1908/1933 : The origins

1908 Comtesse du Barry : The origins

The firm was created in 1908 in a pleasant little Gascony village called Gimont, when Joseph and Gabrielle Dubarry, respectively tinsmith and pork butcher, moved into Number 6 Place de la Vieille Halle where they decided they wanted to be the makers of ‘the best foie gras in the whole wide world’

1926 : Fairs & trade shows

By 1926 the firm was renowned throughout the Gers area. Just after the war the couple expanded their activity but were afraid of losing their direct contact with the clientele, so to keep up in touch with their customers they chose to tour national and international shows and trade fairs and filed to register their trademark : Comtesse du Barry.

1935 : A sensational entrance into mail order

In 1935 Yvette du Barry got married to Henri Lacroix, the latter accomplished an amazing feat. He was the first  ‘ foie gras ‘ producer to sell through mail order which was an immediate success. Thus he successfully modernized the firm’s channels of distribution while maintaining its original mindset.

1949/1974 - The awakening & innovation

1949 - The first ready to eat tinned meals

Yvette Lacroix-Dubarrys’ first fine ready to eat canned meals appeared on the scene.

1954 : The year they invented the ‘block of foie gras’

In 1954 Henri Lacroix found an ingenious revolutionary way to make blocks of foie gras ; the same method still being used today. It boosted the sales of duck foie gras which was rarer than goose foie gras at the time. In fact duck foie gras had previously been enjoyed only by real gourmets or eaten within the family circle because without Henri Lacroix’s method, it exuded too much fat when cooking.

1964 : Breast of duck

In 1964 with the kind cooperation of one of the region’s most renowned chefs André Daguin, Philippe and Henri Lacroix revealed the many ways of cooking and enjoying breast of duck previously eaten only by purveyors of foie gras. Thanks to this gastronomic event, breast of duck really took off and so did duck breeding, especially in the South Wesnt. This new generation of produce raised the company to a level at which it could start trading internationally.