What Motte Farm does

Ferme de la Motte (legal entity FERME DE LA MOTTE, SARL) is a 100% family-owned French agricultural enterprise headquartered in Talcy, in the Beauce region near the Loire Valley, with secondary operations in Marchenoir. The company produces and conditions fresh condiments — onions, shallots, echalions, and garlic — together with potatoes, squash, and blackcurrant, across both conventional and organic farming. Its agricultural base spans 900 hectares of cultivated land (450 hectares organic), complemented by a network of 150+ partner producers, enabling a commercialized volume of 69,000 tonnes annually including 24,000 tonnes organic. Production, storage (35,000 tonnes), and conditioning take place across approximately 22,000 m² of covered facilities, with a dedicated manual workshop in Marchenoir that uses a patented method to produce tresses, grappes and épis (braided and bunched condiments).

The firm is the world's first and leading producer of echalion (3,000+ tonnes per year) and France's first metteur en marché of organic garlic, with sub-brands Editions particulières (heritage varieties), Saveurs du Jour, Bio Racine (via the Nous Paysans Bio association), and Ferme de la Motte Bio serving different retail tiers. Its go-to-market is enterprise B2B: a dedicated commercial and marketing team supplies grande distribution chains including Carrefour and Leclerc, wholesalers, restaurants, and the food industry; the company also operates the "Aux p'tits oignons" on-site boutique and drive, and exports to Germany and Benelux leveraging its echalion leadership. Multiple certifications — Agriculture Biologique, IFS, GlobalGAP, GRASP, HVE, Demain la Terre, and PME+ Engagés — underpin retailer eligibility, while the company emphasizes field-to-store traceability, on-site solar generation (308,950 kWh in 2022), and a 41% reduction in non-recyclable waste since 2018. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated B2B through retail and wholesale contracts.

Name

Motte Farm

Legal name

FERME DE LA MOTTE

Website

https://fermedelamotte.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ferme de la Motte is a 100% family-owned French producer and conditioner of fresh condiments (onion, shallot, echalion, garlic), potatoes, and squash in conventional and organic varieties, supplying grande distribution, wholesalers, food service, and food industry across France and select export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce and Condiments

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Vegetable Wholesale (AFAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE), Natural, Organic & Health Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAK), Foodservice / HORECA Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAI), Ethnic Produce & Specialty Vegetables Wholesale (AFAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Fresh vegetable production
• Condiment processing
• Organic potato farming
• Agricultural packaging
• Fresh produce distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Talcy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Vegetable Sales: Production and sale of fresh vegetables including onions, shallots, echalions, garlic, potatoes, and squashes through both conventional and organic agriculture. Products are sold to grande distribution (supermarkets), wholesalers, restaurants, and food industry. The company also operates its own boutique and drive service.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Motte Farm produces, conditions, and packages fresh condiments (onions, shallots, echalions, garlic), potatoes, and squashes in both conventional and organic varieties across 900 hectares of cultivation. The company commercializes 69,000 tonnes annually (including 24,000 tonnes organic) and runs industrial conditioning, peeling, vacuum packaging, and cold-storage operations across 22,000 m² of covered production space at its Talcy and Marchenoir sites. Its product portfolio is sold under four proprietary brand ranges and reaches French grande distribution, wholesalers, restaurants, food industry, and export customers, with a small direct-to-consumer boutique and drive on-site.

Product overview

Ferme de la Motte is a family-owned agricultural enterprise specializing in the production and packaging of fresh condiments (garlic, echalion, shallot, onion) and potatoes in both conventional and organic agriculture. The company operates across three divisions: agricultural production (900 hectares cultivated), industrial processing (sorting, peeling, packaging, storage with 28,000 tonnes capacity), and commercial distribution. The product portfolio spans two agriculture types (conventional and organic), organized under four proprietary brands (Editions particulières, Saveurs du Jour, Bio Racine, Ferme de la Motte Bio), and includes specialty products like tresses, grappes, and epis made at a dedicated manual workshop. The company is among France's top 15 producers and conditioners of onions and condiments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Editions particulières: A range retracing the history of condiments with products selected for their unique taste, including historical varieties such as pink garlic from 1099 and the first French pink onion planted in 1647.
• Saveurs du Jour
• Bio Racine
• Ferme de la Motte Bio

