La Ferme de Château Fer

What La Ferme de Château Fer does

La Ferme de Château Fer is a privately-held French agroecological farm and heritage tourism site operating from a 17th-century château estate in Bruère-Allichamps, Cher (Centre-Val de Loire). The company, structured as an SCEA with €200,000 registered capital and founded circa 2015–2017, cultivates over 100 varieties of certified organic (AB) vegetables and small fruits on 1 hectare of bio-intensive permanent raised beds within a broader 100-hectare estate under agroforestry management that includes more than 10,000 planted trees across 170+ species. The farm serves individual local consumers, families, corporate clients (comités d'entreprise), and heritage tourism visitors within a 30 km radius, with founder Céline Martin and a team of 5 permanent employees (planned expansion to ~12).

The core technology stack combines organic bio-intensive market gardening with on-farm value-added transformation: a proprietary lactofermentation process (Château FerMENTATION) using raw unrefined salt with no pasteurization, low-temperature dehydration below 40°C producing 'Froufrous' crisps, 'Je suis fanes' leaf flakes, and 'La relève du plat' spice blends, and a 'cuisson à la royale' slow sugar-infusion cooking line. Infrastructure includes a Xavier Belin 2020 award-winning geothermal heating system for greenhouses and buildings, and precision micro-irrigation fed by collected rainwater that achieves 50% water savings versus conventional irrigation. The chateau and its 17th-century painted interiors are inscribed as a French Historic Monument.

The business model is direct-to-consumer and event-driven across five revenue streams: weekly vegetable basket subscriptions (annual 40–49 weeks at ~€16.95/week or flexible buissonnière 4–39 weeks, with installment payment plans), farm market sales (on-farm Friday market and Saturday market at Chez Diane, St Amand Montrond), an online Click & Collect store (commande.chateaufer.fr), corporate/PRO bulk orders via a dedicated sales line, and ticketed experiential events including the annual Le Grand Couvert gastronomic dinner (€110–€145/person), farm-to-table dining (€35–€42/person), and château audio-guided (€7) and private guided tours (€11). Distribution is exclusively regional (30 km radius), and the company is owner-operated with no external funding raised.

Name

La Ferme de Château Fer

Legal name

SCEA LA FERME DE CHATEAU FER

Website

https://chateaufer.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Ferme de Château Fer is a privately-held French agroecological farm and 17th-century heritage estate in Cher producing 100+ certified organic vegetable varieties via subscription baskets, on-farm markets, online Click & Collect, corporate sales, and ticketed gastronomic and château tourism events within a 30 km radius.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruère-Allichamps

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vegetable Basket Subscriptions: Weekly vegetable basket subscriptions sold to individual consumers. Available in annual format (40–49 weeks) and buissonnière format (4–39 weeks). Includes 5 portions of vegetables per week in 'inspiration' or 'ingredient' mode. Pickup at farm on Fridays or at alternate points. Payment accepted in 1, 2, 4, or 12 installments.
2. Direct Farm Sales & Online Store: Fresh vegetables and processed products (lactoferments, dehydrated items, preserves) sold via the online ordering platform (commande.chateaufer.fr) for Click & Collect and at the on-farm Friday market. Products priced per kg, unit, or bulk crate.
3. Farm Market Sales: On-farm market held every Friday (16h–18h) and Saturday at Chez Diane in St Amand Montrond (April–December). Accepts cash, checks, and all bank cards.
4. Experiential Events & Visits: Revenue from ticketed events including Le Grand Couvert gastronomic dinner (€110–€145/person), Farm-to-table dining experiences (€35–€42/person), guided audio tours (€7/person), and private guided visits (€11/person). Sold through Route Jacques Cœur ticketing platform and direct booking.
5. Corporate / PRO Sales: Bulk vegetable orders for professionals, companies, and comités d'entreprise. Dedicated phone line (+33 6 80 05 78 94) for PRO inquiries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

La Ferme de Château Fer is an agroecological farm and 17th-century château estate producing 100+ varieties of certified organic (AB) vegetables and small fruits using bio-intensive market gardening on permanent raised beds. The farm transforms surplus produce into lactofermented products (sauerkraut, chimichurri blends, spreads, mustards), low-temperature dehydrated items (leaf flakes, vegetable crisps, spice boxes), and slow-cooked preparations. Products are sold directly through weekly basket subscriptions, an online Click & Collect platform, on-farm Friday markets, and a Saturday market in St Amand Montrond.

