CÔTEAUX NANTAIS: a human adventure rooted in the Nantes countryside

Our story

A story we live together, in the Nantes countryside, for over 80 years

Timeline

Over 80 years of commitment

Organic farming at the heart of our DNA

  1. 1943

    Humble beginnings in Thouaré

    The CÔTEAUX NANTAIS adventure began in 1943. Passionate fruit growers and owners of 2 hectares of orchards in Thouaré, the Moreau family chose to go against the intensive farming that was starting to creep into agricultural practice at the time: their orchard would be cultivated as close as possible to traditional methods, with no fertilisers and no chemicals. Natural fruit growing and organic fruit before organic was a thing!

  2. 1965

    Growing into Carquefou

    CÔTEAUX NANTAIS was thus one of the pioneers of organic farming. In 1965, René Delhommeau joined the adventure. The orchard grew and the business acquired land in Carquefou, bringing the orchard to some twenty hectares of apple trees.

  3. 1970

    Choosing organic

    From 1970, the Lemaire-Boucher organic method was trialled and put into practice there. It was a bold choice (80% of that year’s harvest was lost) and a wholehearted one.

  4. The 1970s

    The birth of the AB label

    Undeterred, CÔTEAUX NANTAIS stayed the course and, in the 1970s, worked alongside the French Ministry of Agriculture to develop the AB organic label. Naturally, the label appears on all CÔTEAUX NANTAIS products.

  5. The 1970s

    An organic grocery range

    In the 1970s, CÔTEAUX NANTAIS diversified and launched a grocery range made from the fruit of its organic orchards, with the aim of using 100% of the fruit grown on site: apple juice, compotes, jams, fruit purées and ciders joined the CÔTEAUX NANTAIS catalogue.

  6. The 1980s

    New land

    In the 1980s, CÔTEAUX NANTAIS kept growing and acquired new land at La Planche and Vertou.

  7. 1997

    The Demeter label

    In 1997, always looking to improve the quality of its fruit and products, CÔTEAUX NANTAIS was awarded the Demeter label, which certifies its biodynamic farming practices.

  8. Today

    105 hectares farmed biodynamically

    The company continues to develop and has acquired new orchards, reaching 105 hectares today across the whole Nantes basin. Since 2018, the 7,000 m² processing plant has been based in Remouillé, while the fruit station remains in Vertou, the company’s historic home. The business is becoming more professional as it scales up, and its processes are becoming more industrial, without ever betraying our commitment to farming biodynamically, in rhythm with nature.

This firm choice has become an ethos: it nourishes the sap of our trees just as much as it guides every decision the whole team makes.

The takeover

From a family story to a story of friendship

In April 2025, François Audo and Antoine Bonhomme, childhood friends who both come from the Nantes wine-growing region, embarked on the CÔTEAUX NANTAIS adventure. They fell for the company, its history and its orchards instantly: they chose to take over the torch together, to keep this symbol of Nantes organic farming alive.

Illustration of François Audo and Antoine Bonhomme, side by side

Values

A taste for excellence

François and Antoine want to carry on the CÔTEAUX NANTAIS adventure, respecting nature and serving the local area. Above all, it is a human and collective adventure: they share it with the whole team, committed women and men they are proud of, shaping together, with passion, a company that has meaning.

Respect for nature, high standards, fruit quality and flavour are the solid roots of CÔTEAUX NANTAIS. It is all together that they intend to draw on them for the energy to keep the company and its orchards thriving for a long time to come.

Their credo

“Take the work seriously, but not ourselves!”

CÔTEAUX NANTAIS, a human adventure with heart, meaning… and flavour.