It was an international group that payed a visit to Groupe Olivier and SCEA Cheminant in Nantes last week. Amongst them Houwelings Tomatoes and Windset Farms of the United States, Agrimind from Japan, Lipetsk from Russia, Foodventures from Kazakhstan, Ocean Orchids from Slovania and Les Hortensias also from France. A group of in total 15 growers that – at least – have one thing in common: they all grow in a Ultra-Clima greenhouse of KUBO, whether they are located in the US, Korea, Kazakhstan, Russia, Slovenia, Japan or France. In a two-day-trip to France for the Ultra-Clima Convention they shared their experience.
The first company they visited was Groupe Olivier, owned by Jean-Luc Olivier and his nephew Stéphane. The Olivier family has a long history in horticulture. In fact, it goes back to 1500, when the first generation of Olivier started growing vegetables. In 2014, it was the birth of the Olivier Group, combining all different Olivier company’s.
Local market
In the Nantes-area, Haute-Goulaine to be specific, they grow cucumbers for the local market on 2.3 hectares. They supply to fruit and vegetable cooperative Océane that sells to supermarkets like Carrefour, Lidl, Metro and Intermarche. “The Ultra-Clima greenhouse was built in 2017”, says Jean-Luc Olivier. “We’ve chosen for this concept because it provides both higher yield as well as a minimum energy and water use.” Hortère Conseil, KUBO’s dealer in France, was at the root of this project and took it to heart to deliver the project that Groupe Olivier was expecting.
Expanding business
Besides growing, they are also building at Groupe Olivier. By next year the 2.7 hectares expansion should be finished, making the total of 5 hectares.
For more information:
Groupe Olivier
la Bonodière, 44115 Haute-Goulaine
+33 02 40 54 91 53
www.groupe-olivier.fr
KUBO Group