Inauguration of the new Chestnut Workshop
On Friday, September 26, the Atelier de la Châtaigne inaugurated its new premises in Champagnac-la-Rivière, in the presence of numerous personalities, marking the culmination of a project lasting several years supported by the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park.
A workshop at the heart of the local chestnut industry
Founded in 1983, Atelier de la Châtaigne is a key player in the chestnut industry in the Limousin and Périgord regions. It is the only multi-purpose processing facility in the area , offering contract processing for orchardists, blanching services for individuals, and a range of high-quality products. A true economic driver, it contributes to creating added value and promoting a local, iconic product deeply rooted in regional history and gastronomy.
As a representative of the region, the chestnut workshop is also an ambassador for chestnuts and, more broadly, for the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park . Since 2021, the company has held the "Regional Natural Park Values" label , joining a network of businesses committed to sustainable development that respects their region.
An inauguration marked by recognition
The ceremony brought together many elected officials and institutional representatives: the sub-prefect of Rochechouart, the president of the Park, local elected officials, the representative of the chamber of trades but also representatives of the chestnut industry, customers, suppliers, artisans and friends of the workshop.
On this occasion, Alexei Delouis, entrepreneur and director of Atelier de la Châtaigne, expressed his deep gratitude to his teams and his family, without whom this project would not have been possible. He also wished to warmly thank the Park's short supply chain project manager, who actively supported him in finding the necessary financing to move into the new premises.
Meeting modernization needs
The new premises in Champagnac-la-Rivière represent a decisive step forward for the industry: they modernize a facility that no longer allowed it to keep pace with its growth. Indeed, the area of chestnut orchards has increased considerably in recent years, both in Limousin and Périgord, while processing facilities remained rare.
The Territorial Food Project supported by the Park enabled the Chestnut Workshop to apply for funds from the Recovery Plan to finance the acquisition of new buildings and equipment, including an optical chestnut sorter guaranteeing their perfect quality, which impressed the assembly with its speed.
The modernized site now offers better working conditions for employees and seasonal workers, increased capacity to process chestnut volumes, the possibility of developing new products, extending the processing period, while reducing waste and improving energy efficiency.
A sector strengthened for the future
These advances pave the way for the strengthened development of the local sector, enabling the processing and consumption of more chestnuts within the region and across France . Through this new tool, an entire traditional production process is consolidated and enhanced, contributing to shaping the landscape and preserving the culinary heritage of our regions.
In addition to the processing workshop, a shop has also opened its doors during the week. It allows individuals to buy chestnut products directly and discover the variety of locally made preparations. This is yet another way to bring consumers closer to producers, while promoting this iconic fruit of the region.
