Spotlight on the economic advantages and opportunities of the Pays d’Arles: testimonials and awards

A look back at an event focusing on business takeovers and development in the Pays d’Arles.

Four entrepreneurs who chose to develop their operations in the Pays d’Arles shared their experiences as part of a Go Between in Provence workshop dedicated to business transfers that was organized by Provence Promotion and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pays d’Arles. Situated between the Camargue and the Alpilles, the Pays d’Arles is a prime location in Provence and offers a wealth of opportunities in a variety of economic sectors.

The June 26 event included an Invest in Provence ceremony that recognized four successful investment projects. First, there were three takeover projects: Abilis Export, which is specialized in the antiques trade; the L’Hostellerie de la Source, a hotel-restaurant in Arles; and Novaxion, a supplier of robotic equipment and software for the glass industry. Then, there was a development project by the start-up BioMiMetiC, which is specialized in the bioconversion of waste by insects and has set up its first industrial demonstrator north of Arles in Boulbon. The leaders of these projects, which were all recognized with Invest in Provence awards, presented their activities and objectives while describing the support they received from Provence Promotion and its partners.

Provence Promotion’s Invest in Provence community continues to grow. On June 26, four entrepreneurs based in the Pays d’Arles received Invest in Provence awards and thus joined the growing ranks of business leaders the agency has supported in Provence.

The award-winning projects are perfect illustrations of the economic opportunities available in the Pays d’Arles as well as the business support provided by Provence Promotion and the teams at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pays d’Arles, the Terre de Provence agglomeration, the Arles Crau Montagnette agglomeration, and the Vallée des Baux-Alpilles municipal federation.

The event began with a workshop on the sale and transfer of businesses as part of Provence Promotion’s Go Between in Provence program. Led by Salima Chelabi, the head of Go Between in Provence, the workshop was facilitated by experts from the Squair international law firm and Eurallia Finance, a company specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Approximately thirty business owners took part in the event and gathered valuable advice to help them prepare for the sale of their businesses. They then attended the Invest in Provence ceremony, which was conducted by Stéphane Paglia, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pays d’Arles, and Bernard Deflesselles, the president of Provence Promotion. Awards were given to Abilis Export, L’Hostellerie de la Source, Novaxion, and BioMiMetiC.

Entrepreneurship in the Pays d’Arles, a rewarding adventure

The thriving business ecosystem in Pays d’Arles was a major topic of conversation as four entrepreneurs used the awards ceremony as an opportunity to discuss their business journeys and share their experiences operating in the territory.

Loïc Cayuela returned to the Arles area after spending a 20-year career based in Paris working for Accord, where he managed a 500-room hotel and a team of 90 people. Having always dreamed of owning his own hotel, he found L’Hostellerie de la Source in Arles, which was in a large, traditional building that had great potential for development.

Not only did Loïc Cayuela receive specialized training in takeovers at the IRCE business association in Aix-en-Provence, but he also benefited from a wealth of advice and support from key stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including Provence Promotion. “I was lucky enough to be supported by a whole network of local partners, including Provence Promotion, who guided me as I learned about the territory. When you arrive without a lot of contacts, this help is invaluable. It saves time in the takeover process and ensures you avoid certain obstacles,” said Loïc Cayuela, who is aiming for a 60% increase in revenues by the end of the year.

Sarah Carrière-Chardon, who partnered with Emmanuel Peltier to take over the Abilis Export business, also shared her story at the event. “I met Emmanuel Peltier in Marseille. I had just returned from Tokyo and he had come from London following Brexit. When he suggested I join him in the endeavor, I was looking for a new professional project that would allow me to combine the quality of life in Provence with a new challenge in line with my skills as an art historian and communications specialist,” she explained.

That project turned out to be Abilis Export, a company specializing in exporting antiques and decorative objects to a high-end international clientele. Abilis Export showcases timeless artisanal savoir-faire and promotes Provence by organizing special purchasing tours for its clients while also collaborating with numerous antique dealers, restorers, and artisans in the territory. Thanks to Provence Promotion, Abilis Export benefits from multiple networking opportunities with local economic stakeholders.

As for Frédéric Nio, he is the former managing director of the Rondot Group in Lyon. He ended up becoming a stakeholder in the company by acquiring shares in Novaxion, which is based in the Pays d’Arles area and is a subsidiary of Rondot. “This promising robotics company offers lubrication solutions for glass-forming molds, which enable glass manufacturers to increase efficiency and productivity,” explained Frédéric Nio, who had anchored and developed Novaxion’s activities in the Pays d’Arles as managing director of Rondot. Over the course of five years, he was almost exclusively responsible for tripling the company’s revenues. Novaxion is now based in a 900-square-meter building located in the Massane industrial zone of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The Novaxion team currently has 16 people and four new hires are planned by the end of 2023.

In 2017, Provence Promotion and its Go Between in Provence business takeover program first helped with the business transfer operation that saw Novaxion enter the Rondot Group. Today, Provence Promotion continues to provide support to Frédéric Nio in his role as a leader and shareholder in the company.

Finally, Damien Sabatier talked about his R&D project that involves green technology and the circular economy, which has now been put into practice on an industrial level at Boulbon in the Arles area. His start-up, BioMiMetiC, specializes in the bioconversion of waste by insects, notably using black soldier flies to rapidly recycle agricultural by-products. Inspired by the traditional insect-based conversion process he observed in a village in South Africa, Damien Sabatier is now converting 2500 metric tons of organic matter into fertilizer and proteins for livestock in his first pilot demonstrator in Boulbon. “It is a completely circular economy since we work with local producers that are within a maximum radius of 30 kilometers. We have found professionals in the territory who share our environmental ambitions,” said Damien Sabatier, who is currently receiving support from Provence Promotion as he searches for property. His goal is to expand throughout the region and eventually handle 100 000 metric tons of agricultural by-products.