BIO LOIRE OCEAN
Bio Loire Océan is a non-profit association of 70 organic fruit and vegetable producers in France's Pays de la Loire region, coordinating subscription baskets, wholesale to Biocoop, collective catering supply, and agricultural research, representing approximately 25% of regional organic production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersChâteauneuf-sur-Sarthe, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BIO LOIRE OCEAN does
Bio Loire Océan is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 1997 that brings together approximately 70 organic fruit and vegetable producers in the Pays de la Loire region. Member farms collectively manage 340 hectares of open-field vegetables, 17 hectares of greenhouse crops, and 260 hectares of orchards producing apples, pears, cherries, and kiwis, supporting more than 300 salaried workers. The association represents roughly 25% of the region's organic fruit and vegetable production and is governed collectively by its producer-members under Coordinator Cécile Morvan and President Michel Delhommeau. It maintains a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary, BLO Distribution, which previously operated the now-closed Angers producer store.
The association operates a diversified distribution model across four primary channels: weekly subscription baskets (Paniers Bio Solidaires) delivered to relay points throughout the region; wholesale supply to the Biocoop retail network and other organic stores under a convention with Provinces Bio at MIN Nantes; collective catering supply to institutional buyers such as schools, company restaurants, and public-sector food services; and a social donation program channeling surplus produce to food aid organizations including SOLAAL, Cop1, and Secours Populaire. Direct-to-consumer revenue was also historically generated through the Angers producer store (May 2023 to November 2025) and the Savenay Halles Bio Solidaires. Pricing is variable across channels with no standardized public price list; transactions are structured as one-off purchases, recurring subscriptions, and per-transaction fees on cooperative sales. Revenue is supplemented by agricultural research and farmer training services, often co-funded by the Conseil Régional Pays de la Loire and conducted with universities.
Bio Loire Océan's differentiation rests on a proprietary fair trade label with 40 additional control points beyond EU organic certification (Commerce Equitable France partnership since September 2018), a participatory plant breeding program that has produced three registered heritage varieties (Carotte Nantaise de Grasseval, Poire Jaune des Sables, Brainois d'hiver), and a research portfolio focused on climate adaptation including the CLIMATEAU and CLIMATVEG programs. The organization maintains extensive institutional ties with regional bodies (Agence Bio, DRAAF, Interbio, CAB, Fonds Avenir Bio) and academic partners (INRAE, Université Rennes 2, Université d'Angers, Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, Oniris, Vegepolys Valley, ITAB). Its marketing footprint relies on a website, organic social media, a biennial festival (Entre Culture et Cultures), and regional press coverage.
BIO LOIRE OCEAN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BIO LOIRE OCEAN
- Legal name
- Bio Loire Océan
- Website
- https://bioloireocean.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bio Loire Océan is a non-profit association of 70 organic fruit and vegetable producers in France's Pays de la Loire region, coordinating subscription baskets, wholesale to Biocoop, collective catering supply, and agricultural research, representing approximately 25% of regional organic production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BIO LOIRE OCEAN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Fruits and Vegetables
- NAICS
- Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Vegetable & Melon Farming (Open-Field) (AFAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA), Organic Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAE), Natural, Organic & Health Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAK)
Keywords
Where BIO LOIRE OCEAN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
BIO LOIRE OCEAN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Fresh Produce Sales: Sale of organic fruits and vegetables directly from member producers through various channels including subscription baskets, retail stores, and wholesale to Biocoop and other organic retailers.
- Subscription Basket Services (Paniers Bio Solidaires): Weekly subscription baskets of seasonal organic produce delivered through relay points and direct pickup locations throughout the Pays de la Loire region.
- Collective Catering (Restauration Collective): Supply of organic fruits and vegetables to institutional caterers, company restaurants, and public sector food services.
