Famille Perrin has acquired a stake in Maison Alain Milliat, becoming the majority shareholder of one of the most recognized brands in the premium French juice and jam segment. The transaction, announced on May 12, marks the coming together of two family businesses united by a shared vision: to promote fruit, terroir, and French savoir-faire through high-end products.
On one side is the Perrin family, owner of internationally renowned wine brands such as Beaucastel and La Vieille Ferme; on the other is Alain Milliat, a company founded in 1997 in Orliénas, in the Rhône region, which has become a well-established presence in gourmet restaurants, luxury hotels, and gourmet boutiques. Today, the house generates approximately €20 million in revenue, 70% of which is in France, serving over 5.000 clients.
The transaction also represents the Perrin family's first entry into the premium soft drinks market, a rapidly growing sector thanks to the growing focus on natural products, quality raw materials, and experiential consumption.
"Fruit is our common language," Famille Perrin emphasizes in the press release announcing the partnership. "Famille Perrin and Alain Milliat have always observed, respected, and elevated it to offer a unique experience rooted in the French art of living."
At the heart of the partnership is a shared production philosophy. For the Perrin family, wine is born from a rigorous understanding of the terroir and an unwavering focus on the grapes and nature's rhythms. Similarly, Alain Milliat develops juices, nectars, and cocktail ingredients as true "cuvées," crafting the balance between sugars and acidity, texture, color, and aromatic persistence.
According to Alain Milliat, founder of the company that bears his name, the agreement stems from "a shared belief: the quality of the fruit tolerates neither compromise nor shortcuts." Milliat will remain involved in governance alongside the current management team to guide the brand's new phase of international growth.
The stated goal is to globally expand the selective distribution model that has allowed the French company to establish itself in high-end restaurants and luxury hotels. "Our ambition is to replicate the model that has made the brand strong in France globally, without sacrificing the quality standards that have built its reputation," explained Pierre-Olivier Gandon, CEO of Alain Milliat.
The two companies will continue to operate independently, maintaining separate identities, organizations, and activities. This decision aims to preserve the French maison's premium positioning while supporting its international expansion through the Perrin family's network and resources.
