Groupe Limagrain
| Non-quoted public company | |
| Industry | Horticulture |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Saint-Beauzire, Puy-de-Dôme, France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Seeds |
| Services | Biotechnology |
| Revenue | 1,969 million euros (2014) |
| Profit | 97 million euros (2014) |
Number of employees | Nearly 9,000 |
| Website | Groupe Limagrain |
Limagrain is an international agricultural co-operative group, specialized in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products. Founded and managed by French farmers, Limagrain is the 4th largest seed company in the world through its holding Vilmorin & Cie, European leader for functional flours through Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients and largest French industrial producer of both bread and pastries through Jacquet-Brossard.
The Group makes annual sales almost 2 billion Euros and has a headcount of nearly 9,000, spread out over 42 countries, including more than 1,800 researchers. In Auvergne the Co-operative has nearly 2,000 farmer members. It conducts its business within the framework of a global, sustainable vision of agriculture and agri-food based on innovation and regulation of agricultural markets.
Core businesses
- Field Seeds
Field Seeds have always been very much part of Limagrain's historical core business. The Field Seeds activity has been part of Vilmorin & Cie since 2006, and is organized according to two main markets. In Europe, Limagrain Europe is the leading player. In North America, AgReliant, a joint venture with the German seeds company KWS, holds 3rd position on the corn seed market for the United States.
- Vegetable Seeds and Garden Products
Now part of Vilmorin & Cie, the Vegetable Seeds activity has been a major business for Limagrain since 1975. It targets the professional markets of growers and canners. Vilmorin & Cie provides them with vegetable seeds with high added value, and is the second largest company in the world on this market. Dedicated to amateur gardeners, the Garden Products activity proposes seeds of different flower and vegetable varieties, and also bulbs and products for the health and beauty of plants. Vilmorin & Cie is active on the main European gardening markets with a portfolio of well-known brands.
- Bakery and Cereal Ingredients
For Limagrain, the Cereal Products activity, including Cereal Ingredients and Bakery Products, constitutes a fundamental asset for valorizing the agricultural production of its members. Created in 2002, today Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients is a leader in functional flours. With Jacquet, integrated in 1995, Limagrain is the first industrial bakery pastry in France.
Key figures
- 2014 turnover : 1969 million Euros.
- Workforce : nearly 9,000 persons in the world.