Geoffret, 79400 Saint-Martin-de-Saint-Maixent
+33 (0)5 49 76 07 87
contact@bellotminoteries.fr

Our Story

From father to son

for 16 generations

16 generations have had their time at the helm of our family company, Bellot Minoteries. We were flour merchants from 1550, and then millers in Geoffret since 1789. Each successive generation of millers kept on innovating and investing in our people and our machines, cementing our family’s place among the top 12 mills in France.

Key dates

1550

The first Bellot, the “Flour Merchant”

Our family tree goes all the way back to the first Bellot, the “Flour Merchant”. After him came 16 generations of Flour Merchants and Millers.

1789

Pierre Bellot bought a burr mill in Geoffret

Pierre Bellot bought a burr mill on the Sèvre Niortaise, in Geoffret, in the Commune of Saint Martin (the patron saint of millers) de Saint Maixent. After him came Jean Bellot, born in 1816, Louis Jean Bellot, born in 1845, Paul Théophile Bellot, born in 1873, Yvan Bellot, born in 1904, and Yves Bellot, born in 1906.

Yvan Bellot went on to have two children, including Gérard, the father of Jérôme, the current director of the mill, and François, the sales director for bakeries in the Charente-Maritime and southern Vendée sector.

Yves Bellot’s the father of Jean-Paul (the youngest of four sons), the president of the mill until 2018 and current president of the oversight committee. He is also the grandfather of Louis-Marie Bellot, currently the president of Bellot Minoteries.

1927

The first cylinder-based machine is installed

In addition to the burr stones, the first cylinder-based machine is installed.

1946

A new mill is started up

Yvan and Yves start up a new 4-level mill with 6 cylinder-based machines and 2 plansifters, equipment produced by the French company Schneider Jaquet. This new mill allowed them to mill 19 tonnes of wheat per day.

1969

Manufacture of feed for livestock

Gérard and Jean Paul develop a range of feed products for livestock.

1976

Complete restoration of the mill

New machines are installed. Production goes from 19 T per day to 45 T per day.

1980

Installation of a programmable automatic system

With the installation of more powerful cylinder-based machines and a plansifter from
Sangati, production rises to 70 T per day.

1984

The creation of the first innovative blending plant

The creation of the first facility allows the mill to blend different varieties of flour, with a flow of 9 Tonnes per hour.

This new plant paves the way for new varieties of flours to be blended, and Minoterie Bellot is awarded the Grand Prize for Computer-Integrated Manufacturing in 1985.

1986

Minoterie Bellot is nominated for the Belles Provinciales de France prize

Minoterie Bellot is nominated for the Belles Provinciales de France prize out of 24 companies in Poitou Charentes, for the company’s growth, influence on the local environment, and its research and innovation policy.

1987

Launch of the Mitronette

Trademark application and launch of the “Mitronette” range of flours. Baguettes made from these go on to win a series of gold medals at the annual “Saveurs de Poitou Charentes” competitions.

1988

Restoration of the mill

Production capacity reaches 120 T per day.

1992

The birth of Louis-Marie Bellot

1993

Creation of a laboratory and a bread-making workshop

A laboratory and a bread-making workshop is opened, with the recruitment of a Consulting Baker.

1996

Minoterie Bellot is awarded First Prize for Quality, France Poitou Charentes

President Jacques CHIRAC receives Jean Paul Bellot at the Elysée Palace to honour the
company and its employees.

1997

The livestock feed business is wound down

Minoterie Bellot decides to dedicate its entire production to flour destined for human consumption.

1998

Creation of Flour Ranges for Organic Bread

Minoterie Bellot begins producing organic flour and launches the first 1kg bag of organic flour for national distribution.

1998

ISO 9002 certification

2001

Installation of a new weight-based blending plant

The blending plant is modernised to reach an output of 20 T per hour, using weight-based dosing, digital traceability and 10 new bulk silos.

2001

Label Rouge

Minoterie Bellot signs up to the Label Rouge flour specifications

2004

IFS Certification

Minoterie Bellot becomes the first mill to receive IFS certification in France and is awarded the top grade. (International Featured Standard)

2008

Minoterie Bellot becomes Bellot Minoteries

Minoterie Bellot becomes Bellot Minoteries. On the 29 May 2008, we inaugurate a second fully automatic mill with a milling capacityof 330 tonnes of wheat per day.

2011

Complete restoration of the old mill

Our old mill is modernised, allowing it to mill 170 tonnes per day.

2017

Creation of a new factory

For the first time in its history, Bellot Minoteries expands its activities outside its traditional
site, creating a new storage, despatch and 1kg flour production site in Crèche.

2018

Louis-Marie Bellot takes over the company from his father, Jean Paul

Louis-Marie Bellot takes over the company from his father, Jean Paul, and becomes the 16th Bellot Miller, President of SAS Bellot Minoteries.

2019

Launch of the first fair trade flour available in 1kg bags

In partnership with C’est Qui Le Patron.

2020

Wheat with no post-harvest treatment

Going beyond organic and Label Rouge, Bellot Minoteries now requires suppliers to ensure that the conventional wheat they deliver to the mill is free from any chemical treatment after harvest.