Their story
1853: The history of the Group was built around friendship, Louis Lesaffre and Louis Bonduelle, when they joined forces to build a grain alcohol and Dutch gin factory. They later acquired their first mill in Marcq-en-Barœul.
In 1863, they were inspired by the work of Louis Pasteur, being the first to recognize fermentation as a vital force. The two friends considered marketing yeast in addition to alcohol. This is how the adventure around yeast began. From this site grew Société Industrielle Lesaffre, which gradually proved to be the driving force behind the Goup's industrial and commercial boom.