FRANCE – Baking ingredients supplier Eurogerm has appointed Jean-François Honoré as its new group president and chief executive officer (CEO).  

Honoré succeeds Jean-Philippe Girard, founder of Eurogerm, who is retiring after 30 years at the helm of the company. 

He brings with him a deep knowledge of ingredients and formulation, along with commercial expertise and a unique capacity to empower multicultural teams with high potential.  

With more than 25 years with several major groups under his belt, the 54-year-old trained engineer has a multidisciplinary background, which includes a stint at the Institute of Management and Business Administration (INSEAD). 

Combining strong organic and external growth, Honoré has also successfully headed nutrition companies in Asia, Europe, and the US.  

“I am very glad to pass the baton to Jean-François to lead a team that has never stopped to impress me during all those years,” said Girard. 

Eurogerm core of know-how depending on sourcing, conception and tailored mixture also happen to be Honoré’s key area of expertise, making the two a perfect fit.  

Honoré’s work is already cut out for him as he has been tasked to ramp up the group’s international growth strategy. 

Expanding internationally would be strategic for Eurogerm as the global bakery products market which was valued at US$331.37 billion in the year 2020 is expanding.  

According to Expert Market Research, the bakery products industry is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% between 2021 and 2026 to reach a value of almost US$ 436.91 billion by 2026. 

The market research firm attributes the growth to the inflating disposable incomes of the consumers in the emerging nations, with higher standards of living and shifting lifestyles owing to cultural changes and rising emerging markets.   

Given that emerging markets are the major drivers of the global bakery products market, Eurogerm under Honoré would be expected to make greater inroads into these regions. 

Honoré has also been tasked with engaging sustainable customers, partners and collaborators in a responsible development approach in line with the group’s purpose to feed a better future. 

“I am very keen to join Eurogerm and enthusiastic to do it through an entrepreneurial friendly shareholder environment that will allow the speed up of group major developments during months and years to come,” Honoré said. 

 Since its creation in 1989, Dijon-headquartered Eurogerm has worked hand-in-hand with clients in the wheat-flour-bread-pastry industry.  

The group has more than 500 partners, 15 subsidiaries across the globe and brought in a turnover of €133m (US$144.56m) in 2021. 

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