More than 100 years of history…
Since 1908, Comtesse du Barry has known how to win the hearts of the most discerning of French connoisseurs. One after the other, Comtesse du Barry specialities appear on gourmet tables and satisfy the most refined palettes with delicate and authentic aromas and flavours.
A family history…
100 years ago, Joseph Dubarry and his wife Gabrielle decided to settle in the small village of Gimont in the Gers. He is a tinsmith; she specialises in pork-based delicatessen meats. Their destinies merge and soon their skills as well as they decide to make the «best foie gras in the world».
The Comtesse du Barry spirit is born. Comtesse du Barry products are the fruit of a real love of French gastronomy, based on specific know-how, carefully chosen ingredients and healthy preparation procedures, Cooking is without preservatives and the recipes are constantly evolving.
From small delicatessen to a thriving 100 year-old business…
Joseph and Gabrielle's delicatessen was first called «A la Comtesse du Barry» in 1926. They changed the name to simply «Comtesse du Barry» in 1977, a reference and an homage to the favourite of Louis XV, whose surname was so close to the Dubarry's.
Despite steady growth throughout the century, the company remained a family business: the descendants of Joseph and Gabrielle Dubarry respected the wishes of the founding couple. First of all their son-in-law Henri Lacroix invested in their business as did his wife Yvette Lacroix Dubarry, who developed the first gourmet canned dishes.
Their two sons and their daughter (Philippe, Francis and Anne) followed in the family tradition by joining the company.
Currently, the fourth generation is at the head of Comtesse du Barry: in 2006, Luc Bramel, great grandson of the founders was named Managing General Director of the company.
Starting with the founding of the small delicatessen run by Gabrielle Dubarry at the beginning of the last century, the company has experienced steady growth.
Constantly evolving, it has built its reputation over time, expanding and diversifying its production, without sacrificing the quality of its products.
Today, bolstered by its know-how and history, Comtesse du Barry has announced new goals: to develop even more new products, strengthen its sales network nationally and deploy its boutiques internationally.
A promenade through history…
At the outset, the Dubarry couple introduced and sold their products via the food market circuit.
In 1936, their son-in-law pioneered correspondence sales: Comtesse du Barry thus became the first mail order company in the foie gras sector.
In 1954, Henri Lacroix refined his procedure for manufacturing blocks of foie gras. This new procedure allowed for broader sales of foie gras from the SouthWest thanks to more attractive prices, but without compromising on taste.
In 1974, a large postal strike stopped the delivery of mail throughout the country for 40 days.
As a result, in 1975 Comtesse du Barry opened its first exclusive boutiques.
In 1996, always at the leading edge of innovation, Comtesse du Barry was the first French gastronomic company from the South West to offer home delivery of its products via the Internet: http://www.comtessedubarry.com/
Comtesse du Barry today…
Comtesse du Barry continues to this day to create innovative and delicious products for discerning palettes, while respecting the integrity of the historical recipes handed down by its founders.
It plans to gain a foothold in all major world capitals in order to become a real goodwill ambassador of French gastronomy.
