fromagerie d orval

What fromagerie d orval does

Fromagerie d'Orval is a French family-owned artisanal cheese maker based in Orval en Berry, in the Cher department of central France. Founded in 1957 when René Passat took over the Laiterie d'Orval, the company has been led since 1983 by his son Michel Passat and operates with 32 employees. It produces a portfolio of more than 30 artisanal SKUs spanning cow's milk cheeses (e.g., Le Saint Jeanvrin, Lo Goupi, L'Allichamps), goat's milk cheeses (e.g., Le Romorantin, Le Chèvre Frais, Mi-Chèvre), regional French AOP-style cheeses (Valençay, Pouligny St-Pierre, Sainte Maure de Touraine, Selles sur Cher, Pavé de Sologne), the signature La Fromagée du Berry fresh cheese (3.5% and 7% fat), and crème fraîche in glass pots. Production relies on the traditional 'moulage à la louche' hand-ladling technique, lactic fermentation, and milk pasteurization at 85°C, with milk sourced from 15 local dairy producers in the southern Cher department.

The company's go-to-market is wholesale through French supermarket chains — including Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché, Auchan, Système U and their sub-brands — covering more than 20 French departments across 10 administrative regions. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales with no disclosed pricing or licensing model; specific unit prices are not publicly listed. Marketing is limited to the company's website (orval-fromagerie.fr), recipe content, and earned media including a France 3 national television report. The company has accumulated multiple Concours Général Agricole medals (Silver 2006 and 2011, Gold 2013 and 2016, Silver 2017, Bronze 2017, and the 2020 Prix d'Excellence for La Fromagée du Berry), and joined the Les Fromagers de Tradition association in 2000 alongside other heritage French cheesemakers.

There is no disclosed evidence of external investors, private equity involvement, or acquisition activity; the Passat family retains direct operational control. The company holds a CNIL data-protection declaration (No. 1607996) and operates as a Société registered with RCS Bourges (B 329 175 418). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and no digital platform, app, or AI/ML capabilities are described in available materials.

Name

fromagerie d orval

Legal name

Société Fromagerie d'Orval

Website

https://orval-fromagerie.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fromagerie d'Orval is a two-generation, family-owned artisanal French cheese maker in Orval en Berry, producing 30+ traditional cow's and goat's milk cheeses, La Fromagée du Berry, and crème fraîche using hand-ladling methods, and distributing through major French supermarket chains across 20+ departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cheese Production

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Artisanal cheese production
• Fresh dairy products
• Goat milk cheese
• Cow milk cheese
• Hand-molded cheese

Headquarters

HQ city

Orval

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Artisanal Cheese and Dairy Product Sales: Revenue generated from manufacturing and selling artisanal cheeses made from cow's milk and goat's milk. Main product lines include the Fromagée du Berry (fresh cheese), cow's milk cheeses (Fromage Du Terroir, L'Allichamps, L'Epineuil, La Croquette, Le P'tit Pays, Le Petit Terroir, Le Saint Jeanvrin, Lo Goupi), goat's milk cheeses (Le Chèvre Frais, Le Mi-Chèvre Blanc, Le Mi-Chèvre Cendré, Le Romorantin Blanc, Le Romorantin Cendré, Le Sélection Blanc, Le Sélection Cendré), regional specialty cheeses (La Feuille de Dreux, Le Marsauceux, Le Frinault, Valençay, Pouligny St-Pierre, Sainte Maure de Touraine, Selles sur Cher, Pavé de Sologne, Bonde de Sologne, Le Cabris de Sologne), and crème fraîche. Products sold through supermarket distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fromagerie d'Orval is a family-owned artisanal cheese maker producing traditional cow's milk and goat's milk cheeses, the signature La Fromagée du Berry (fromage blanc), and crème fraîche. Products are manufactured entirely by hand using the traditional 'moulage à la louche' ladle-molding technique, with milk sourced from 15 neighboring dairy farms in the southern Cher department. The range is distributed through French supermarket chains across central and western France.

