LE MANOIR DES ABEILLES

What LE MANOIR DES ABEILLES does

Le Manoir des Abeilles is a French regional organic beekeeping and artisanal food manufacturer headquartered in Pontorson, near Mont Saint-Michel, operating as a privately held SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) with €1,620,000 of capital and no disclosed external investment. The company runs 200+ company-owned organic hives primarily in Normandy and coordinates a network of 150+ contracted partner beekeepers across western France. Founded and driven by entrepreneur Philippe Le Duff, the company positions itself as a defender of sustainable French beekeeping and of the endangered native black bee (Abeille Noire), with conservation partnerships in place with the Conservatoire de l'Abeille Noire – Ouessant, the Fédération Régionale Abeille Noire Normandie, and the Fondation Notre Dame.

The product portfolio centers on a broad honey catalogue (monofloral varieties including lavender, acacia, chestnut, linden, thyme, eucalyptus, orange, fir, blackberry, buckwheat, and sainfoin; polyfloral blends; and exclusive Miel d'Abeille Noire Bretagne and Normandie lines) and an artisanal pastry and confectionery line including pains d'épices (gingerbread), nonnettes, financiers, sablés, croquants, caramel creams, meringues, nougat, honey-and-royal-jelly blends, organic pollen, and Breton chouchen mead. Many SKUs carry BIO organic certification and regional labels such as Saveurs de Normandie and Produit en Bretagne; products are formulated without added sugar in pure-honey variants and without preservatives, colorants, or palm oil. Core 'technology' is the organic and queen-breeding beekeeping practice itself, including the free provision of company-owned miellerie (beekeeping equipment) to contracted partner beekeepers and packaging operations performed at ESAT sheltered workshops.

Revenue is generated through three hardware-sales streams: (1) honey and hive products (including royal jelly and pollen), (2) artisanal pastries and confectionery, and (3) mead. Distribution is multi-channel: listings across the six major French grocery banners (Leclerc, Carrefour, U, Auchan, Intermarché, Cora) in western France and the Paris region, supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce via maison-peltier.com and themed metal gift boxes positioned for tourism-driven sales around Mont Saint-Michel. The company is actively credentialed, with multiple gold medals at the Concours Général Agricole (2024 x2, silver in 2025), the Salon de l'Agriculture 2024, the UNAF Concours des Miels de France 2023, and the Concours National des Miels 2023, plus a 2022 Trophées de l'Économie Normande nomination and a 2026 gold medal for its La Manche honey. Pricing is unit-based retail pricing with no enterprise or subscription anchors.

Name

LE MANOIR DES ABEILLES

Legal name

LE MANOIR DES ABEILLES

Website

https://manoir-des-abeilles.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Manoir des Abeilles is a French regional organic beekeeper and artisanal food manufacturer based in Pontorson, producing organic honey, pastries, and gingerbread for distribution through major French grocery chains and direct-to-consumer e-commerce across western France and the Paris region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Honey and Honey-Based Confectionery

NAICS

Apiculture (112910), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Apiculture (Beekeeping) (AFAEAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM), Bakery & Confectionery Wholesale (AFAIABAG)

Keywords

• Organic honey production
• Artisanal honey pastries
• Gingerbread manufacturing
• Beekeeping products
• French regional food

Headquarters

HQ city

Pontorson

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Honey and Bee Products: Sale of various honey varieties (lavender, acacia, chestnut, forest, linden, polyfloral, etc.) in conventional and organic formats. Products sold in multiple sizes from 250g to 1kg.
2. Artisanal Pastries and Confectionery: Artisanal production of honey-based cakes, biscuits, gingerbreads (pains d'épices), nougat, caramels, financiers, and cookies. Includes regional and organic certified products.
3. Hive Products: Royal jelly, bee pollen, and honey-propolis mixtures for wellness purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Le Manoir des Abeilles produces and sells organic French honey (monofloral and polyfloral varieties from France and EU, including exclusive black bee honeys from Bretagne and Normandie) and manufactures an artisanal line of honey-based cakes, biscuits, gingerbreads (pains d'épices), nonnettes, financiers, sablés, croquants, caramels, nougat, and meringues. The company operates 200+ organic beehives and partners with approximately 150 beekeepers across western France, distributing products via major French retail chains and online.

Product overview

Le Manoir des Abeilles is a regional organic beekeeper and artisanal food manufacturer based in Pontorson, France, near Mont Saint-Michel. The company operates several hundred BIO hives in Normandy and partners with approximately 150 beekeepers across western France. Their product portfolio centers on honey products (including monofloral varieties from France and EU, regional blends from Bretagne, Normandie, and Pays de la Loire, plus special black bee honeys), complemented by an artisanal pastry line including gingerbreads (pain d'épices), nonnettes, financiers, sablés, croquants, and caramel spreads. The company also offers royal jelly, pollen, and Chouchen (Breton mead). Products are distributed through major French retailers (Leclerc, Carrefour, U, Auchan, Intermarché, Cora) and online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miels (Honey Products) Wide range of monofloral French honeys (Lavande, Acacia, Châtaignier, Tilleul, Thym, Eucalyptus, Oranger, Sapin, Ronce, Sarrasin, Sainfoin) and polyfloral blends sourced from France and the EU, available in conventional and BIO (organic) certified versions, in sizes from 250g to 1kg, for individual consumers seeking high-quality French honey.
• Pain d'Épices (Gingerbread) Artisanal gingerbread cakes made with honey, available in BIO, pur miel (pure honey without added sugar), aux figues (with figs), à l'orange, and Saveurs de Normandie / Produit en Bretagne labelled versions, for individual consumers of regional French confectionery.
• Nonnettes Traditional French honey cakes with fruit fillings, including Nonnettes à la Pomme (apple) and Nonnettes à l'Orange varieties.
• Petits Financiers Small French almond cakes made with honey, in BIO, au caramel (caramel with salted butter), au citron, Normand (with apple), and plain honey varieties.
• Sablés Artisanal shortbread cookies including Chocolat Noisette BIO and Caramel au Beurre Salé BIO varieties.
• Croquants Crunchy biscuits in varieties including aux Amandes, Pomme Tatin, Chocolat Pistache, au Caramel Beurre Salé, and sesame-based options, some labelled Saveurs de Normandie.
• Caramel et Crèmes de Caramel au Miel Caramel spreads and creams made with honey, including Saveurs de Normandie labelled varieties, in 220g, 240g, and 420g sizes.
• Meringues au Miel French meringues prepared with fresh eggs and honey, produced artisanally.
• Nougat au Miel Soft nougats made with honey and almonds, available in bar form and individually wrapped.
• Galettes and Palets au Caramel Galettes with caramel and salted butter, and sesame palets, some labelled Produit en Bretagne.
• Coffrets Métal (Gift Boxes) Metal gift boxes featuring regional themes including Normandie, Mont Saint-Michel, and Bretagne, containing galettes and other honey-based products, designed for gift and souvenir purchases.
• Gelée Royale Européenne BIO European organic royal jelly, a rare hive-based wellness product.
• Miel et Gelée Royale Blends of honey and royal jelly, available in BIO and conventional versions.
• Pollen de Fleurs BIO Organic flower pollen, positioned for immune defense and wellness use.
• Chouchen Breton mead, an alcoholic beverage obtained from fermented honey and water (priced at 10.00€ TTC).
• Miel d'Abeille Noire Bretagne et Normandie Special honey produced from the endangered native black bee (Abeille Noire), created in partnership with Conservatoire de l'Abeille Noire – Ouessant and Fédération Régionale Abeille Noire Normandie to support preservation of the endemic black bee species.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 beekeepers secured with long-term contracts and fair compensation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Fondation Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Support for restoration of the Priory at Mont Saint-Michel, a 13th-century site for monks, Abbots, and pilgrims. A pedagogical hive was installed on-site to educate visitors about beekeeping. This patronage combines heritage preservation with sustainable beekeeping awareness.
• Conservatoire de l'Abeille Noire – OuessantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation dedicated to preserving the endangered native black bee species (Abeille Noire) on the island of Ouessant. The company supports their conservation efforts and has created exclusive honeys: Miel d'Abeille Noire Bretagne.
• Fédération Régionale Abeille Noire NormandiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional federation working to preserve and promote the native black bee in Normandy. The company collaborates with them and partner beekeepers in western France, supporting their work to safeguard this endemic species.
• Établissement Public du Mont Saint-MichelflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership announced in 2025 with the public establishment managing Mont Saint-Michel. Symbolic collaboration between heritage site and regional artisanal honey producer. Includes educational hive installation.
• École Apicole avec Option Bio (Nantes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership and co-animation with France's first beekeeping school with organic option located in Nantes. Supports training of new organic beekeepers.
• ESAT (Établissements et Services d'Aide par le Travail)minorOthersCollaborates with several sheltered workshops that support people with disabilities in professional integration. Workers come to the workshop one day per week to package products, supporting their professional inclusion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Famille Michaud Apiculteurs: Leading French apiculture company producing a wide range of honeys under the Lune de Miel and Apidis brands. Closely comparable to Le Manoir des Abeilles in product category (monofloral and polyfloral honeys), French retail distribution, and award-winning positioning.
• La Maison du Miel: Paris-based artisanal French honey specialist with a long heritage, premium retail positioning, and direct retail and gifting channels. Highly comparable to Le Manoir des Abeilles on artisanal honey focus, French origin story, and gift-box merchandising.
• Hilltop Honey: UK-based premium honey brand with broad retail distribution and a multi-SKU portfolio of monofloral and specialty honeys. Comparable on artisanal single-origin honey positioning, retail-led GTM, and product extension into bakery and wellness categories.
• Lune de Miel (Brand): Heritage French honey brand with national retail distribution and a broad range of monofloral, polyfloral, and organic honeys. Directly comparable to Le Manoir des Abeilles on product mix, French supermarket GTM, and award-credentialled positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Rowse Honey: UK's largest honey brand with national retail distribution and a broad SKU range including organic and specialty honeys. Comparable as a national-scale honey brand operating in mainstream grocery alongside premium organic lines.
• St Michel Biscuits: Major French industrial biscuit brand (galettes, sablés, madeleines) sold across French retail. Comparable on product category (French biscuits and small cakes), broad retail distribution, and overlap with Le Manoir des Abeilles' artisanal pastry line.
• Bonne Maman (Andros Group): Iconic French artisanal preserves and baked goods brand under Andros Group, with extensive French and international retail presence. Comparable on artisanal French food positioning, premium gifting, and supermarket distribution at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• La Mère Poulard: Iconic Mont Saint-Michel-based artisanal biscuit and cookie brand with strong heritage and tourism-channel distribution. Highly comparable on heritage branding, artisanal French bakery positioning, and proximity to the Mont Saint-Michel tourist ecosystem.
• Le Petit Marseillais / Les Apiculteurs de Provence: Regional French apiculture brands focused on Provençal honeys and bee products. Comparable as a regional organic beekeeping operator with single-territory retail focus and monofloral/Sud de France positioning.

Emerging players

• Meli Bio (Melli Bio Miel): French organic honey brand focused on certified organic single-origin honeys. Comparable as a smaller-scale organic French honey operator competing in the same BIO and additive-free consumer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-manoir-des-abeilles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 LE MANOIR DES ABEILLES