Hop France

What Hop France does

Hop France is the international commercial brand of Comptoir Agricole (CAH), a French agricultural cooperative headquartered in Hochfelden, Alsace, that produces and markets hops. The cooperative aggregates 42 Alsatian hop growers cultivating approximately 463 hectares, with annual production of 880 tonnes in 2021 and alpha acid output of 47 tonnes. The portfolio centers on six proprietary varieties developed over a 20-year R&D program — Aramis, Barbe Rouge, Elixir, Mistral, Triskel, and P15-6 — exclusive to the Alsace terroir, plus traditional and international varieties (Strisselspalt, Tradition, Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, Enigma, Saaz, among others). Products are offered in cone, pellet T45, pellet T90, CO2 extract, and PHA forms, with a dedicated organic pelletization facility in Brumath (2 tonnes/day capacity) opened in 2020.

The business model is direct and indirect B2B sales of hop products to craft brewers, microbreweries, and commercial breweries worldwide. A small commercial team of three (Philippe Martin, Francis Heitz, Antoine Wuchner) executes enterprise field sales and runs international trade show participation (CBC, Braubeviale, Drinktec, Copa Cervezas de America). Direct e-commerce at comptoir-houblon.fr serves SMB and individual buyers. Global reach is achieved through five regional distributors — David Carriere Associates (Canada), Willamette Valley Hops/Barth Haas Group (USA), BET (Japan), GeCorp (Chile), and an Australian partner — covering five continents. Pricing is unit-based (EUR/kg), ranging from 22 EUR/kg for commodity T45 pellets to 150 EUR/kg for organic varieties, with custom volume quotes above 200 kg.

Customers include enterprise brewers (Heineken, Kronenbourg/Carlsberg, New Glarus, Three Floyds, Russian River, Odell) and a long tail of craft and microbreweries (Brasserie Azimut, Brasserie La Mercière, Brasserie Perle, Urban Chesnut, Crux). Distribution is complemented by content marketing (blog, recipe community, newsletter), seminars (Tokyo microbrewer training), on-site field visits, and a podcast partnership with Pod'Capsuleur. The company holds FranceAgriMer certification, CE n°1850/2006, and Agriculture Biologique (AB) organic certification, and is a member of the AFNH/INTERHOUBLON interprofessional organization recognized by the French Ministry of Agriculture.

Name

Hop France

Legal name

Comptoir Agricole

Website

https://comptoir-houblon.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hop France is the international brand of Comptoir Agricole, a French agricultural cooperative in Alsace that produces and markets proprietary and international hop varieties to craft brewers, microbreweries, and commercial breweries worldwide through direct sales, e-commerce, and a five-continent distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hop Production

akta.pro primary industry

Hop Farming (AFAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Hop varieties
• Brewery ingredients
• Hop pellets
• Aroma hops
• Organic hops

Headquarters

HQ city

Hochfelden

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hop Product Sales: Sale of hops in multiple forms: cones, pellets (T45 and T90), CO2 extract, and PHA (post-fermentation). Products sold to craft brewers, microbreweries, and commercial breweries globally. Pricing per kg with volume discounts available for orders over 200kg.
2. Spice Sales: Commercialization of spices complementary to brewing: juniper, coriander, cinnamon, star anise, bitter orange, lemon peel, natural licorice, ginger, scraped licorice, sweet orange, Sichuan pepper.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hop France (the commercial brand of Comptoir Agricole, a French agricultural cooperative in Alsace) cultivates, processes, and sells hops to brewers worldwide. The company offers proprietary Alsatian hop varieties (Aramis, Barbe Rouge, Mistral, Triskel, Elixir) developed over 20 years of R&D, as well as traditional Alsatian varieties (Strisselspalt, Tradition) and a curated selection of international hops from the USA, Germany, Australia, and the Czech Republic. Products are delivered in multiple forms including whole cones, T45 and T90 pellets, CO2 extract, and PHA, with both conventional and certified organic options.

