix, French D2C channel, and mid-sized independent operator profile.
• Albert Ménès: French heritage gourmet brand specializing in fair-trade spices, mustards, and condiments sold through retail and food service. Comparable to Arcadie's Cook brand in product category, fair-trade positioning, and French retail footprint.
• Les Jardins de Gaïa: Specialist French organic and fair-trade herbal tea producer with comparable direct producer sourcing and premium positioning. Overlaps directly with L'Herbier's tisanes and wellness blends in the French bio retail channel.

Broad incumbents

• Bjorg: Major French organic food brand (part of Cereal Partners) spanning biscuits, drinks, and pantry staples sold across all French retail channels. Comparable to Arcadie as a French organic CPG brand, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Terre d'Oc: French organic beauty and food brand from Provence selling essential oils, tisanes, and culinary specialties through retail and D2C. Comparable to Arcadie's L'Herbier in botanical/herbal product mix, with somewhat broader scope including beauty.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/epicescook
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcadie-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/epicescook
• Pinterestpinterest.fr/EpicesCook

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 Arcadie SA