Andros
A privately held French multinational food company specializing in fruit products, dairy foods, desserts, confectionery and biscuits.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Andros is a privately held French food company headquartered in Biars-sur-Cère in the Lot department, near Brive-la-Gaillarde. The group specializes in processing fruit and dairy ingredients into consumer foods, food-service products and private-label items. Its portfolio includes jams, compotes, fruit purées, juices, chilled desserts, yogurts, plant-based desserts, frozen products, confectionery, cakes and biscuits. The Andros name is particularly associated with fruit-based foods, while the wider group operates a collection of consumer and professional brands, including Bonne Maman, Andros Chef, Biscuiterie Saint-Michel, Buddy Fruits, Mamie Nova, Pierrot Gourmand and Solo Italia. The business originated with Jean Gervoson's jam activity in the postwar period. Its development was based on industrial processing of fruit and on the creation or acquisition of complementary food businesses. A major branding milestone came in 1971, when Gervoson created Bonne Maman, which later became one of the group's best-known international brands for jams, compotes, desserts, cakes and biscuits. In 1976, Andros acquired the factory of Pierrot Gourmand after that confectionery manufacturer entered bankruptcy proceedings, using the site to expand into sweets. Andros remained family controlled. In 2000, management passed from Jean Gervoson to his sons, with Frédéric Gervoson taking responsibility for Andros and Bonne Maman jams and Xavier Gervoson directing Bonne Maman cakes. The group subsequently expanded through international operations and acquisitions. Its manufacturing network includes more than forty factories worldwide, with operations or production facilities in countries including France, China, Vietnam, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay. Andros Asia has served markets in East and Southeast Asia, while Andros Foods North America operates production in Virginia. In 2012, the group acquired Bowman Andros Products in Virginia, a producer of apple products and private-label foods. In 2015, it acquired Barker's, extending its presence in Australia and New Zealand. The company serves several routes to market. Retail products are sold under Andros and other group brands, while Andros also supplies food-service customers, professional kitchens and large retailers' own-label ranges. Its industrial and contract-manufacturing activities include fruit fillings, frozen desserts, compotes, confectionery and other preparations. Andros Chef is aimed at gastronomic and professional users, reflecting the group's role as both a branded food producer and an ingredient supplier. During the late 2010s, Andros increased its emphasis on environmental positioning and alternative products. In 2018, it introduced Andros Gourmand & Végétal, a chilled dessert range based on ingredients such as coconut and almond rather than cow's milk. Around the end of 2020, it introduced a recyclable compote pouch. In May 2022, the group opened a new transformation site in Brive-la-Gaillarde, close to its historic production base. Andros is also highly visible through sports sponsorship. It has been the long-term title sponsor of the Andros Trophy ice rallycross championship and has maintained a longstanding relationship with French rugby club CA Brive. Its sports partnerships have extended to ice hockey, French rugby institutions, Racing 92, the French Olympic Committee and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Despite its international manufacturing and brand portfolio, Andros remains a private family business and publishes less detailed financial and governance information than a listed food multinational.
History
Andros traces its origins to Jean Gervoson's jam business, established in the French postwar period near Brive-la-Gaillarde. The company developed in Biars-sur-Cère, in the Lot department, where its location became closely associated with fruit processing and the group's regional identity. The business is generally dated to 1959 and grew by combining industrial fruit expertise with branded consumer products. In 1971, Jean Gervoson created Bonne Maman. The brand gave the group a durable position in jams and later expanded into compotes, desserts, cakes and biscuits. Bonne Maman's traditional visual identity and household orientation helped make it one of the most recognizable brands connected with Andros. In 1976, Andros acquired the factory of Pierrot Gourmand, a confectionery producer that had entered bankruptcy. The acquisition allowed Andros to use the site for sweets and broadened its activities beyond fruit preparations. A management transition took place in 2000, when Jean Gervoson left group management and his two sons assumed separate responsibilities. Frédéric Gervoson took charge of Andros and Bonne Maman jams, while Xavier Gervoson led the Bonne Maman cake business. The group remained controlled by the Gervoson-Chapoulart family. Andros subsequently built a broad portfolio of brands and activities. These include Andros for fruit products, Andros Chef for professional and gastronomic applications, Bonne Maman, Biscuiterie