For nearly a century, the PRODEF Group has been designing and developing cleaning and hygiene products through its brands La Corvette, Hygiène & Nature, Maître Savon de Marseille and La Nénette. Founded in 1924, this French family-owned group serves both the B2C and B2B markets, with a constant aim: to offer effective products whilst respecting the environment and the health of users.

Its expertise is based on three main areas of specialisation:

• Authentic Marseille soap, manufactured by Savonnerie du Midi, a subsidiary of Compagnie du Midi, based in Marseille..
• The design and manufacture of professional cleaning products, led by Hygiène & Nature, based in Longvic near Dijon.
• La Véritable Nénette®, the iconic car polish, produced in Carros-Le Broc (Alpes-Maritimes)

A century-old company

A French family-run business founded in 1924, PRODEF is part of over 100 years of industrial history. Passed down from generation to generation, it has managed to retain its independence whilst developing well-known brands such as Hygiène & Nature, La Corvette, Maître Savon de Marseille and La Nénette.

Committed to corporate social responsibility, the company has held the PME+ certification since 2015, attesting to its sustainable performance and strong regional roots.

Passing on knowledge: at the heart of the group’s DNA

At PRODEF, passing on knowledge is a core value. Since its foundation, four generations have succeeded one another without interruption, ensuring the continuity of family governance..

The group is also committed to preserving and passing on its industrial and artisanal expertise: the formulation of cleaning products, industrial manufacturing and traditional recipes for Marseille soap. This transfer of knowledge is achieved in particular through training, work-study schemes and research and development.

To further structure this family governance, a Family Council was established in 2023.

The PRODEF Group operates from three industrial sites in France, each with strong local roots:

• Longvic (Dijon) : the Hygiène & Nature site, the Group’s industrial hub and innovation centre.
• Marseille : lthe Savonnerie du Midi continues to produce authentic Marseille soap and has welcomed visitors to a museum integrated into the workshops since 2018.
• Carros-Le Broc (06) : the Compagnie du Midi site, dedicated to the manufacture of La Nénette and cleaning products.

These sites contribute to the development of local employment, regional partnerships and the promotion of ‘Made in France’. La Savonnerie du Midi also holds the ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant’ (EPV) label, and many of its products are certified ‘Origine France Garantie’.

Measured commitments

The PRODEF Group also monitors its performance in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) using a number of indicators:

• EcoVadis Silver Medal and an SME+ score of 80 per cent for Hygiène & Nature (Longvic)
• EcoVadis Bronze Medal and an SME+ score of 75 per cent for Compagnie du Midi
• 25.4 per cent of Hygiène & Nature’s turnover comes from certified products
• 41 per cent of La Savonnerie du Midi’s turnover comes from certified products

Finally, with the exception of a few traded products, such as Aleppo soap, the vast majority of the group’s products are manufactured in France at its own industrial sites. This approach guarantees quality, traceability and the promotion of local expertise.