New project from Maison Isautier, the future agricultural distillery of Bérive will see the light of day on the historic estate of the Isautier family, located straddling the communes of Saint-Pierre and Le Tampon. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the extension of the factory producing the arranged, last November 28.
The intention was mentioned in November 2022 during the presentation of a tourist project on the Bérive estate. One year later, Cyril Isautier, director of the Isautier Beverages division of the Isautier group, made the official announcement in his inaugural speech of the extension of the production and bottling site of the arranged. Maison Isautier is studying the project of creating an agricultural rum distillery based on the model of West Indian distilleries which produce their rums from proprietary canes., that is to say belonging to them. The notion of proprietary canes will return to the Reunion cane landscape. Reunion distilleries make their rum from molasses purchased from sugar factories., to which the island's approximately 2,700 planters deliver their canes which are mixed to produce sugar. Agricultural rum, on the other hand, is produced directly from cane juice. A Reunion agricultural rum brand would be a sort of return to basics, because agricultural rum was the first rum produced in Reunion, its production becoming marginalized as the sugar industry developed. Thus, the production of agricultural rum today represents 5% of the total rum production of the Isautier distillery.. Founded in 1845, the Saint-Pierroise house will therefore reconnect with its distant past by creating an agricultural rum distillery on its historic lands of Bérive. And it is a strategy for conquering markets, and no longer just a tourist project, which is announced. The rums from the Bérive distillery will be intended to conquer lovers of agricultural rum in Reunion, in mainland France and abroad.
Doubling of the factory surface area
Another announcement made on November 28 : the new organization of the group's activities into three divisions ; Isautier Drinks, Isautier Heritage and Real Estate Promotion and Isautier Agriculture. Isautier Drinks brings together, with the production of Isautier rums and spirits, the distribution activity of other brands that the group wishes to develop. Isautier was notably entrusted with the distribution in Reunion of the brands of the world number three in spirits, Bacardi. “If the new factory strengthens the historic trade of rum and rum-based spirits, it opens the way to future diversifications in drinks”, also indicated Cyril Isautier. Doubling the surface area of the factory with its equipment represents a total investment of more than 6 million euros, supported by European funds. It makes it possible to triple production capacities (up to three million bottles possible per year) thanks to 18 new tanks, including five maceration tanks, and two cold rooms to dispose of the fruits used in the composition of the arranged recipes all year round.. Twelve new jobs were created.
A turnover multiplied by four in ten years
Isautier remains leader in the arranged market, whose dynamism cannot be denied in mainland France. Nowadays, the house exports to 25 countries. For information, Cyril Isautier recalled that the turnover of rums and rum-based spirits from the Isautier distillery, 20 million euros in 2022, had quadrupled since 2013, period of take-off of this product marketed for the first time by Isautier and since imitated by many competitors. 44% of sales of arranged arrangements are made in Reunion Island, 50% in mainland France, the complement coming from major exports. There is no doubt that the profession of faith attached to the rums and arrangements of the Isautier house – “We are the ambassadors of Reunion” – will draw new vigor from the agricultural rums of the future Bérive distillery.