Saint-Michel, Buddy Fruits, Mamie Nova, Pierrot Gourmand and Solo Italia. The group also manufactures for retailers and other food companies, including private-label products and ingredients such as fruit fillings. This combination of branded foods, food-service products and contract production reduced the company's dependence on a single channel. International expansion created a network of more than forty factories and operations across several regions. Andros Asia operates in China, Japan and Vietnam, with production facilities in China and Vietnam and distribution across East and Southeast Asia. In North America, Andros Foods North America operates a Virginia plant. The 2012 purchase of Bowman Andros Products expanded the group's capacity in apple products and private-label manufacturing. The acquisition of Barker's in 2015 added a significant presence in Australia and New Zealand. Los Nietitos represents another international operation, in Uruguay. At the end of the 2010s, Andros placed greater emphasis on environmental and dietary change. In 2018, it launched Andros Gourmand & Végétal, a fresh dessert range using coconut and almond ingredients as alternatives to cow's milk. Around the end of 2020, the company introduced a recyclable compote pouch. In May 2022, it opened a new industrial transformation site in Brive-la-Gaillarde, strengthening its manufacturing footprint in the region where the company originated. Sports sponsorship has been an important part of Andros's public profile. The company has long sponsored the Andros Trophy ice rallycross championship, which has been held in France since 1990. It has also supported CA Brive rugby, the Image Club d'Épinal ice hockey team, the French National Rugby League, the French Olympic Committee, Racing 92 and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. These partnerships combine brand visibility with local and national sporting affiliations. Andros has also faced competition-law sanctions. In 2015, Novandie was involved in a dairy-product price-coordination case; the associated penalty was reduced by the Paris Court of Appeal in 2017. In 2019, Andros was sanctioned in a separate compote-market cartel case concerning coordinated price increases. The authority noted that the company had acted as a disruptive competitor during part of the period, which contributed to a reduction in the penalty. Andros remains an active private multinational food group, although its family ownership means that detailed public information about finances, governance and current executives is limited.
- 2022
Brive-la-Gaillarde transformation site opened
[1]A new industrial transformation facility opened near the group's historic Biars-sur-Cère base.
- 2020
Recyclable compote pouch introduced
[1]Andros launched a recyclable pouch format for compote products.
- 2018
Andros Gourmand & Végétal launched
[1]The group entered plant-based chilled desserts with products made using ingredients such as coconut and almond.
- 2015
Barker's acquired
[1]Andros expanded its business in Australia and New Zealand through the acquisition of Barker's.
- 2012
Bowman Andros Products acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Andros's North American capabilities in apple products and private-label manufacturing.
- 2000
Management passed to the Gervoson brothers
[1]Jean Gervoson stepped away from management; Frédéric and Xavier Gervoson assumed separate responsibilities for the group's businesses.
- 1976
Pierrot Gourmand factory acquired
[1]Andros acquired the factory of bankrupt confectionery maker Pierrot Gourmand and used it for sweets production.
- 1971
Bonne Maman created
[1]Jean Gervoson launched Bonne Maman, which later became a major jam, dessert, cake and biscuit brand.
- 1959
Andros established in France
[1]The business developed from Jean Gervoson's postwar jam activity in the Biars-sur-Cère area of southern France.
Products and positioning
A French family-owned food group built around fruit expertise, everyday household foods, premium traditional-style brands and professional food-service solutions.
Fruit processing
Andros fruit products
The core Andros range is built around fruit processing and includes jams, compotes, fruit purées, juices and fruit-based desserts. These products address everyday household consumption while also supporting the group's food-service and industrial activities. The brand's identity is closely tied to fruit sourcing, processing expertise and convenient formats for retail customers.
Jams, desserts, cakes and biscuits · 1971
Bonne Maman
Created in 1971, Bonne Maman is one of the best-known brands associated with Andros. It offers jams and marmalades as well as compotes, chilled desserts, cakes and biscuits. The brand is oriented toward household retail and is associated with traditional-style recipes, recognizable packaging and a premium everyday-food position.
Professional and gastronomic ingredients
Andros Chef
Andros Chef serves professional users such as chefs, pastry professionals and food-service operators. Its offering uses the group's fruit expertise in preparations intended for culinary and gastronomic applications. The line extends Andros beyond consumer retail by supplying ingredients and formats designed for professional kitchens and desserts.
