“It’s the little details that make us move forward”: Arcadie, the organic company from Alès that wants to put down roots in the “real world”

Martin Lacroix, responsable de communication de la société Arcadie. Midi Libre – LUCAS MASSOT

Established for almost twenty years in Méjannes-lès-Alès, the company, creator of the spice brands “Cook” and “L’Herbier de France", details its expansion project, always ensuring its organic and environmental principles.

Such a bright sun is beating down on the rooftops of Méjannes-lès-Alès at the beginning of December. It is hard to believe that the wintry month of December is already here. Martin Lacroix, communications manager at Arcadie, suggests a coffee and going outside. “It's nicer anyway, isn't it ?“

Dominique Kimmel and Bernard Brunet were “idealists”, he explains. They founded Arcadie in 1990, moved to Méjannes in 2005, and had the first premises built. The Cook and l’Herbier (which would become l’Herbier de France) brands were born. Since 2017, the couple has handed over the reins of the company to their children, Manuel and Mathieu.

New environmentally friendly buildings

While the post-covid assessment was stagnant, 2023 and then 2024 were favorable. So much so that “we were a bit tight in our premises“, explains Martin Lacroix. These new spaces must on the one hand serve to increase storage as well as the company's production efficiency (packaging, product processing, logistics). “Of the order of 20%.” On the other hand, the improvement of the working environment of the 100 employees currently employed by Arcadie.

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The construction site of the new premises. “Concrete reinforcement is necessary” for safety standards. Midi Libre – LUCAS MASSOT

A 10 million euro project, with significant state support, due to the recovery plan. The result of a collaboration between around thirty companies, including 11 from Gard, the company intends to refocus on local operations. The end of the work is scheduled for early 2026.

However, the company's spokesperson is clear-headed: “Arcadie is not irreproachable. A fleet of trucks leaves our premises every day. How do we limit that? ? We still have questions.” Furthermore, “the new buildings will have a concrete frame. This is necessary for safety“.

On the other hand, what it loses on one side, the company intends to gain on the other. “We are pushing on all fronts. The walls will be made of straw boxes, covered with earth plaster. Green roof, geothermal heating…“

“We are not radicals, we are in the real world”

“Arcadie is convinced that organic farming is the right option for the future.“Organic, the company's primary directive, must not, however, become a source of controversy: “We are not radicals, we are in the real world. Giving lessons to people is useless“, says Martin Lacroix.

The entrepreneurial objective: to change habits in the long term. “Our work environment highlights Arcadie's ambitions. It allows our employees to understand the challenges of climate change. Through small details, we can move forward over the long term.” Example: the company has been working since 2022 to limit the abuse of ink on its labels.

On the left, the old labeling. On the right, two “more sober” examples in order to limit ink during printing. Midi Libre – LUCAS MASSOT

“CHow can a company be a tool to transform the world?” Through alternative means, such as bonuses for employees who come by bike in particular. “We can say that coming by bike rather than by car will lose ten minutes of work. That's true. But what we lose in efficiency, we gain in other ways. This journey is a break“.

Found in organic stores, Arcadie's products plan to open up to other businesses, particularly on a local scale. “Today, we have to go beyond the restrictive organic aspect. We want to meet people. We want to bear witness on our scale“.

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