Products and services

• Conventional Onions (Oignons) Yellow onions, the origin of the company's history, produced at approximately 20,000 tonnes annually by the farm itself, with supply completed by partner producers. Sold to grande distribution, wholesalers, restaurants, and food industry under conventional farming.
• Conventional Shallots (Échalotes) Conventional shallots including traditional varieties (800 tonnes/year) and seed-produced varieties (1,500 tonnes/year), supplied through cooperation with Breton producers and the Rose Lily partnership for French seed-grown shallots.
• Conventional Echalions (Échalions) Conventional echalion, also called 'cuisse de poulet', the company's flagship product. Ferme de la Motte is the world's first producer, with over 3,000 tonnes per year and unique expertise in variety selection built over decades.
• Conventional Garlic (Ail) Conventional garlic sourced from partner producers in France, Spain, and Argentina via contractual agreements meeting Ferme de la Motte's quality specifications.
• Conventional Squash (Courges) Conventional squash varieties including butternut, cornue d'hiver, patidou, pâtisson, potimarron, spaghetti, and sucrine du Berry, supplied to retail and wholesale customers.
• Conventional Potatoes (Pommes de terre) Conventional potatoes in multiple varieties for fries/puree/soup, gratin/steamed/roasted uses, and the small-grenade specialty. Supplied to grande distribution and wholesale channels with various conditioning options.
• Tresses, Grappes & Épis (Braided and Bunched Condiments) Specialty high-end products including onion yellow épis, échalion épis, shallot épis, garlic épis, Créole épis (garlic, shallot), Trio épis (garlic, onion, shallot), Mixed épis (red onion, yellow onion), and bunches of onion, shallot, garlic, and échalion, manufactured at the Marchenoir manual workshop using a patented proprietary method.
• Organic Onions (Oignons Bio) French organic onions grown partly on company lands, supplemented from French partners, and completed by Italian and Dutch sources across the season. Part of the company's organic farming program launched in 1997.
• Organic Shallots (Échalotes Bio) Organic shallots produced and collected on approximately 20 hectares locally, including hand-planted traditional varieties. Part of the company's organic farming program launched in 1997.
• Organic Echalions (Échalons Bio) One of the world's rare producers of organic echalion, commercialized internationally. The company's specialty with unique expertise, leveraging its world leadership position in echalion production.
• Organic Garlic (Ail Bio) France's leading organic garlic producer and ANIAIL member, sourced from historical partners via contracting agreements. Ferme de la Motte is the first metteur en marché of organic garlic in France.
• Organic Squash (Courges Bio) Organic squash varieties including butternut, cornue d'hiver, patidou, pâtisson, potimarron, spaghetti, and sucrine du Berry, sold across retail and specialized organic channels.
• Organic Potatoes (Pommes de terre Bio) Organic potatoes produced using robust, rustic varieties such as Allians, with mechanical weed control and cold storage to preserve them until May. Conditioning uses recyclable paper bags and compostable cellulose mesh.
• Editions particulières (Premium Heritage Brand Range) Premium brand retracing the history of condiments, featuring products selected for their unique taste, including historical varieties such as pink garlic from 1099 and the first French pink onion planted in 1647. Available across retail and wholesale channels.
• Saveurs du Jour (Consumer Brand Range) Brand range featuring fresh, colorful products with distinctive flavors — tonic, melting, subtle, or suave — available in major retail chains under the Ferme de la Motte family of brands.
• Bio Racine (Organic Brand Range) Brand for producer members of the 'Nous Paysans Bio' association offering 100% organic and 100% French-origin condiments, squashes, and potatoes; distributed through specialized organic retail channels.
• Ferme de la Motte Bio (Organic Retail Brand Range) Brand emphasizing quality organic and French products with accessible quality assurance, available in major retail chains as the company's mainstream organic line.
• Conditioning and Packaging Solutions (Conditionnement) Industrial packaging and conditioning service offering recyclable paper bags (used for organic potatoes), compostable cellulose mesh for fresh condiments, vacuum packaging, and various net and bulk formats for retail-ready supply.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produces 69,000 tonnes of products annually, including 24,000 tonnes organic