- Research and Training Services: Agricultural research, experimentation programs, and farmer training services, often supported by regional government funding and partnerships with universities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Variable pricing based on product type, season, and sales channel |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
BIO LOIRE OCEAN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bio Loire Océan is a producers' association of approximately 70 organic fruit and vegetable farmers in France's Pays de la Loire region, coordinating the production, planning, distribution, and sale of organic produce through weekly subscription baskets (Paniers Bio Solidaires), wholesale supply to organic retailers and collective caterers, and research and training services. Member farms cultivate 340 hectares of open-field vegetables, 17 hectares of greenhouse crops, and 260 hectares of orchards under a proprietary fair-trade charter with 40 additional control points beyond EU organic certification.
Product overview
Bio Loire Océan is an association of organic fruit and vegetable producers in the Pays de la Loire region, operating a unified distribution model built around weekly basket subscriptions (Paniers Bio Solidaires), supplemented by practical consumer guides and published books. The association coordinates approximately 70 producer-members managing 340 ha of open-field vegetables, 17 ha of greenhouses, and 260 ha of orchards, with a shared quality charter exceeding standard organic certifications. Former retail initiatives included a producer store in Angers and the Halles Bio Solidaires at Savenay, both now closed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Paniers Bio Solidaires: Weekly subscription basket service distributing organic fruits and vegetables from member producers
Products and services
- Paniers Bio Solidaires Weekly subscription basket service delivering fresh organic fruits and vegetables from approximately 70 Bio Loire Océan producer-members directly to consumers through relay-point pickup locations across the Pays de la Loire region. Designed for health-conscious households seeking seasonal local organic produce through a short, fair-trade supply chain.
- Organic Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Bulk Wholesale) Bulk wholesale supply of organic fruits and vegetables from 70 member farms (340 ha of open-field vegetables, 17 ha of greenhouse crops, 260 ha of orchards producing apples, pears, cherries, and kiwis) sold to organic retailers such as Biocoop, to collective caterers, and through distributors like Provinces Bio. Differentiated by the Bio Loire Océan fair-trade label with 40 additional control points beyond EU organic certification.
- Collective Catering Supply Service (Restauration Collective) Dedicated supply service for institutional, corporate, and school caterers in the Pays de la Loire region, providing reliable volumes of certified local organic produce with coordinated production planning across the 70 member farms to meet mass-catering menu requirements.
- Agricultural Research and Experimentation Services Multi-year agricultural research and experimentation programs (CLIMATEAU, CLIMATVEG) on climate-change adaptation, irrigation practices, and organic variety evaluation, conducted in partnership with INRAE, Université Rennes 2, Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, ITAB, ARELPAL, and Vegepolys Valley. The service is supported by regional government funding and provides agronomic data, on-farm weather monitoring, and participatory plant-breeding outputs to members and partners.
- Farmer Training and Technical Days Training sessions and technical-field days for organic farmers and producer-members, covering variety evaluation, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and organic-farming best practices. Delivered with research partners including Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, ITAB, and Université d'Angers.
- Bio Loire Océan Published Books Printed books sold directly by the association, including 'Comprendre les fruits et légumes biologiques' (a culinary and educational guide to organic fruits and vegetables) and 'Le Projet Bio Loire Océan' (a book documenting the association's history and cooperative model). Sold to consumers and stakeholders through the website.
- Guides Pratiques des Fruits et Légumes Practical seasonal guides for organic fruits and vegetables published by the association, providing consumers with preparation tips, cooking methods, and variety selection advice across multiple seasonal produce categories. Sold as a printed guide series to consumers and professionals.
- Bio Loire Océan Fair-Trade Charter (Cahier des Charges) The association's proprietary specifications charter for biological, equitable, and solidarity-based agriculture, with 40 additional control points beyond standard AB and Eurofeuille organic certifications. The label is registered through Commerce Equitable France and is licensed to producer-members whose compliant produce carries the Bio Loire Océan mark.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 25% market share of organic fruits and vegetables in Pays de la Loire region
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BIO LOIRE OCEAN
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BIO LOIRE OCEAN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BIO LOIRE OCEAN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Fondation Terre de LiensmajorAwarded 2026 project funding for participatory research on functional biodiversity in market gardens for climate adaptation.