Product overview

Fromagerie d'Orval is a traditional French cheese maker based in Orval en Berry, operating as a family business for two generations. The company produces a portfolio of artisanal cheeses made from cow's and goat's milk using traditional methods—hand-ladling (moulage à la louche) and slow aging. The product range includes: (1) Signature products—La Fromagée du Berry (3.5% and 7% fat versions), a traditional farmhouse cheese white from the Berry region; (2) Cow's milk cheeses including Lo Goupil, Le Saint Jeanvrin, Le Petit Terroir, Le P'tit Pays, La Croquette, L'Epineuil, L'Allichamps, and Fromage Du Terroir; (3) Goat's milk cheeses including Le Chèvre Frais, Le Mi-Chèvre Blanc/Cendré, Le Romorantin Blanc/Cendré, and Le Sélection Blanc/Cendré; (4) Specialty cheeses under the Feuille de Dreux brand including La Feuille de Dreux, Le Marsauceux, and Le Frinault; (5) Regional French cheeses including Valençay, Pouligny St-Pierre, Sainte Maure de Touraine, Selles sur Cher, Pavé de Sologne, Bonde de Sologne, and Cabris de Sologne; and (6) Fresh cream (crème fraîche) in two sizes. Products are distributed through supermarkets across central and western France. The company employs 32 people and sources milk from 15 local dairy producers in the southern Cher department.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Fromagée du Berry: A traditional farmhouse cheese/soft cheese from the Berry region, made from cow's milk. Available in full-fat (7%) and semi-skimmed (3.5%) varieties. The company's signature product and flagship brand.

Products and services

• La Fromagée du Berry 7% The flagship fromage blanc of the Berry region, a traditional farmhouse recipe made from whole cow's milk with 7% fat content. Available in 500g, 1kg, and 2kg formats.
• La Fromagée du Berry 3.5% A lighter version of the signature Berry cheese white, made from semi-skimmed cow's milk with 3.5% fat content.
• Lo Goupi A soft-ripened cheese with white bloomy rind, made from partially skimmed pasteurized cow's milk. Reduced-fat cheese at 12% fat content.
• Le Saint Jeanvrin A soft cow's milk cheese wrapped in chestnut leaf, offering exceptional smoothness and softness with 30% fat content. Bronze medal winner (Concours Général Agricole 2017).
• Le Petit Terroir A small-format cow's milk cheese from Berry, hand-ladled molded and slowly aged in the drying room. Weighs 175g.
• Le P'tit Pays A small-format cow's milk cheese, hand-ladled molded and aged in the dryer for a drier texture. Weighs 220g.
• La Croquette A small-format cow's milk cheese with a hazelnut flavor from slow and regular aging. Hand-ladled molded. Available in packs of 3 (240g) or 5 units. 32% fat content.
• L'Epineuil A Bourbonnaise specialty with a hazelnut flavor and very fine texture. Hand-ladled molded and lightly drained. 14% fat content.
• L'Allichamps A Berry specialty enriched with fresh cream, hand-ladled molded with a very fine texture and taste. Aged dry format. 140g, 39% fat content.
• Fromage Du Terroir A specialty from the borders of Berry and Bourbonnais, made by hand-ladling lactic curd and slowly aging in the drying room. Available in demi-sec (semi-dry) format.
• La Feuille de Dreux A traditional soft cow's milk cheese with bloomy rind from the Dreux region. Made from pasteurized cow's milk. Weighs 300g.
• La Feuille de Dreux (à la coupe) The same traditional Feuille de Dreux cheese, sold by the cut. 400g, 14% fat content.
• Le Marsauceux A hand-kneaded curd cheese, drained and kneaded by hand before molding, then slowly aged in the drying room. 350g, 16% fat content, made from pasteurized cow's milk.
• Le Frinault A traditional cheese from the Orléans region. Can be enjoyed as an aperitif, in a salad, or as a cheese course. 120g, 38% fat content.
• Le Chèvre Frais A semi-fresh crottin cheese, hand-ladled molded and lightly drained, made from pasteurized goat's milk with a melting and flavorful paste. 125g, 15% fat content.
• Le Mi-Chèvre Blanc A semi-fresh cheese hand-ladled molded, combining the smoothness of cow's milk with the flavor of goat's milk. Silver Medal at Concours Général Agricole 2006.
• Le Mi-Chèvre Cendré A semi-fresh cheese hand-ladled molded, balanced between cow's milk smoothness and goat's milk flavor, ashed as traditionally done in Berry. Bronze Medal 2006. 15% fat content.
• Le Romorantin Blanc A cheese made from pasteurized goat's milk, hand-ladled molded and slowly aged in drying rooms, giving it a creamy texture. Silver Medal 2015 at Concours Général Agricole.
• Le Romorantin Cendré A cheese made from pasteurized goat's milk, hand-ladled molded and slowly aged in drying rooms for a creamy texture. 26% fat content.
• Le Sélection Blanc A goat cheese made and molded like a Selles-sur-Cher, sold fresh and unashed, slightly salted.
• Le Sélection Cendré A goat cheese made and molded like a Selles-sur-Cher, sold fresh, ashed or not, slightly salted. 200g, 18% fat content.
• Le Valençay A classic pyramid-shaped goat cheese from the Valençay region. 220g.
• Le petit Valençay A small pyramid version of Valençay cheese. 110g.
• Le Pouligny St-Pierre A classic pyramid-shaped goat cheese from the Blanc region in western Indre, known for its distinctive flavor due to local flora. Hand-ladled molded in traditional conical molds from raw goat's milk.
• Le Sainte Maure de Touraine A traditional goat cheese from Touraine, made from raw goat's milk with ferments, salt, and coloring (vegetable charcoal, rennet).
• Le Selles sur Cher A farm goat cheese made from raw whole goat's milk. 150g.
• Le Pavé de Sologne A farm goat cheese made from raw whole goat's milk from Sologne. 250g.
• La Bonde de Sologne Cendrée A farm goat cheese from Sologne, ashed version.
• La Bonde de Sologne blanche A farm goat cheese from Sologne made from raw whole milk. 180g.
• Le Cabris de Sologne A goat cheese from Sologne region.
• Crème fraîche (Fresh Cream) Thick fresh cream available in glass pots of 20cl and 40cl formats.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Les Fromagers de TraditioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn June 2000, Fromagerie d'Orval joined Les Fromagers de Tradition, an association of traditional French cheesemakers. Other member fromageries include Châtillon/Cher, Le Curé Nantais, and La Houssaye. The association promotes traditional cheese-making methods and artisanal production.
• SCEA La Touratte (Arcomps)minorOthersOne of the dairy farms supplying milk to Fromagerie d'Orval, located in Arcomps. Featured in the promotional video for the Fromagée du Berry.
• SCEA Forêt Vieille (Loye sur Arnon)minorOthersOne of the dairy farms supplying milk to Fromagerie d'Orval, located in Loye sur Arnon. Featured in the promotional video for the Fromagée du Berry.
• Les Thiaulins de Saint Hilaire en LignièresminorOthersAssociation of traditional craftsmen located at Château du Plaix. Partnered with Fromagerie d'Orval for filming promotional content about the Fromagée du Berry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Lactalis: World's largest dairy group and major French cheese incumbent producing Président, Galbani and many traditional French cheese brands — broad incumbent that dominates supermarket dairy aisles and sets the pricing benchmark against which artisanal producers compete.
• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: One of France's largest specialty cheese groups producing Bresse Bleu, Saint Albray and other regional French cheeses — broad incumbent competing for the same supermarket cheese shelf space but at industrial scale and with multi-category portfolio.
• Bel Group: Major French cheese group (La Vache qui rit, Babybel, Leerdammer, Boursin) with broad national supermarket distribution — broad incumbent overlapping with Fromagerie d'Orval in retail cheese category management and branded dairy positioning.

