Our History
Les Compagnons du Miel, a unique story you will not find anywhere else.
Across France, beekeepers chose to unite in a cooperative to share their expertise and develop a common vision : advocating for high-quality honey with guaranteed traceability from hive to jar. Just like a hive, it is a collective journey where everyone works for the benefit of all.
1958
Our story began in 1958.
Several beekeepers from different regions of France shared the same strong, lasting values. They exchanged ideas about their craft and the state of the beekeeping industry, ultimately deciding to form a cooperative to unite their strength and pool their harvests.
The FRANCE MIEL Cooperative was born…
and its heart beats in the Jura region.
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
1968
The year 1968 marked a crucial milestone for our Cooperative. We established our own Honey Expertise Laboratory.
Honey has been subject to widespread fraud around the world for many years. Creating our Honey Expertise Laboratory aimed to prove the quality and professionalism of our work while respecting the bees. For the first time, the characteristics of our honeys were rigorously guaranteed, giving consumers complete confidence in our products.
A true innovation for the beekeeping industry !
The cooperative creates an identifiable entity in the market offering a unique product line, while being guided by shared values among all members, namely social justice, fairness, and equality.
1996
We continued our growth by creating Naturalim, our honey packaging facility, alongside our Honey Expertise Laboratory. Its role is to consolidate the packaging and distribution of our harvests. As a 100% owned subsidiary of the Cooperative, it provides an additional guarantee and complete security for our yields. Thanks to Naturalim, we can focus on our core work as beekeepers while employing specialized team members to bottle and promote our products !
2015
France Miel became « LES COMPAGNONS DU MIEL » !
Our Cooperative grew and changed its name to better reflect all of our values. « Compagnons » highlights that we are united cooperatively in our values, our craft, and our mutual support. Our diverse regions, distinct personalities, and varied backgrounds have brought us together in a unique way since 1958. « Miel » celebrates the delicious nectar that unites us all : bees, beekeepers, and you !
« Producers are located all across France. Thanks to them, the Cooperative thrives and enables us to build connections with other beekeepers and other crafts. »
Olivier, Les Compagnons du Miel beekeeper in the Tarn region.
2020
Agri-Éthique France Fair Trade Certification
Our primary mission from the very beginning has been to ensure our member beekeepers can earn a decent living from their work.
In 2020, we decided to certify both the Cooperative and our subsidiary Naturalim under Agri-Éthique France, Fair Trade. This label helps everyone identify agricultural products committed to fairness.
This certification formally validates our values and commitments through an officially recognized guarantee.
« Being part of a cooperative means joining a vision that highlights producers, their varied harvests, different terroirs, and distinct production techniques. »
Rémi, Les Compagnons du Miel beekeeper in the Isère region.
2021
Sustainable and responsible beekeeping.
In 2021, we committed to sustainable and responsible beekeeping. This commitment came to life through our « Progress & Ethics » charter.
This one-of-a-kind charter guarantees high-quality honey with 100% certified traceability from hive to jar, ethical beekeeping practices, and continuous improvement.
« For me, the Cooperative represents a shared goal that truly defends honey quality and allows us to promote our honey and brand together. »
Ingrid, Les Compagnons du Miel beekeeper in the Aveyron region.
2026
233 beekeepers across the country.
We are 233 cooperative producers : 231 French and 2 Spanish. Our Cooperative reflects the diversity of farms and beekeeping projects.
From a few hundred hives to several thousand, from small farms to migratory beekeepers, from organic to conventional honeys, every approach has its place and enriches our unique cooperative model in France.
Our strength in numbers demonstrates the power of our commitment to trusted, high-quality honey.