- Province BiomajorConvention signed June 2022 at MIN Nantes to develop commercialization of organic fruits and vegetables under Bio Loire Océan label through synergies.
- Agence BiocoreNational platform for information and actions promoting organic agriculture in France. Bio Loire Océan participates in Agence Bio initiatives including Printemps Bio campaigns.
- Angers Loire MétropolecoreUrban community food project partnership supporting territorial food systems and local organic procurement.
- BiocoopcoreFrance's leading organic retail network. Bio Loire Océan supplies multiple Biocoop stores across the region.
- Interbio Pays de la LoirecoreRegional interprofessional body for organic sector. Joint participation in events, publications, and industry initiatives.
- CAB Pays de la LoirecoreRegional body accompanying organic agriculture development while respecting producers and territories.
- Commerce Equitable FrancecorePartnership since September 2018 for fair trade principles including fair producer remuneration, biodiversity promotion, and democratic governance.
- INRAEmajorNational research institute for agriculture, food and environment. Research collaboration including Grégori Akermann's sociological studies on organic consumption.
- Université Rennes 2majorResearch partnership through LETG laboratory for climate impact studies and Louis Amiot's thesis on climate change effects on organic farming.
- Université d'AngersminorAcademic partnership for research and student involvement in organic agriculture studies.
- Institut Agro Rennes-AngersminorAgricultural institute partnership for technical days and variety evaluation research.
- Vegepolys ValleymajorCompetitiveness cluster for plant sector. CLIMATVEG project lead and research coordination.
- SOLAAL Pays de la LoiremajorPartnership since May 2021 for agricultural donations to food aid organizations. 3,600 kg donated in 2024 (7,200 meals).
- Cop1 (Solidarités Étudiantes)majorPartnership since November 2024 supplying organic produce for free food distribution to students in need in Angers.
- Secours PopulairemajorFood aid partnership providing organic produce to support people in difficulty.
- Les Jardins de CocagnemajorSocial insertion partnership where people in reintegration work on basket preparation and delivery.
- Réseau Semences PaysannescoreNetwork of organizations preserving agricultural biodiversity through participatory breeding and seed saving programs.
- ITAB (Institut Technique de l'Agriculture Biologique)majorTechnical institute for organic agriculture. Partnership for variety evaluation and sensory quality research.
- DRAAF Pays de la LoirecoreRegional directorate for food, agriculture and forestry. Public support and regulatory oversight.
- OnirisminorVeterinary and food science school. Ivan Dufeu conducts research on organic food sector economics.
- P'tit PotagerminorDistributor of organic fruits and vegetables in the Sarthe department.
- ARELPALminorRegional vegetable experimentation association supporting technical innovation.
- Chambre d'AgricultureminorAgricultural chamber providing representation and services for farmers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BIO LOIRE OCEAN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Réseau Cocagne: National federation of 'Jardins de Cocagne' social-insertion organic market gardens. Directly comparable on the social-solidarity dimension (food aid, social insertion through agricultural work) that is a core differentiator of Bio Loire Océan, with a similar mix of organic production and social-mission partnerships.
- Réseau AMAP: National federation of Associations pour le Maintien d'une Agriculture Paysanne — community-supported agriculture partnerships between consumers and local farmers. Closest direct comparable in operating model (subscription baskets, producer-consumer commitment) and values orientation.
- Manger Bio Manger Pro: Regional organic basket subscription service operating in Pays de la Loire and adjacent regions, supplying organic produce to consumers and businesses. Closely comparable on the subscription-basket, regional-organic distribution model that is Bio Loire Océan's core retail-facing activity.