Direct peers

• Marcel Petite: Artisanal French Comté producer in the Jura with a long heritage of small-batch traditional cheese making and direct relationships with local farms — directly comparable in traditional craft dairy model and regional terroir positioning.
• Fromagerie La Houssaye: Member of the same Les Fromagers de Tradition association as Fromagerie d'Orval; small artisanal French cheesemaker serving national supermarket channels — directly comparable scale and traditional-method positioning.
• Fromagerie Rouzaire: Small artisanal Camembert producer in Normandy using traditional hand-crafted methods and supplying French retail — comparable in scale, traditional manufacturing approach, and premium French cheese positioning.
• Le Curé Nantais: Fellow member of the Les Fromagers de Tradition association alongside Fromagerie d'Orval; an artisanal French cheese maker using traditional craft methods and selling through French retail — directly comparable in production philosophy and channel mix.
• Fromagerie Berthaut: Family-owned artisanal French cheese maker in Burgundy producing Époisses and other regional soft cheeses using traditional methods — highly comparable in craft approach, scale, and French supermarket distribution.
• Fromagerie Châtillon-sur-Cher: Member of Les Fromagers de Tradition alongside Fromagerie d'Orval; artisanal French cheese producer with similar traditional positioning — directly comparable peer in the same heritage cheesemaker network.

Regional players

• Triballat Noyal: Independent French dairy group known for artisanal-style cheeses and the Rians brand of fresh dairy specialties including fromage blanc — comparable in French fresh and specialty cheese manufacturing, though at a larger scale than Fromagerie d'Orval.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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 fromagerie d orval