Product overview

La Ferme de Château Fer operates as an agroecological farm and historic château offering a diversified portfolio of products and experiences. The core offering centers on 100+ varieties of certified organic vegetables grown using bio-intensive market gardening techniques, distributed through weekly basket subscriptions and on-farm markets. Value-added products include lactofermented vegetables (chimichurri, mustards, spreads, sauerkraut), low-temperature dehydrated products (leaf flakes, vegetable bouillons, spice boxes), and Royal-style cooked preparations (jams, chutneys). The farm also produces honey and flour from its agroforestry system. Experiences include château and farm tours, the annual Grand Couvert gastronomic dinner event, and farm-to-table cuisine. All production follows zero-waste principles, transforming unsold produce into preserved products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Légumes Frais (Fresh Organic Vegetables) 100+ varieties of certified organic (AB) vegetables and small fruits grown via agroecological bio-intensive market gardening on permanent raised beds. Includes carrots, beets, squash, sweet potatoes, kale, winter radish, leeks, celeriac, garlic, and seasonal heritage varieties. Sold per kg, per unit, or in bulk crates.
• Lactofermentés (Lactofermented Products) Traditional lactofermented vegetables preserved without pasteurization or sterilization, using raw unrefined salt and natural water extraction. Includes chimichurri blends (Blette & Fenouil, Aneth & Sauge), mustards, spreads (aubergine caviar, fennel spread), pickles, sauerkraut, lactofermented tomato sauce, and chive spreads. Fermented minimum 1 week primary plus 2–3 weeks secondary.
• Déshydratés (Low-Temperature Dehydrated Products) Vegetables, fruits, leaves and aromatics dehydrated at below 40°C to preserve nutritional qualities, flavors, and colors. Three product lines: 'Je suis fanes' (fine leaf flakes), 'Froufrous' (delicate fruit/vegetable slices), and 'La relève du plat' (epice boxes). Includes leaf salts, basil blends, vegetable bouillons, and seasoning mixes with 2-year shelf life.
• Cuisinés (Slow-Cooked Preparations) Original sweet and savory recipes made from farm produce using the 'à la Royale' slow cooking method featuring 24-hour sugar infusion. Includes fruit and vegetable jams, chutneys, and preserves. Produced through a zero-waste approach using unsold vegetables and fruits.
• Abonnement Paniers de Légumes (Weekly Vegetable Basket Subscription) Weekly vegetable basket subscription delivering 5 portions per week in 'inspiration' or 'ingredient' mode. Annual plan covers 40–49 weeks at €16.95/week; buissonnière plan covers 4–39 weeks. Pickup at farm on Fridays (16h–18h) or at the Saint-Doulchard outlet; payment available in 1, 2, 4, or 12 installments.
• Visites du Château et de la Ferme (Castle and Farm Tours) Guided and self-guided audio tours of the 17th-century château (Monument Historique) and the agroecological farm, including 17th-century painted murals. Private visits at €11/person (90 minutes); audio-guided visits at €7/person (1h30). Available June–July 2026 and during European Heritage Days.
• Farm to Table - Cuisine Fusion Farm-to-table dining experience led by chef Maria Rodriguez featuring creative fusion cuisine. Multi-course lunch menu (starter+main or starter+main+dessert) priced €35–€42 per person; approximately 2-hour duration.
• Le Grand Couvert (Annual Gastronomic Evening) Annual gastronomic evening event celebrating regional excellence. The October 2026 edition features a Molière-themed 6-course dinner prepared by Tables Gourmandes du Berry chefs, wine pairing, theater, magic, and equestrian show. Priced €110/person (without wine pairing) or €145/person (with wine pairing).
• Miel (Farm Honey) Two honey varieties from the farm's agroforestry system: spring honey (from agroforestry blooms) and summer honey (from field flowers), sold in glass jars and plant-based containers at €3.50–€14.83 per unit.
• Farines (Organic Flours) Organic flours including T80 wheat flour and complete buckwheat flour, milled from grains grown on the farm. Sold at €4.09–€5.90 per kg.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in water use through precision micro-irrigation with collected rainwater
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tables Gourmandes du BerrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration with the Tables Gourmandes du Berry network of regional chefs (Ghislaine Antoine, Bernard Bailly, Antonin Mathiot, and others) for the Le Grand Couvert gastronomic dinner event. Chefs prepare a multi-course feast featuring Château Fer vegetables. Also collaborated for farm-to-table dining experiences with chef Maria Rodriguez.
• CCI du Cher (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Cher) & Campus by CCIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial event partners for Le Grand Couvert, providing support for the annual gastronomic event. Campus by CCI participates as an educational partner with student involvement from hospitality and culinary programs.
• Marie-Claire Frédéric (nicrunicuit.com)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as the farm's 'maître lactofermentation' — the recognized expert whose methodology guides Château Fer's lactofermentation practices. Readers are directed to her website for lactofermentation recipes and education.
• Route Jacques CœurcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChâteau Fer is integrated into the Route Jacques Cœur cultural tourism circuit, a recognized heritage route in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The Route Jacques Cœur billeting platform sells tickets for Château Fer visits and events, extending the farm's marketing reach to heritage tourism audiences.
• INRA / Speal ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChâteau Fer's agroforestry program participates in the Speal European experimentation program led by INRA (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement). Multiple agroforestry planting configurations are tested across the estate.
• Estacom, Lycée Vauvert, IFA de Bourges, Lycée Jean Guehénno, Lycée Jacques Cœur de BourgesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institutions participating in Le Grand Couvert event, providing student involvement from hospitality, culinary arts, event management, and communications programs. Represents inter-professional and inter-generational dialogue central to the event's concept.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Fermes d'Avenir: French agroecology advocacy and incubation network. Thematically adjacent: promotes the type of small-scale agroecological operations that ChâteauFer exemplifies.
• Réseau AMAP: National French CSA/subscription agriculture association. Thematically adjacent infrastructure that supports the subscription-basket distribution model ChâteauFer operates within.