- La Ruche qui dit Oui: Subscription and short-circuit platform connecting local producers directly to consumer buying groups across France. Operates a comparable DTC subscription / basket model and a producer-coordination role similar to Paniers Bio Solidaires, with a national footprint versus BLO's regional scope.
- BioBreizh: Breton organic vegetable producers' cooperative — direct structural peer as a regional organic producer association, coordinating small-scale organic farmers for collective commercialization, with a comparable cooperative charter and certified-organic positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Biocoop: France's leading organic retail cooperative, with ~700 stores nationwide. Biocoop is both a core channel partner of Bio Loire Océan and a comparable cooperative model in the French organic value chain, though operating at much larger scale and at the retail rather than production end.
Emerging players
- Ferme de Sainte-Marthe: Organic seed and produce company in Maine-et-Loire (Loire Valley region), the same department as Bio Loire Océan. Comparable in geography, organic production focus, and heritage variety work, though operating as a for-profit commercial entity rather than a cooperative.
- Les Paniers de la Mer: Solidarity-based basket service recovering unsold fish/produce for food aid distribution. Comparable in combining a basket-subscription operation with a social-solidarity mission (food donations, food aid partnerships) similar to BLO's Paniers Bio Solidaires and SOLAAL work.
Others
- Agrobio (FNAB): National federation of regional organic agriculture groups (Groupements d'Agriculteurs Biologiques) and the umbrella network that Bio Loire Océan engages with through CAB Pays de la Loire. Provides a comparable advocacy and producer-support structure at national scale.
Regional players
- Provinces Bio: Wholesale distributor of organic fruits and vegetables at MIN Nantes, partnered with Bio Loire Océan since June 2022. Operates an adjacent role in the regional organic supply chain and serves as a comparable intermediary in commercializing regional organic produce to retail and catering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BIO LOIRE OCEAN social profiles
Digital presenceBIO LOIRE OCEAN compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
BIO LOIRE OCEAN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BIO LOIRE OCEAN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
BIO LOIRE OCEAN subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
BIO LOIRE OCEAN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BIO LOIRE OCEAN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BIO LOIRE OCEAN
What does BIO LOIRE OCEAN do?
Bio Loire Océan is a producers' association of approximately 70 organic fruit and vegetable farmers in France's Pays de la Loire region, coordinating the production, planning, distribution, and sale of organic produce through weekly subscription baskets (Paniers Bio Solidaires), wholesale supply to organic retailers and collective caterers, and research and training services. Member farms cultivate 340 hectares of open-field vegetables, 17 hectares of greenhouse crops, and 260 hectares of orchards under a proprietary fair-trade charter with 40 additional control points beyond EU organic certification.
Is BIO LOIRE OCEAN a public or private company?
BIO LOIRE OCEAN is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BIO LOIRE OCEAN founded?
BIO LOIRE OCEAN was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is BIO LOIRE OCEAN based?
BIO LOIRE OCEAN is headquartered in Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe, France, in the Europe region.
How does BIO LOIRE OCEAN make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fresh Produce Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription Basket Services (Paniers Bio Solidaires), collective Catering (Restauration Collective) and research and Training Services.
Who are BIO LOIRE OCEAN's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Réseau Cocagne, Réseau AMAP, Manger Bio Manger Pro, La Ruche qui dit Oui and BioBreizh. Biocoop is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Ferme de Sainte-Marthe and Les Paniers de la Mer. Agrobio (FNAB) is listed as an others. Provinces Bio is listed as a regional player.
Does BIO LOIRE OCEAN have an API?
No public API is recorded for BIO LOIRE OCEAN.
What industry is BIO LOIRE OCEAN in?
BIO LOIRE OCEAN's product category is Organic Fruits and Vegetables. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAKAC, Organic Vegetable & Melon Farming (Open-Field), with a secondary code of AFAGAHAA, Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens). Its NAICS code is 1112 and its SIC code is 100.