Plant-based chilled desserts · 2018
Andros Gourmand & Végétal
Introduced in 2018, Andros Gourmand & Végétal is a chilled dessert range based on plant ingredients including coconut and almond. It was developed as an alternative to conventional cow's-milk yogurt and reflects the group's move into lower-animal-input and plant-based refrigerated foods.
Biscuits and cakes
Biscuiterie Saint-Michel
Biscuiterie Saint-Michel is a French cakes and biscuits business associated with the Andros group. Together with Bonne Maman's biscuit activities, it gives Andros a substantial presence in packaged bakery products and complements its fruit, dessert and confectionery portfolio.
Yogurts and dairy desserts
Mamie Nova
Mamie Nova is a yogurt and dairy-dessert brand within the wider Andros portfolio. It complements the group's fruit and dessert activities by addressing refrigerated dairy consumption and providing products for the French food retail market.
Confectionery
Pierrot Gourmand
Pierrot Gourmand is a confectionery brand and manufacturing activity linked to Andros since the 1976 acquisition of its factory. The business enabled Andros to expand from fruit preparations into sweets and remains part of the group's broader food portfolio.
Frozen desserts
Solo Italia
Solo Italia is associated with Andros's frozen-dessert activities. It broadens the group into frozen formats and complements its chilled desserts, fruit products and professional dessert ingredients.
Controversies
2019
Compote cartel case
Andros was sanctioned in a French Competition Authority case concerning coordination of price increases in the compote market. The authority also considered that the company had disrupted the arrangement during part of the period by pursuing an aggressive commercial policy.
2015
Yoghurt cartel case
Novandie, an Andros subsidiary, was among companies sanctioned in a French competition case involving coordination over dairy-product prices. The associated fine was later reduced by the Paris Court of Appeal in 2017.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023French rugby and Rugby World Cup partnerships
France · International
Andros supported French rugby institutions and became associated with the 2023 Rugby World Cup, extending its sports-marketing activity from local club sponsorship to national and international rugby.
Outcome. The partnerships increased the brand's visibility around French rugby and major sporting events.
- 1996CA Brive rugby sponsorship
France
Andros maintained a prominent sponsorship relationship with French rugby club CA Brive, a partnership rooted in the company's regional identity in Corrèze.
Outcome. The company appeared on the club's jerseys, including during the club's 1996–97 European campaign.
- 1990Andros Trophy sponsorship
France
Andros became the long-term title sponsor of the French Andros Trophy ice rallycross championship, linking the food group to winter motorsport and giving the brand a distinctive national platform.
Outcome. The sponsorship became one of the company's most recognizable public-brand associations.
Brand decisions
2022
Opening of the Brive-la-Gaillarde transformation siteStrategyBackground
Andros continued investing in its home-region industrial base near the historic Biars-sur-Cère operations.
Action taken
The group opened a new transformation facility in Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Aftermath
The site reinforced production capacity and Andros's industrial presence in its native area.
2020
Recyclable compote pouchProduct launchBackground
Packaging sustainability became a more prominent issue in packaged food.
Action taken
Andros introduced a recyclable pouch format for compote products.
Aftermath
The initiative provided a packaging-sustainability element within the group's fruit-snack and compote business.
2018
Launch of Andros Gourmand & VégétalProduct launchBackground
Demand for plant-based and lower-animal-input refrigerated foods was becoming more visible in European consumer markets.
Action taken
Andros launched a chilled dessert range using coconut milk, almond milk and other plant-based ingredients.
Aftermath
The launch diversified the group's dessert portfolio beyond conventional dairy products.
2015
Acquisition of Barker'sM&ABackground
Andros continued its international expansion beyond Europe.
Action taken
The group acquired Barker's in Australia and New Zealand.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Andros's regional presence and added to its international food and fruit-product activities.
2012
Acquisition of Bowman Andros ProductsM&ABackground
Andros sought to expand its North American manufacturing and apple-product capabilities.
Action taken
The group acquired Bowman Andros Products in Mount Jackson, Virginia, a producer associated with apple products and private-label manufacturing.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Andros's domestic production base in the United States and supported products such as Old Virginia and Buddy Fruits.
Recent events
Reported
CredSimple rebrands as andros[2]
CredSimple announced andros as its new corporate brand identity, representing the union of CredSimple and Glenridge Health.
Reported
andros launches provider network management platform[2]
andros launched an all-in-one platform for healthcare organizations to manage provider networks, including recruiting, contracting, credentialing and directory management.
Sources2 sources
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