Melford

What Melford does

Melfor SAS is a privately held French family food company (Société par Actions Simplifiée) founded in 1922 by Fernand Higy in Mulhouse, Alsace, specializing in the production and distribution of vinegar, mustard, and condiment products. Its commercial heart is the flagship Melfor L'Original — a vinegar aromatized with honey and a closely-guarded plant infusion, a recipe that has been the company's technical and brand anchor for over a century and is now complemented by specialty variants (Côté Épices, Côté Sud, Côté Balsamique, Spécial Conserves), ready-to-use vinaigrettes, mustards, sweet-and-sour pickles, a drops-concentrated "Arôme," and a crudité sauce, alongside an organic BIO SKU in 100% recycled PET (introduced 2020). A separate SAAS sub-brand supplies alcohol-based white vinegar in 3L/5L/10L formats for household and professional cleaning, leveraging beet-derived French alcohol.

Melfor operates two production sites in the Alsace region, runs with 40+ employees, and produces in excess of 20 million liters of vinegar annually while purchasing several tens of tons of French honey per year as a signature ingredient. Distribution is exclusively through physical retail: the company is present across virtually every major French hypermarket and supermarket banner (Auchan, Carrefour, Casino, Cora, Géant, Grand Frais, Hyper U/Super U, Intermarché, Leclerc, Match, Maximo) and into Belgium via Cora and Colruyt. Headquartered at 36 rue de l'Ill, 68100 Mulhouse, Melfor is described as the market leader in Alsace/Lorraine, with brand presence in more than 8 out of 10 households in its home region.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed, the company is not backed by venture capital or private equity, and ownership remains inside the founding family. Melfor's revenue model is straightforward one-time product sale through retail channel partners, with pricing not publicly disclosed; customer concentration risk sits at the channel level (a handful of large French retailers) rather than at the consumer level, where demand is fragmented across mass-market grocery shoppers and the household/professional cleaning users of the SAAS line.

Name

Melford

Legal name

MELFOR SAS

Website

https://melfor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Melfor SAS is a 1922-founded, family-owned French food company based in Mulhouse, Alsace, that produces and distributes vinegar, mustard, and condiment products — anchored by its signature honey- and plant-infused L'Original recipe — across major French and Belgian grocery retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Condiments and Vinegars

NAICS

Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941), Specialty Canning (311422)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Vinegar & Pickling Solutions Manufacturing (AFAKADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Salad Dressings & Vinaigrettes Manufacturing (AFAKADAC), Acetic Acid & Acetates (Vinegar Powders, Sodium Diacetate) (AFAJAGAC)

Keywords

• Vinegar production
• Condiment manufacturing
• Honey-infused vinegar
• Mustard products
• Alsatian food products

Headquarters

HQ city

Mulhouse

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vinegar and Condiment Products: Melfor generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of vinegar and condiment products, including the flagship Melfor L'Original, specialty vinegars (Côté Épices, Côté Sud, Côté Balsamique), mustards, pickles, and prepared vinaigrettes. The SAAS line provides household vinegar products in practical formats (3L, 5L, 10L).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Melfor manufactures and distributes a range of vinegar and condiment products built around a proprietary 1922 recipe that combines vinegar with French honey and a plant infusion, producing a softened-acidity flavor signature. The portfolio spans the flagship Melfor L'Original, specialty flavored vinegars (Côté Épices, Côté Sud, Côté Balsamique, Spécial Conserves), ready-made vinaigrettes, mustards (La Moutarde, La Moutarde à l'ancienne, verre à whisky), sweet-and-sour pickles, Melfor Arôme concentrate, and crudité sauces, alongside the SAAS sub-brand of household white vinegar (3L, 5L, 10L formats) for cleaning applications.

Product overview

Melfor is a French condiment and vinegar company founded in 1922 in Alsace. The core product portfolio consists of the flagship Melfor L'Original (honey and plant-infused vinegar) with multiple sub-brands including Melfor Côté Épices, Côté Sud, Côté Balsamique, and Spécial Conserves. Ready-to-use vinaigrettes (La Vinaigrette Comme à la Maison, La Vinaigrette Balsamique) and mustard products (La Moutarde, La Moutarde à l'ancienne) extend the range. A separate SAAS sub-brand offers household white vinegar products in various sizes and scents (Citron, Lavande) for domestic cleaning applications. The company operates primarily in Alsace/Lorraine and has expanded nationally and for export.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAAS: Industrial white vinegar brand for household and professional use, available in various concentrations (6°, 14°) and scents (citron, lavande), offered in bulk formats (3L, 5L, 10L). Manufactured in France by Melfor.

