Company history
Les Vinaigreries du Lion, a company founded in Lagny-sur-Marne in 1865 by Mr. Mathon, came under the ownership of the Chamois family in 1890. It produced high-quality vinegar from white alcohol. At the time, France was divided into two regions, with the Loire river serving as the boundary. Northern France sourced its raw materials from beets, while southern France relied on wine. For many decades, the vinegar factory manufactured and supplied the vinegar used in the preparation of Pommery® Moutarde de Meaux®. It was only natural, then, that our company eventually took over the production of Pommery® Moutarde de Meaux®.
History of Moutarde de Meaux®
Meaux is located 60 km east of Paris. As the administrative center of the Seine-et-Marne department (77), the town has over 50,000 inhabitants (known as Meldois). The history of Meaux has been shaped by the winding path of the Marne river, on which the town is built. In ancient times, the Ourcq canal and the Marne formed a large loop north of the town, where a Gallic tribe called the "Meldis" lived, giving the town its name.
From the 4th century, the town became the seat of a bishopric and later the capital of Brie. We have to go back to Charlemagne to find the first links between religious people and mustard. He asked the religious to cultivate mustard in the bishoprics. He had also been able to protect the mills which belonged to the monks, as well as the quarries, hence the struggles between various congregations of ecclesiastics (in particular the priory of Reuil which held the millstone quarries in the sector and which had competition from the abbesses of St Benedict (Benedictine) or the nuns of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre with the Canons of the Chapter).
In the 18th century, numerous mustard factories were recorded. Some manufacturers had their own mill and others specialized in flour milling, reselling their flour to artisans. The latter made mustards intended on the one hand for human consumption and on the other hand for medicine and pharmacy.
The consumption of mustard was very high, it made it possible to erase the taste of foods which were not always of the first freshness. As early as 1771, we were able to identify mustard makers in Meaux having taken over from the Canons, on an already industrial scale for the time. JB Pommery operated a millstone quarry, alongside his mustard business. The secret of Meaux Mustard ® had been passed on to him by the Canons. In 1890, the Pommery family remained the only one to make mustard.
In 1925, manufacturing left the family to enter an era of modern production.
Today, Moutarde de Meaux® Pommery® has kept the same recipe as in the past, its ingredients carefully selected for their qualities. This gives the product a quality that many have tried to copy. The quality of the sandstone used, a most natural material, but also its natural, non-agglomerated cork stopper allows it to be preserved and cross our planet in all directions.
Moutarde de Meaux® around the world
Les Assaisonnements Briards have always carefully preserved their authentic manufacturing process, both in their mustard and vinegar production, sharing the benefits of their craftsmanship with the world.
The authenticity and quality of their products have allowed this small company to position itself in the premium market, generating 75% of its revenue from exports. They have captivated consumers in nearly 40 countries, including Vietnam, Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Uruguay, Argentina, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Belgium, Lebanon, Italy, Spain, Russia, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and many more.
