near Niort, Poujoulat is banking on responsible growth

Number one on the European chimney market. Number one on the European market for industrial chimneys. Number one on the French wood energy market. Nearly fifty years after the purchase of this small industrial sheet metal company by Yves Coirier, Poujoulat continues to innovate, grow and conquer new markets.

Since 1975, the group has bought around twenty companies in Europe. Its turnover increased from 5 to 352 million euros, and the number of its employees from 50 to 1,750. At the same time, the surface area of ​​its historic site of Granzay-Gript, south of Niort, was multiplied by twelve to reach 60,000 m² of covered buildings.

“We remain a family business”

Tremendous growth which is accompanied by real societal, social and environmental ambitions. “The Coirier family still holds 70% of the capital; we remain a family business managed and managed for the long term”insists Frédéric Coirier, one of Yves Coirier’s sons, who chairs the group. “Here, it’s not the quarterly result that matters. »

This starts with the concern to manufacture high quality, therefore sustainable, products and with the development of the wood energy sector, thanks to innovation. But this also involves decarbonization efforts on production sites. Shades have recently been installed in the car parks at the Niort site, and the premises are heated by a wood boiler room. “We are 30% self-consumption on site and 50% renewable energy », welcomes the president who is also developing responsible purchasing, particularly in the supply of wood.

Transmission between generations

In the same way, Frédéric Coirier places Poujoulat in the long term by relying on a global social policy. An axis which involves the development of skills and know-how, safety, well-being at work, the fight against discrimination and the promotion of diversity, as well as transmission between generations. A production training school, the Poujoulat Acquisition and Performance Center (CAPP), was even created to allow this transfer of skills between the oldest employees, before their departure from the company, and new employees.

Solid foundations to continue committed development. And Frédéric Coirier displays his ambitions for Poujoulat: “Our objective is to reach 500 to 600 million euros in turnover within three to five years. »