Product overview

Hop France, operated by Comptoir Agricole (CAH), is a hop producer and supplier based in Alsace, France. The company offers a portfolio of proprietary Alsatian hop varieties (Aramis, Barbe Rouge, Mistral, Triskel, Elixir, Bouclier, Tradition, Strisselspalt, and others) as well as international hop varieties from the USA, Germany, Australia, and Czech Republic. Products are available in multiple forms: whole hop cones (cônes), pellets T45, pellets T90, CO2 extract, and PHA. The company also sells brewing spices and branded merchandise. Hop France serves craft brewers, distributors, and industrial breweries through an e-commerce platform with services including a flavor selector, recipe database, quantity calculator, and certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aramis Hop Proprietary Alsatian hop variety with dual-purpose (bittering and aromatic) properties, noted for citrus notes and alpha acid content around 10-12%. Sold to brewers for craft and commercial beer production.
• Barbe Rouge Hop Exclusive Alsatian hop variety developed for red fruit aromatic profile, commonly used in IPAs and fruit-forward beer styles. Available in conventional and organic formats.
• Mistral Hop Exclusive Alsatian hop variety known for litchi, rose, and melon aromatic notes; available in conventional and organic (Mistral BIO) formats for craft brewers.
• Triskel Hop Exclusive Alsatian hop variety with balanced floral and fruity aroma (pineapple, pear, mirabelle plum, jasmine), used in lagers and aromatic beer styles.
• Elixir Hop Exclusive Alsatian hop variety with tropical fruit character, commonly used in NEIPA and fruit-forward beer styles.
• Strisselspalt Hop Traditional Alsatian hop variety considered a fine aromatic hop suitable for multiple beer styles, known for its fine aromatic qualities and historic presence in the region.
• Tradition Hop Alsatian hop variety used for brewing with traditional characteristics, complementary to the proprietary range.
• International Hop Varieties (Houblons du monde) Curated selection of international hop varieties sourced from USA (Citra, Mosaic, Cascade USA, Centennial, Chinook, Sabro, Talus), Germany (Ariana, Callista, Hallertau Blanc, Magnum, Mandarina Bavaria), Australia (Enigma, Ella, Topaz, Eclipse), and Czech Republic (Saaz). Sold to brewers seeking well-known global varieties.
• Hop Pellets (T45 and T90) Compressed hop pellets offered in T45 (45mm) and T90 (90mm) diameters, providing optimal storage, easier handling, and full aroma preservation. Available for both Alsatian and international varieties, including certified organic T90 pellets processed at the Brumath facility.
• Whole Hop Cones (Cônes) Whole hop cones in their traditional form for brewing, available across Alsatian and international varieties in both conventional and certified organic formats.
• CO2 Hop Extract and PHA Hops Advanced hop product forms including CO2 extract and PHA (Post-Harvest) hops for brewers requiring concentrated or specialized formats beyond cones and pellets.
• Brewing Spices Collection Selection of complementary spices for brewing including juniper, coriander, cinnamon, star anise, bitter orange, lemon peel, natural licorice, ginger, scraped licorice, sweet orange, and Sichuan pepper, sold to craft brewers and homebrewers.
• Hop France Branded Merchandise (Goodies) Branded merchandise including sailor hats, umbrellas, beret caps, pom-pom hats, insulated bottles, caps, and socks featuring the Hop France logo, sold through the e-commerce site.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47 tonnes of alpha acids produced in 2021 (+85% vs 2020)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INTERHOUBLON / AFNHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2020HOP France is member of AFNH (Association Française des Négociants de Houblon), part of INTERHOUBLON interprofessional organization recognized by French Ministry of Agriculture in February 2020.
• FEADER (Fonds Europeen Agricole pour le Developpement Rural)minorOthers · 1 January 2020European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Provided financial support for organic hop pelletization facility in Brumath.
• BET (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2019Japanese distributor organized seminar in Tokyo for 20+ Japanese microbreweries. Francis Heitz and Sebastian Hohentanner conducted training on Alsace hop varieties.
• David Carriere AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2019Canadian distributor organizing microbrewer events in Toronto. Hosted 2019 event with 120+ participants from 50 microbreweries tasting 14 different beers brewed with Alsace hops.
• Patrick Cornec (Bretagne Producer)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2019First HOP France production contract signed at Salon International de l'Agriculture Paris. Producer in Brittany growing 4 hectares of Alsace varieties (Barbe Rouge, Bouclier, Mistral, Triskel) for local Breton microbrewers.
• GeCorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Chilean distributor representing HOP France at Copa Cervezas de America 2022 in Valdivia, Chile.
• Willamette Valley Hops / Barth Haas GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019US distributor, part of Barth Haas Group - world leader in hop processing. Organized visit to Alsace in July 2019 with full US team. Meeting planned at next Brau Nuremberg.
• Houblons de France / AGPHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of French Hop Growers. Hop France participates in national hop events and initiatives. Partner at Comice du Houblon and Assises du Houblon.
• Brasseurs de FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrewers union representing French brewing industry. Organized 2018 field visit with 50 breweries to Alsace hop farms and Kronenbourg site.
• Région Grand EstminorOthersRegional council of Grand Est provided co-funding for organic hop pelletization equipment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• John I. Haas: US hop breeder and supplier (part of Barth Haas) known for proprietary varieties like Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe. Comparable in the breeding-to-brewer pipeline that Hop France operates for its Alsace varieties.
• Hopsteiner: Global hop merchant with proprietary breeding programs and worldwide distribution. Comparable as a vertically integrated hop supplier serving craft and industrial brewers across multiple continents.
• S.S. Steiner: Long-established global hop merchant with operations across growing regions. Comparable as a broad-spectrum incumbent competing for international brewery accounts.
• Yakima Chief Hops: US-based grower-owned hop supplier focused on craft brewers with proprietary aroma varieties (e.g., Citra, Mosaic). Most directly comparable peer in cooperative-style ownership serving differentiated craft markets.
• Barth Haas Group: World's leading hop processor and distributor. Already partners with Hop France as US distributor (Willamette Valley Hops) (XXXXX3RN6); operates globally across all major brewing geographies and offers proprietary breeding programs, making it the most comparable incumbent in the same value chain.

Direct peers

• Crosby Hops: US craft-focused hop supplier offering proprietary varieties and direct-to-brewery relationships. Comparable as a craft-segment specialist competing for differentiation with proprietary genetics.
• HVG (Hopfenverwertungsgenossenschaft): German hop cooperative representing the Hallertau region's growers. Most structurally comparable peer — a producer-owned cooperative with proprietary varieties and global distribution to brewers.
• Charles Faram Hop Group: UK-based independent hop merchant supplying craft brewers with proprietary varieties and global sourcing. Directly comparable as a specialist hop supplier serving craft brewers with proprietary varieties.

Regional players

• Lfl (Hopsteiner Group subsidiary in Germany): German hop processing and trading operation focused on Hallertau and other German growing regions. Comparable as a regional European hop supplier competing in overlapping export markets.

Emerging players

• Indie Hops: Smaller US craft hop supplier focused on proprietary varieties and direct brewery partnerships. Comparable as a niche, differentiation-led player serving premium craft brewers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HopFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hop-france

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hop France