Two weeks before the elections to the European Parliament, the arrival of Jean-Noël Barrot in Concarneau on Friday, minister delegate in charge of Europe, had a small flavor of the campaign. A perfume enhanced with the scent of beer brewing, the ministerial visit stops at the Brasserie de Bretagne in the Colguen activity zone.
On the program highlighting the assistance that the European Union provides to businesses. “When the company decided to leave Trégunc for Concarneau, the European Union, through the EAFRD, the fund that supports the common agricultural policy, made it possible to finance part of the investment,” said the minister.
“Short Circuit Sector”
Specifically, of the 15 million euros that the company invested in the construction of its new production unit, which was commissioned in 2020, 6 million euros were related to the modernization of its tools. An amount subsidized up to 10% (€600,000) equally between the Brittany region (€300,000) and Europe (€300,000). “Help from Europe (…) which enables the industrial tool, but also this territory, to take full advantage”.
For Jean-Noël Barrot, Europe, for a territory like this, is a springboard and life insurance. Europe is there to support projects that aim to make territories more resilient and more robust.” And to insist on “the short-circuiting sector that has been formed around the company”, between the production of organic barley, malt and brewer’s residues sent to cattle farming.
“Increase production capacity”
The ministerial delegation and the elected representatives in attendance took a tour of the brewery, guided by Clément Bedbeder, the managing director of the company, which now employs almost fifty employees. An executive who recalled that Brasserie de Bretagne was today “the leading Breton brewer” in terms of volume and mentioned “projects that will aim to increase production capacity” but also allow energy and energy savings.
If 80% of Brasserie de Bretagne’s production remains in the Breton market and 20% goes mainly to neighboring regions, the company still claims several distribution points in Paris. One of them was recalled by MP Erwan Balanant as a wink: the presence of Sant Erwann beer in the bar … in the National Assembly.
