Our story

Our history

Our history

In the Beginning, an Island

The Island of Groix, or Enez Groe in Breton, is located off the southern coast of Brittany, facing the harbour of Lorient, around 4 nautical miles from the mainland.

The second-largest island in Brittany by surface area, the Island of Groix stretches 8 km long and 3 km wide, and is home to an exceptional wealth of natural and cultural treasures.

Visitors are quickly captivated by its wild and unspoilt landscapes, where the vastness of the sky and the sea seem endless. Groix is a charming island where the authenticity of traditional villages blends with the breathtaking beauty of a coastline shaped by sea spray. The island boasts remarkable geological heritage, recognised through the creation of a nature reserve. Its culinary heritage is equally rich and deeply connected to its history, particularly its thriving past during the era of White Germon Tuna canneries.

THE HISTORY OF THE CANNERIES

From 1863 to 1979, five canneries on the Island of Groix produced some of the finest White Germon Tuna preserves on the Atlantic coast: Conserverie Romieux, Jégo, Kersaho, Orvoën, and Tristan-Calloch.

For more than a century, these canneries contributed to the island’s great tuna-fishing story and became a source of pride for the people of Groix. The traditional rooster that topped the bell tower of the village church was even replaced by a… tuna!

It was truly a golden age, as the island was home to up to 300 tuna fishing boats moored at Port-Tudy and Port-Lay, the first harbour built on the island. Since White Germon Tuna was rarely sold fresh, crews from Groix initially supplied existing canneries along the Atlantic coast. Then, the arrival of the railway in Lorient in 1862 and the opening of new markets triggered the construction of canneries on Groix from 1863 onwards. The factories, which initially processed sardines, provided employment for several generations of young women and fishermen’s wives, as well as many families who came from the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Port-Tudy became France’s leading tuna fishing harbour, and the entire island lived to the rhythm of White Germon Tuna fishing. With more than three hundred dundees — traditional sailing fishing boats — and a fishing school, the Island of Groix gained a remarkable reputation for tuna fishing, with a large fleet known for travelling further offshore than most to bring back their catch.

The Last Tuna Fisherman of the Island of Groix

Le Biche is a tuna fishing dundee built in 1934 in Les Sables-d’Olonne for Ange Stéphan, a Groix fisherman known by the nickname “Ange Biche”, who gave the boat its name. At the time, many tuna boats from Groix were built in the shipyards of Les Sables-d’Olonne, renowned for producing strong and reliable vessels, perfectly suited for summer tuna fishing and winter dredging.

Today, Le Biche is the last preserved tuna fishing boat from the Island of Groix. After extensive restoration work, it has returned to the sea and now offers sailing trips, from day excursions to longer journeys lasting several days.

A symbol of the golden age of tuna fishing, it holds a special place in the hearts of Groix fishermen. It represents the island’s traditions, the courage and the resilience of the women and men who shaped its history. Groix & Nature helps preserve this heritage through its social and community commitment to supporting Le Biche’s activities.

Groix & Nature: 25 Years of Passion and Authenticity

As an artisan producer on the Island of Groix for a quarter of a century, we are deeply committed to showcasing our region, building strong relationships with the producers we work with every day, and involving our team, who all share the same passion.

Established on the Island of Groix since 2000, Groix & Nature has always been dedicated to highlighting the natural and culinary treasures of this unique island. From the very beginning, the company has focused on creating authentic and flavourful recipes: fish rillettes and soups, lobster oil, prepared dishes… each creation tells a story — one of preserved artisanal expertise and craftsmanship passed down with passion.

This artisanal approach is an essential part of our identity.

Groix & Nature: 25 Years of Passion and Authenticity
Une île, des Hommes, une passion

"An island, its people, a passion… the promise of a journey across the seas, an invitation to discover a unique land shaped by a strong and authentic history.

It was with these ideals that the Groix & Nature adventure began in 2000, as a bold challenge and an ambitious vision launched by Dominique Yvon, Mayor of Groix, and my father Christian Guyader, entrepreneur and committed sailor. Together, they set out to revive a cannery on the island, paying tribute to the ancestral expertise that made the reputation of the ‘Island of Garnets’, as Groix is known.

Protecting this magnificent and fragile territory, promoting sustainable local development, and above all, preparing food while respecting the product, the craftsmanship and the flavours: Groix & Nature was born from these convictions that have guided us since 2000.

Running a business on an island means embracing an unconventional pace of life, shaped by the boats that connect Groix to the mainland. It also means being open to the world while never forgetting our home port."

Marianne Guyader, CEO