Products and services

• Melfor L'Original The flagship product since 1922 — a unique vinegar recipe flavored with honey and plant infusion. A cornerstone condiment of Alsatian gastronomy used for dressings, deglazing meats, and enhancing sauces.
• Melfor L'Original BIO Organic version of the original 1922 recipe featuring vinegar with honey and 100% organic plant infusion, packaged in 100% recycled PET bottles.
• Melfor Côté Épices Vinegar condiment featuring delicate spice flavors of cinnamon and cardamom, designed for hearty salads like watercress, beets, and endives.
• Melfor Côté Sud Warm, sunny condiment with subtle notes of basil, lemon, and mint, ideal for spring and summer salads, tomatoes, tabbouleh, and seasonal salads.
• Melfor Spécial Conserves Based on the original Melfor formula with honey and plant infusion, reinforced in acidity for successful home canning and preserving.
• Melfor Côté Balsamique Combination of Melfor and balsamic vinegar, both known for their smoothness, creating an ideal dressing blend.
• Melfor La Vinaigrette Comme à la Maison Ready-made dressing made with Melfor Original using artisanal recipes, designed to season salads with a homemade taste.
• Melfor La Vinaigrette Balsamique Savory and decorative vinaigrette combining balsamic sweetness and olive oil for universal use and food presentation.
• Melfor La Moutarde Condiment ideal for red and white meats and culinary preparations, with a perfectly balanced gentle heat.
• Melfor La Moutarde à l'ancienne
• La Moutarde "verre à whisky"
• Les cornichons "aigres-doux"
• Melfor Arôme
• Melfor Sauce Crudités
• SAAS Vinaigre Blanc 6°
• SAAS Vinaigre Blanc 6° - Citron
• SAAS Vinaigre Blanc 6° - Lavande
• SAAS Vinaigre Blanc 14°
• SAAS Vinaigre Blanc 6° Bio
• SAAS Vinaigre d'Alcool coloré 6°

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AGEFIGHminorOthersMelfor partners with AGEFIGH to create an inclusive work environment and provide equitable employment opportunities for people with disabilities, committing to respect the principles of the Charte Handicap.
• Regional Schools in Alsace and LorraineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelfor maintains partnerships with several schools in Alsace and Lorraine for student recruitment, alternating training programs, and internship opportunities.
• Sports Event Organizers (Trail de Dabo, Les Mulhousiennes, Les Foulées de Brumath)minorOthersMelfor sponsors multiple local sports events annually to support sport enthusiasts and promote an active, healthy lifestyle.
• Local AssociationsminorOthersMelfor supports local associations working on causes including student precarity, animal welfare, cancer research, and other varied noble causes.
• Specialized Waste Management CompanyminorOthersMelfor partners with a specialized waste management company for proper waste disposal and recycling, with sorting instructions specified on packaging.
• SAAS Product Line Distribution PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe SAAS vinegar line is manufactured by a family PME in France with strict quality processes, producing practical-format vinegars (3L, 5L, 10L) for household and professional use.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Acetum S.p.A. Italian balsamic vinegar of Modena specialist with multi-generation heritage, premium positioning and broad European retail distribution. Comparable to Melfor's Côté Balsamique line and premium vinegar positioning.
• Amora (Unilever): Leading French mustard brand owned by Unilever, distributed through the same French retailers (Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan) as Melfor. Direct competitor in the French mustard and condiment category where Melfor's Moutarde line competes.
• Charbonneaux-Brabant: French family-owned producer of vinegars (including champagne vinegar) and condiments operating from the same era as Melfor. Directly comparable as a heritage French vinegar maker with retail distribution and similar product positioning.
• Fleischmann's Vinegar: Large North American industrial and retail vinegar producer, comparable to Melfor's SAAS line as a scaled vinegar manufacturer selling across retail and food-service channels, though at significantly larger volumes and broader product portfolio.
• Ponti S.p.A. Italian heritage vinegar and condiment manufacturer with similar century-old heritage, broad retail distribution across Europe, and a portfolio spanning balsamic vinegars, condiments, and specialty vinegars. Directly comparable in scale and positioning.
• De Nigris Group: Italian family-owned vinegar and condiment producer with international retail distribution and broad product portfolio (balsamic, wine vinegars, condiments). Comparable as a heritage, family-controlled vinegar specialist expanding beyond home market.
• Maille (Unilever): Premium French mustard brand under Unilever, positioned at the higher-end of the French mustard category. Directly competes with Melfor's Moutarde and Moutarde à l'ancienne on premium shelves.

Broad incumbents

• Mizkan Holdings: Japanese global vinegar producer and owner of Holland House and other Western vinegar brands. Comparable as a large, scaled vinegar manufacturer competing across multiple retail channels, though operating at a much larger scale and broader portfolio than Melfor.
• Heinz (Kraft Heinz): Multinational CPG giant producing vinegar, mustard and condiments globally under the Heinz brand. Broad incumbent comparable through overlap on French/European retail shelves with both vinegar and mustard categories.

Emerging players

• La Tourangelle: French-origin specialty oil and vinegar producer focused on premium and organic SKUs, distributed through specialty and gourmet retail. Comparable as a premium-positioned French condiment brand targeting similar quality-conscious consumers via similar channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUIkKCP3GKRDThiNJAhOzXw
• Facebookfacebook.com/MelforOfficiel
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/melfor
• Instagraminstagram.com/melforofficiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Melford