Saveol
Saveol is a French agricultural cooperative (founded 1974) owned by 110 market-gardener members that produces and markets tomatoes, strawberries, and vegetables, including pesticide-free and organic ranges, supplying large-scale French and European retail daily.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersPlougastel-daoulas, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Saveol does
Saveol is a French agricultural cooperative (Société Coopérative Agricole, founded 1974) headquartered in Plougastel-Daoulas, Brittany, that produces and markets tomatoes, strawberries, and supplementary vegetables (cucumbers, mini-peppers, samphire), including pesticide-free and organic ranges. The cooperative is owned by 110 market-gardener co-operators and operates two strategic wholly-owned subsidiaries: Savéol Nature, which runs a 6,500 m² insect farm breeding nearly 100 million auxiliary and pollinating insects annually for integrated biological protection (a capability unique among European cooperatives), and Savéol Horizons, a 2,500 m² experimental greenhouse running 5-year varietal programmes across 210 plots.
The core business sells fresh produce daily to large-scale retail (supermarkets), wholesalers, food manufacturers, and restaurants in France and across Europe, with international exports dating back to 1991. Operations are anchored by a sales-led go-to-market: market gardeners meet regularly with distributors, and the Rungis International Market is a key commercial crossroads. Product breadth spans 16+ tomato varieties (cherry, pigeon heart, cocktail, classic, Tigreen, Black Marquise, Pineapple, Torino, plus four pesticide-free sub-lines), the Freizh strawberry range (including the Plougastel designation of origin), and a growing BIO assortment.
Saveol monetises through standard fresh-produce transaction revenue across its distribution channels; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The cooperative invests in sustainable production infrastructure (100% greenhouse water recycling, 85% thermal screens, 55% cogeneration selling electricity to EDF, electronic calibrators for size/colour sorting) and holds GlobalGap (100% of tomato producers) and IFS Food certifications. It supports brand-building through the Ferme aux Insectes visitor attraction, the Paris International Agricultural Show, multi-language digital presence, and partnerships with regional bodies (Produit en Bretagne, Coop de France, Spot 29 incubator).
Saveol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saveol
- Legal name
- Savéol
- Website
- https://saveol.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Saveol is a French agricultural cooperative (founded 1974) owned by 110 market-gardener members that produces and markets tomatoes, strawberries, and vegetables, including pesticide-free and organic ranges, supplying large-scale French and European retail daily.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saveol industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fresh Produce
- NAICS
- Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Strawberry Farming (111333), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fresh-Cut & Value-Added Produce (Washed, Peeled, Sliced, Packaged) (AFAKAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cucurbit & Melon Farming (Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe) (AFAGADAF)
Keywords
Where Saveol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plougastel-daoulas
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Saveol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fresh Produce Sales (Tomatoes, Strawberries, Vegetables): Savéol's primary revenue comes from producing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables — mainly tomatoes, strawberries, and supplementary vegetables (cucumbers, peppers, samphire) — to large-scale retail distribution (supermarkets), wholesalers, manufacturers, and restaurants in France and Europe. Products include standard varieties, premium specialities, and pesticide-free ranges.
- Diversified/Supplementary Products: Products from diversification (mini-peppers, sea vegetables, cucumbers) account for more than 1% of Savéol's turnover. This is a growing stream representing new product development and market expansion.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Saveol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saveol is a French agricultural cooperative that produces and markets fresh tomatoes (more than 16 specialty varieties), strawberries (including the heritage Plougastel Gariguette and Freizh), and supplementary vegetables (cucumbers, mini-peppers, samphire sea vegetables), plus a pesticide-free and BIO/organic range. Products are sold primarily to supermarkets, wholesalers, food manufacturers, and restaurants in France and Europe, with the cooperative operating its own insect farm (Savéol Nature) for integrated biological protection and a 2,500 m² varietal R&D greenhouse (Savéol Horizons).
Product overview
Savéol is a French agricultural cooperative specializing in tomatoes and strawberries, offering a diverse portfolio of products across multiple categories. The core offering centers on tomato varieties including Ruby Cherry, Red/Yellow Cherry, Pigeon Heart, Cocktail, Classic, Charnue, Branch, Queen of Hearts, Tigreen, Pineapple, Black Marquise, and Torino tomatoes. A significant sub-brand is the pesticide-free tomato range (Cocktail, Cherry, Pigeon Heart, and Torino varieties) representing Savéol's commitment to responsible agriculture through their 'Démarche Nature' approach. Beyond tomatoes, Savéol produces strawberries (including the heritage Plougastel Freizh), vegetables including mini-peppers, cucumbers, and samphire, plus an organic BIO product line. The cooperative also operates Savéol Nature, Europe's only producer-owned insect farming facility, which provides integrated biological protection for crops through pollinating and auxiliary insects. Savéol Horizons, the R&D experimental greenhouse, drives varietal innovation across the product range.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Savéol Nature: Subsidiary dedicated to auxiliary and pollinating insect farming for integrated biological protection of crops, unique initiative in Europe
- Savéol Horizons
- Freizh
Products and services
- Ruby Cherry Tomato
Quantifiable outcome
- Water consumption halved in ten years; 100% of greenhouses equipped with water recycling since 2013
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Saveol
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Saveol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Saveol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Spot 29minorSavéol partnered with Spot 29, a Breton agricultural training organisation, to provide a two-year incubator programme for future managers of professional agricultural organisations. The training focuses on acquisition of working methods, communication and organisation skills through multiple training days spread over the year. This supports generational renewal within the cooperative.
