A Bright Future Born from a Single Grain
From our company’s humble beginnings in 1851, the legacy of Louis-Dreyfus family leaders throughout our history continues to inspire us today. Our story is one of vision, hard work and innovation – a rich entrepreneurial heritage that guides us as we drive toward our future.
Our Story Begins
Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, a determined 16-year-old who laid the foundations for our global company, which he named after his father, understood early on that this business would fill a great human and economic need. His entrepreneurial spirit remains a source of inspiration for us to this day.
Handing Over the Reins
By the time of his death in 1915, Léopold has received multiple honors, including Commander of the Royal Russian Order (1905), Commander of the Légion d’Honneur (1912) and Grand Officer of the Romanian Crown (1914). The second generation of the business, with Charles and Louis at the helm, now takes the lead and expands to the Americas and beyond.
Unprecedented Expansion
Building on Léopold’s legacy and heritage, the company seizes opportunities to diversify the business in the decades following the end of World War II. Guided by a new generation of Louis-Dreyfus leaders, our operations grow to a new scale, laying the foundations for our long-term future.
Rise of a New Visionary
Building on the growth and success achieved by Gérard, Léopold’s great-grandson, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, writes a new chapter in the company’s history, giving employees advice which remains relevant in today’s complex times: “Look, learn, and then grow”.
A New Name, a New Chapter
The company begins forging a new way forward, with renewed focus on sustainability and on building strong relationships based on trust, inspired by our past as we drive toward the future.
Becoming the Value Chain
Increasingly, we are adding more value to the products ourselves on the journey from producer to consumer.
This enables us to leverage our focus on sustainable sourcing to respond to the need for a seamless, traceable and responsible value chain from farmer to customer and consumer, as we move downstream.
Transformation Sustained
As the world is swept by an unprecedented pandemic in modern times, our global reach, trading expertise and entrepreneurial outlook allow us to navigate challenges, deliver strong results and pursue transformation plans.