Givaudan's installation on the Biolandes site in Grasse postponed?

CAPG, Givaudan's "financial backer" at Biolandes? The Grasse site, located on Route de Plascassier, which had been lying fallow since 2006, was broken in January 2020 when the urban area signed an intervention agreement with the EPF (Public Land Establishment) Paca "to support the development and sustainability of the industrial fabric and the flavors and perfumes sector," recalled President Jérôme Viaud during the June 26 meeting. In December 2021, the EPF acquired the 24,777m2 of the site for nearly €5 million, while waiting for someone to buy it later.

And that someone is the Givaudan group, the world leader in the perfume and flavor industry, with nearly 16,000 employees. In December 2023, the Swiss giant committed to purchasing 2 hectares (CAPG acquired the remaining 4,060 square meters this year for €60,000) to install SAS Givaudan House of Naturals (formerly Albert Vieille, based in Vallauris and acquired in 2019) and a 7,000 square meter production and innovation site. To accommodate the forty or so employees based in Vallauris and Mouans-Sartoux by 2027, create around twenty jobs and make it a true "headquarters," emphasized Maxence Billas, director of House of Naturals, during a site visit [our January 17 edition]. The sale by the EPF must take place no later than December 31, 2025, the end date of the transfer.

4.225 million euros for the land and 147,600 euros in fees

For this to be possible, several conditions must be met. Already, at the level of urban planning documents, in particular "the modification of the PLU [Local Urban Planning Plan] to change from an activity zone to an industrial zone , adds Jérôme Viaud. This has been done." For the rest, it is more complicated, since to date, Givaudan "has not obtained all the necessary authorizations, in particular from the Dreal (2) , and wishes to purchase with complete peace of mind, when the building permit will be cleared of any appeal." Too short for December 31? In any case, on the CAPG side, "we are anticipating the possibility of a delay in obtaining the permit and operating authorizations, informs the president. If the schedule is bad, we will have to buy back" , as originally planned in the deal with the EPF. Before reselling, "between January 1 and June 30, 2026" to Givaudan (a unilateral promise to purchase must be signed).

Thus, if the elected officials deliberated on June 26, it was mainly to acknowledge the fact that, if the scenario described above materializes, "the CAPG will not bear any financial consequences, including the notary fees for this "double sale" and the insurance. This will not be borne by the taxpayer, but by Givaudan." Costs estimated at 147,600 euros - in addition to the 4.225 million euros from the sale of the land.

"We hope that this deliberation will be of no use."

Having said this, Jérôme Viaud wants to be reassuring: "Normally, it won't happen like this and we hope that this deliberation [where it is stated that Givaudan still wishes to acquire the site before the end of the year] will be useless. But we have to plan ahead, so as not to find ourselves in a difficult situation." At worst, a simple delay, therefore, which could, nevertheless, impact the schedule of the works, planned for January 2026. Having been abandoned for almost 20 years, the Biolandes site is, after all, no longer a few months away from finally coming back to life...

1. Flood risk prevention plan.

2. Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing.