LA CORVETTE

What LA CORVETTE does

La Corvette, operating as Savonnerie du Midi, is a French family-owned soap manufacturer founded in 1894 in Marseille, producing authentic Marseille soap, black soap, Aleppo soap, liquid soaps, organic body care, household cleaning products, and gift sets under the parent entity Compagnie du Midi (SAS). The company's core technology is the traditional cauldron saponification process (procédé marseillais), in which vegetable oils, soda, water, and salt are cooked in cauldrons under master soap-maker supervision, producing authentic Marseille soap containing a minimum of 72% vegetable oils and conforming to the UPSM (Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille) charter. The portfolio spans over 100 SKUs across hygiene, body care, and home care categories, with COSMOS NATURAL, COSMOS ORGANIC, and ECOCERT Ecodetergent certifications underpinning the natural/organic positioning.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce (la-corvette.com), two company-owned retail stores in Marseille (factory outlet at 72 Rue Augustin Roux with a 10% discount, and the Place aux Huiles flagship in the Old Port), a reseller network (boutiques, pharmacies, natural product stores including Biocoop, garden centers including botanic, and department stores including BHV Paris), and a dedicated B2B channel for professional/export customers. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from €2.50 for promotional 100g soap cubes to over €45 for premium gift sets, with free shipping in France above €59 and a points-based loyalty and referral program. The company also operates the Musée du Savon de Marseille (opened December 2018) with approximately 250 historical objects, which functions as both a brand-experience asset and a revenue line through group visits and workshops. Geographic reach is limited to metropolitan France and Europe via Colissimo, with explicit exclusion of DOM-TOM and non-European destinations.

Distribution of customer concentration is broad across individual consumers, tourists, gift buyers, and a fragmented reseller base, with no single enterprise anchor contract disclosed. Recent strategic activity has been weighted toward co-branded product launches (Écume Fraîche with Marine Nationale in 2021, La Corvette x Provence in 2023, Lesseau x La Corvette in 2024, MARINS-POMPIERS solidarity soap in 2023), new channel partnerships (Biocoop, botanic), and certifications (EPV label in 2020), rather than M&A or external funding. Revenue, headcount, and ownership structs beyond the €1,021,177.52 SAS capital are not publicly disclosed.

Name

LA CORVETTE

Legal name

Compagnie du Midi

Website

https://la-corvette.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Short description

La Corvette (Savonnerie du Midi) is a 1894-founded, family-owned Marseille soap manufacturer producing authentic cauldron-cooked Marseille soap, organic body care, and household cleaning products for individual consumers, tourists, and a fragmented reseller network across France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Care and Cleaning Products (Traditional Marseille Soap Manufacturing)

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256)

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Intimate & Personal Hygiene Washes (CRABAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Heavy-Duty/Industrial-Strength All-Purpose Cleaners (Consumer) (CRAJAMAG)

Keywords

• Marseille soap manufacturing
• Natural personal care products
• Organic certified cosmetics
• Traditional cauldron saponification
• Household cleaning products

Headquarters

HQ city

Carros le Broc

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: B2C sales through la-corvette.com online store, offering Marseille soaps, black soaps, Aleppo soaps, liquid soaps, organic products, body care, household cleaning products, and gift sets. Prices range from €2.50 to €45+ per product.
2. Retail Store Sales: Sales through two company-owned stores: Factory Outlet (with 10% discount) and Place aux Huiles store in Marseille Old Port. Also offers personalized soap cutting services at €4 per slice.
3. Wholesale/Reseller Distribution: B2B wholesale to resellers, pharmacies, DIY stores, and professional/commercial customers. Professional orders handled by [email protected], export handled by [email protected].
4. Museum and Experience Revenue: Museum visits (opened December 2018), group visits, and soap personalization workshops generate revenue while serving as a marketing and brand-building tool.
5. Loyalty Program: Points-based loyalty system where 1 euro spent = 1 point, redeemable for coupons (100 points = €10). Also includes referral program where sponsor and referral each receive 20 points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Corvette manufactures and sells authentic Marseille soap (Savon de Marseille) and related natural personal care and household cleaning products using the traditional cauldron saponification process preserved since 1894. Its portfolio spans solid Marseille soap cubes/bars/flakes, Extra Pur hypoallergenic variants, scented Savon de Provence bars, black soap (Savon noir), Aleppo soap, organic liquid soaps, the Douceur Bio organic body care range, household cleaners, and gift/accessory sets. Distribution is through the company's e-commerce site, two company-owned stores in Marseille, museum visits, and a network of resellers and professional/wholesale customers in France and Europe.

Product overview

LA CORVETTE (Savonnerie du Midi) is a traditional Marseille soap manufacturer founded in 1894, producing a comprehensive range of natural soap and cleaning products. The core product is Savon de Marseille, made using the historic cauldron cooking process with minimum 72% vegetable oils. The portfolio includes: Savon de Marseille (in cube, bar, flake, and soap forms), Savon de Provence (scented variants), Savon noir (black soap for household use), Savon d'Alep, and liquid soaps. Premium lines include Gamme Douceur Bio (organic body care with COSMOS ORGANIC certification) and Gamme Méditerranée (Mediterranean-themed collections). Special collaborations include ÉCUME FRAÎCHE Marine Nationale (with French Navy) and Lesseau x La Corvette (zero-waste dispensers). The company also produces household cleaning products (ECOCERT certified) and gift/accessory items. The museum and factory store provide educational and retail experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Douceur Bio: Organic body care and hygiene product range certified COSMOS ORGANIC
• Écume Fraîche
• La Corvette x Marine Nationale
• La Corvette x Provence
• Lesseau x La Corvette

Products and services

• Savon de Marseille Traditional Marseille soap cubes, bars, flakes, and savonnettes made using the historic cauldron cooking process with minimum 72% vegetable oils, soda, water, and salt. Available in olive and Extra Pur variants for personal hygiene, household cleaning, stain removal, and laundry.
• Savon de Marseille Extra Pur Hypoallergenic Marseille soap variant made exclusively with vegetable oils (no olive oil), free from colorants, perfumes, and preservatives, designed for sensitive skin.
• Savon de Provence Scented 100g solid soap bars inspired by Provence with fragrances including lavender, verbena-lemon, sweet almond, rose, jasmine, argan oil, and goat milk.
• Savon Noir (Black Soap) Traditional black soap in olive oil and linseed oil variants, available in paste and liquid forms, for textile stain removal, household cleaning, and garden use. ECOCERT certified.
• Savon d'Alep Traditional Aleppo soap made following ancestral Syrian recipes with laurel berry oil and olive oil.
• Savon Liquide de Marseille Liquid Marseille soap made from organic olive and coconut oils, free from palm oil and colorants, available in regular and organic COSMOS ORGANIC-certified versions.
• Gamme Douceur Bio Organic body care product line including organic soaps, shampoos, shower gels, and creams featuring donkey milk, lavender, sweet almond, rose petals, and fig leaf; COSMOS ORGANIC certified.
• Gamme Méditerranée Mediterranean-themed product collection including sub-lines Délices de Méditerranée, Secrets des Calanques, Jardins en Provence, Terres de Garrigue, and Soins d'Orient.
• ÉCUME FRAÎCHE Marine Nationale Collaboration product line with the French Navy featuring liquid soap, shampoo, and shower gel with sea fennel fragrance. COSMOS ORGANIC certified, manufactured exclusively for the French Navy with organic olive and coconut oils and aloe vera.
• Lesseau x La Corvette Solid Soap Dispensers Collaboration with Dutch brand Lesseau featuring innovative solid soap dispensers and zero-waste refills, including travel and wall-mounted dispensers with Marseille soap refills.
• MARINS-POMPIERS Solidarity Marseille Soap Solidarity Marseille soap cube (300g) supporting the Bataillon de Marins-Pompiers de Marseille relief fund, designed for cleansing, shampooing, shaving, and linen care, with €1 donated per cube sold.
• La Corvette x Provence Collection Collaboration with Provence brand featuring certified organic soaps and liquid soap with Provence-inspired fragrances including lavender, sage, fig leaf, and bergamot.
• Produits d'Entretien Maison Household cleaning products including solid dishwashing soap, multi-surface soaps, descaling soap with lemon essential oils, natural cleaners, and disinfectant sprays. ECOCERT Ecodetergent certified.
• Coffrets et Accessoires (Gift Sets) Gift boxes and accessories including travel soap boxes, FSC-labelled ritual boxes, Provence assortment boxes, Marseille soap gift sets, cotton tote bags, and hand-sewn pencil cases.
• Savons de Marseille Personnalisés (Personalized Soap Cutting) Personalized soap cutting and customization service available at the factory outlet (72 Rue Augustin Roux, Marseille) and the Place aux Huiles store, priced at €4 per slice.
• Musée du Savon de Marseille (Museum Visit) On-site museum experience opened December 2018 featuring ~250 historical objects, cauldron room demonstrations, saponification process tour, factory tour, and group/seminar facilities. Recommended by Lonely Planet, Guide du Routard, Petit Futé, and TripAdvisor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100/100 Yuka rating on MARINS-POMPIERS Solidarity Marseille Soap
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Marine Nationale (French Navy)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Écume Fraîche' product range including liquid soap, shampoo, and shower gel with sea fennel fragrance. Products manufactured exclusively for the French Navy. Includes MARINS-POMPIERS solidarity soap with €1 donated per sale to Marseille marine firefighters battalion relief fund.
• LesseaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dutch brand reinventing solid soap use through innovative dispensers. La Corvette provides solid soap refills (Extra Pure, Olive, Verbena-Lemon) compatible with Lesseau dispensers. Free delivery with code LESSEAU.
• Provence RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Corvette x Provence collection featuring 3 soaps embodying Provencal tradition, with fragrances evoking lavender, aromatic plants, Mediterranean orchards, and bergamot.
• Vendée GlobeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration product line mentioned as part of limited editions and special collections.
• BiocoopcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for distribution of organic products through Biocoop network of natural product stores. Featured in BSmart EcoSysteme program (May 2021).
• botaniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive launch of first certified organic Marseille soap at botanic garden centers (September 2022).
• BHV PariscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured in BHV Paris 'Christmas in Provence' artisan showcase (November-December 2022), highlighting Provence artisans.
• Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille (UPSM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of the professional union that defines standards for authentic Marseille soap. UPSM guarantees traditional manufacturing process (cauldron cooking), authentic composition (exclusively vegetable oils, no additives), and production in Bouches-du-Rhône department.
• COSMEBIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter member since 2007, representing commitment to organic and natural cosmetic standards.
• ECOCERT GreenlifecoreOthersCertification partner for COSMOS NATURAL and COSMOS ORGANIC standards on products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Le Petit Marseillais: Mass-market Marseille soap and body care brand now owned by Johnson & Johnson. Comparable product positioning around Marseille heritage but competing at a much larger scale and lower price tier.
• Compagnie de Provence: Premium Marseille-based soap and home care brand selling traditional liquid Marseille soaps and body care globally. Most directly comparable to La Corvette in authentic Marseille positioning, DTC + retail distribution, and contemporary premium brand-building.
• Savonnerie de l'Atlantique: Traditional French soap maker producing Marseille-style soaps and body care products. Comparable in traditional saponification methods, French manufacturing heritage, and B2B wholesale distribution to retail/pharmacy networks.
• Savonnerie Fer à Cheval: One of the last remaining traditional Marseille soap manufacturers using cauldron saponification. Directly comparable to La Corvette as a heritage UPSM-style soap factory serving both retail and professional/wholesale channels.

Broad incumbents

• Dr. Bronner's: Family-owned natural soap company with a multi-category castile soap and personal care portfolio. Comparable in family ownership, natural/clean ingredient positioning, and DTC + wholesale distribution, though with a US base and global reach.
• L'Occitane en Provence: Large publicly-listed French natural personal care and soap brand from Provence. Comparable heritage and natural ingredient positioning, but with global retail footprint, broader product portfolio, and significantly larger scale.
• Weleda: European natural cosmetics and personal care brand with certified natural formulations across body care and home. Comparable in certified natural/organic positioning (NaTrue), heritage (founded 1921), and multi-channel European distribution.
• Roger & Gallet: Heritage French soap and perfume brand (now owned by Impala) with iconic perfumed soap roundels. Comparable in long heritage (founded 1862), French natural/perfume positioning, and broad retail distribution across mass and selective channels.

Emerging players

• Compagnie des Sens: French natural soap and aromatherapy brand offering cold-saponified soaps and essential oil-based body care. Comparable in small-batch French natural soap manufacturing and direct-to-consumer e-commerce focus.
• Melvita: French organic beauty brand (owned by L'Occitane Group) specializing in organic and natural body care. Comparable in certified organic positioning and French natural/Provençal heritage, though focused more on skincare and beauty than soap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDM76Mbaq1dfYtsBstNjmrA
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/LaSavonnerieDuMidi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-corvette-la-savonnerie-du-midi
• Instagraminstagram.com/savonnerie_lacorvette
• Pinterestpinterest.fr/savonneriedumidi

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CORVETTE