Sea salt has been shaping the island of Noirmoutier’s landscape and culture for a thousand years. The island’s people, artisanal salt workers, have shown a passion and dedication to the island’s salt marshes for generations, working hand in hand with nature and respecting the environment.
In 1942, a cooperative was formed to improve the living conditions of the salt workers and to free them from the power of merchants and to regain control over the production and marketing of their sea salt. Initially, 650 salt producers joined, cultivating 18,000 tons of sea salt annually. Between the 70s and 80s, demand for artisanal produced sea salt had hugely declined and there were only 20 members continuing production. In the 80’s, a group of young salt workers decided to take action and revive the island’s salt marshes. In 1993, the cooperative partnered with the Aquasel branch of the EURIAL group and was able to start marketing the salt as a premium, luxury product, renowned for its quality and artisanal origins. In 2013, the cooperative acquired Aquasel to regain full control of the supply chain, and preserve the independence and quality of local production.
Today, 100 salt workers form the Noirmoutier salt cooperative, and cultivate more than 2300 salt pans in the island’s salt marshes, using ancestral know how and traditional methods. Noirmoutier salt is still renowned for its purity and richness and is a source of great pride for the community.