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Producteurs Partenaires (Partner Producers)coreOthersFerme de la Motte produces about half of its needs itself and complements with French producer partners. The company also sources from Spain, Argentina, Netherlands, and Italy during certain periods. Partners operate under contracts following Ferme de la Motte's specifications including sustainable development requirements. Over 150 producer partners in conventional and organic agriculture.
• Nous Paysans Bio - BioracinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of organic farmers producing 100% organic and 100% French origin condiments, squashes, and potatoes. Ferme de la Motte is a member and distributes the BioRacine brand through specialized organic retail channels.
• Agricultural Input SuppliersminorOthersPartnerships with seed producers (semenciers) to develop varieties better adapted to organic farming, particularly for potatoes (e.g., Allians variety).
• Blackcurrant ProducersminorOthersCollaboration for blackcurrant (cassis) production with 100 tonnes harvested in 2024.
• CarrefourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with Carrefour involving supply of organic products and EFC (Sans Résidus de Pesticides Détectés) produce. Ferme de la Motte hosts Young Talent events for Carrefour graduates to educate them about bio and EFC approaches.
• Rose Lily (Shallot Producers)minorOthersPartnership with Rose Lily for French shallots produced from seeds (échalotes françaises issus de semis).
• Demain la TerrestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of several hundred farmers and processors committed to responsible agriculture focused on health, quality and environmental respect. Ferme de la Motte has been a member since 2013 with independent certification.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Terrena: Large French agricultural cooperative with vegetable and produce operations serving retail and food service. Comparable vertically integrated model combining member-farm production with conditioning, packaging, and wholesale distribution in France.
• Les Crudettes: French specialist in fresh, washed, ready-to-eat salads and vegetables (part of LSDH group). Competes in the same French supermarket fresh-produce aisle, serving similar retail customers with comparable conditioning and packaging capabilities.
• Agrial: Major French agricultural cooperative with a substantial vegetable and fresh produce division, including the Florette brand. Competes directly with Ferme de la Motte in French fresh produce wholesale, organic vegetables, and retail supply, with similar B2B distribution model.
• Bonduelle: French family-controlled vegetable leader (canned, frozen, fresh-cut). Publicly listed, much larger scale, but operates a comparable producer-conditioner-distributor model in fresh and processed vegetables, serving similar European retail and food-industry customers.
• Florette: Agrial's flagship fresh-cut salads and vegetables brand, a leading French and European fresh produce brand. Direct overlap with Ferme de la Motte in supermarket-shelf fresh vegetable supply, particularly in prepared/conditioned produce categories.
• Pom'Alliance: French potato producer and packer with operations across the value chain, focused on potatoes for retail and food service. Direct overlap with Ferme de la Motte's potato line in French retail supply, with similar integrated grower-conditioner model.
• Greenyard: Belgian-listed European leader in fresh, frozen, and prepared fruit and vegetables. Comparable vertically integrated producer-conditioner-distributor with European retail relationships, operating at much larger scale across similar product categories.

Broad incumbents

• Dole plc: Irish-listed global fresh produce company with diversified fruit and vegetable operations across Europe. Broader in scope and scale, but overlaps with Ferme de la Motte in European retail fresh produce supply, particularly through private-label and branded programs.
• McCain Foods: Canadian global leader in frozen potato products. Operates across the broader potato value chain, including sourcing from European growers. While focused on frozen rather than fresh, McCain competes for retail shelf space and supplier relationships with Ferme de la Motte's potato operations.
• Lamb Weston: American-listed global leader in frozen potato products (fries, formed potatoes). Indirect competitor for potato volume allocation and customer relationships, operating at much larger scale across European foodservice and retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/fermedelamotte
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Motte Farm