- Museum of the Strawberry and Heritage (Musée de la Fraise et du Patrimoine)minorSavéol is a partner to the Museum of the Strawberry and Heritage in Plougastel-Daoulas. This partnership reflects and extends Savéol's attachment to the strawberry crop that is forever linked to the City of Plougastel. Joint tours are offered combining the museum with the Savéol Insect Farm.
- Odyssea BrestminorSavéol is a partner to the Odyssea Brest race, a regional sporting event in Brittany. This reflects the cooperative's local community engagement.
- Brest Bretagne HandballminorSavéol supports Brest Bretagne Handball as a local sporting partner, reinforcing regional presence and community ties.
- EDF (Électricité de France)minorThrough cogeneration systems installed in greenhouses, Savéol producers generate electricity that is sold to EDF, Brittany's electricity grid. This is a key element of Savéol's sustainable energy strategy, turning greenhouses into energy producers.
- Cactus Farm (Cactuseraie, Guipavas)minorSavéol offers shared tours combining the Insect Farm with the nearby Cactus Farm (Cactuseraie) in Guipavas, providing visitors a combined tourism experience.
- Petit FutéminorThe Savéol Insect Farm is recommended by Petit Futé, a French travel guide publisher, as a family-friendly tourist activity in Finistère.
- Produit en BretagneminorSavéol is a member of Produit en Bretagne, a regional brand promoting Breton products and businesses.
- Association Bretonne des Entreprises AgroalimentairesminorSavéol is a member of the Breton Association of Agrifood Businesses, participating in professional networks.
- Investir en FinistèreminorSavéol is a member of Investir en Finistère, a regional investment promotion organisation.
- Coop de FranceminorSavéol is a member of Coop de France, the national federation of agricultural cooperatives.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saveol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Greenyard: Belgian fresh, frozen and prepared produce group. Overlaps with Saveol on European fresh-produce distribution to retailers, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple categories.
- Bonduelle: Global French leader in processed vegetables (canned, frozen, fresh). Comparable on French vegetable origin and large-scale retail relationships; broader and more diversified than Saveol's fresh-produce focus.
- Del Monte Foods: Global producer and marketer of fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables. Comparable on branded fresh-produce retail presence at scale; significantly broader portfolio and geography than Saveol.
- Driscoll's: World's largest berry marketer with strawberries as a flagship. Comparable on premium strawberry positioning and brand-led retail presence; broader global footprint than Saveol.
Direct peers
- Houweling's Group: Family-owned greenhouse tomato and cucumber grower with sustainability focus. Comparable on high-tech greenhouse production, energy cogeneration and retail distribution in a regional market.
- Mastronardi Produce: North American greenhouse-grown tomato and pepper specialist (Sunset brand). Comparable on premium greenhouse tomato production and varietal branding; serves a different geography but mirrors Saveol's greenhouse premium positioning.
- Solarenn: Brittany-based tomato producer cooperative. Directly competes with Saveol on the core tomato category, with similar cooperative structure and supermarket distribution in France.
- Rougeline: French tomato producer-marketer associated with multiple cooperatives including Les Maraîchers Nantais. Direct competitor in the French tomato category with overlapping varieties and retail channels.
- Prince de Bretagne: Major Breton vegetable-producer cooperative marketing tomatoes, cauliflower and other produce. Directly comparable to Saveol as a French cooperative grower of fresh produce with similar GTM through French retail and emphasis on regional identity.
- NatureSweet: Greenhouse tomato specialist known for branded premium snacking tomatoes. Comparable on varietal-led branding and greenhouse production; operates in North America rather than Europe.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Saveol social profiles
Digital presenceSaveol compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Saveol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saveol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Saveol subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Saveol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saveol 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 Saveol
What does Saveol do?
Saveol is a French agricultural cooperative that produces and markets fresh tomatoes (more than 16 specialty varieties), strawberries (including the heritage Plougastel Gariguette and Freizh), and supplementary vegetables (cucumbers, mini-peppers, samphire sea vegetables), plus a pesticide-free and BIO/organic range. Products are sold primarily to supermarkets, wholesalers, food manufacturers, and restaurants in France and Europe, with the cooperative operating its own insect farm (Savéol Nature) for integrated biological protection and a 2,500 m² varietal R&D greenhouse (Savéol Horizons).
Is Saveol a public or private company?
Saveol is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Saveol founded?
Saveol was founded in 1974.
Where is Saveol based?
Saveol is headquartered in Plougastel-daoulas, France, in the Europe region.
How does Saveol make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fresh Produce Sales (Tomatoes, Strawberries, Vegetables) is the primary driver. The others are diversified/Supplementary Products.
Who are Saveol's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Greenyard, Bonduelle, Del Monte Foods and Driscoll's. Direct peers are Houweling's Group, Mastronardi Produce, Solarenn, Rougeline, Prince de Bretagne and NatureSweet.
Does Saveol have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saveol.
What industry is Saveol in?
Saveol's product category is Fresh Produce. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAFAA, Fresh-Cut & Value-Added Produce (Washed, Peeled, Sliced, Packaged), with a secondary code of AFAGADAF, Cucurbit & Melon Farming (Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe). Its NAICS code is 11121 and its SIC code is 100.