Emerging players

• Kokopelli: French organic seed and plant distributor. Comparable through organic/biodiversity positioning and direct-to-consumer distribution model in France.
• Ferme de Sainte-Marthe: French organic seed and plant producer serving small-scale growers. Comparable through French organic specialization and biodiversity focus, though narrower product line.
• Le Biau Germe: French organic seed cooperative. Related through organic agricultural focus and biodiversity catalog development relevant to ChâteauFer's Speal program work.

Regional players

• Domaine de la Bourbansais: Brittany heritage château with agritourism including farm animals and on-site events. Comparable heritage-estate + agrotourism model in a different region.
• Château de Valmer: Loire Valley heritage château with wine tourism and gastronomic events. Comparable through heritage monument status, ticketed tours, and high-end culinary events; differs in product (wine vs vegetables).

Direct peers

• Ferme de Bec Hellouin: Normandy-based agroecological/permaculture farm combining bio-intensive market gardening, on-site transformation, training, and agrotourism. Closely mirrors ChâteauFer's combination of cultivation, processing, and visitor-facing activities.
• Les Jardins de la Grelinette: Quebec bio-intensive market garden (Jean-Martin Fortier) operating a CSA/subscription model with high-variety cultivation. Comparable on intensive market gardening techniques and direct subscription GTM.
• La Ferme des Quatre-Temps: Quebec agroecological farm with diversified production, on-site processing, and educational mission. Comparable diversified farm-to-consumer model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ledomainedechateaufer8053
• Facebookfacebook.com/lafermedechateaufer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lafermedech%C3%A2teaufer
• Instagraminstagram.com/chateaufer

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 La Ferme de Château Fer