The origins of Salles Frères
Etienne Salles was born in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert at the end of the 19th century, in a modest house on the square where the huge plane tree dating from 1848 symbolizes freedom.
An entrepreneur from an early age, he travelled seasonally, pushing a cart, through the estates of the region where, for over 20 centuries, olive trees and vines have shared the mid-altitude land.
Harvested fruit is processed, debittered with oak ash lye and prepared according to common recipes, and offered for sale on market days.
A happy marriage led him to Aniane, a few kilometers down the Hérault from his native village.
1920
Étienne Salles founds the Salles company, whose vocation, aided by its location in the heart of a major production zone, is to collect, prepare and market local olives, including Lucques.
At the time, trading took place in chestnut barrels, and a cooperage was soon added to the business.
1956
Frost damages a large part of the Languedoc olive groves. It was at this time that management decided to equip the company with versatile industrial resources, set up external partnerships to ensure complete control of harvesting and manufacturing cycles, and expand production to include all fruits and vegetables in the condiment world.
1975
The company, still entirely controlled by the Salles family, becomes a public limited company, run by the second generation of the family, the two sons, Paul and Jean Salles.
Thanks to the diversity of its products, the company conquers new markets in France and abroad.
1980
Véronique Amalou, daughter of Jean Salles, joins the family business. She is now our Managing Director.
1996
Faced with its strong growth, the company undertook a major modernization of its site, with the renovation of production workshops, the acquisition of innovative equipment, and the creation of a laboratory with the implementation of HACCP hygiene standards.
2004
Bruno Ghia, with the company since 1974, takes over as General Manager of Salles Frères
2020
New workspace modernization (workshop and offices)
2022
First half-year: Luc Ghia is appointed Managing Director in charge of transformation and organization.
This is the fourth generation to join the company, 102 years after its creation.
