The more difficult it is to make the decision

"The fall of 1995, we were in a period of accelerating growth." The turnover of the company was increased from 1.5 million francs in 1993 to 22 million in 1995, and we would make 46 million in 1996. "We begin to be cramped in our premises," explained Charles Kloboukoff. 1993, At 30 years, is that it creates Léa Vital, specializing in organic food supplements and herbal medicine products sold in the large distribution. At its inception, the company moved to Pantin, in the premises of a former laundromat. "I was the first employee," remembers Claudine Pluquet, now responsible for institutional communication of the group. And at the beginning everything was in one piece. One day, he said: "we will relocate the society, is that you are partante" I had nothing to lose, I was 26 years old, no children, no husband, I said yes. "Charles Kloboukoff also has more personal reasons to want to move the company. "The fall of 1995, my wife was pregnant with our third child, and we are therefore asked us the question, for the growth of the company and our living environment, to leave the Paris region."

Several destinations are envisaged. "It was away from Paris, but being in about three hours by train." We wanted a pleasant destination for employees, a city on a human scale that live throughout the year, with cultural, sports, business, infrastructure, which has led us to strengthen our research on the Atlantic facade around some cities, La Rochelle, Nantes, Vannes, and Bordeaux. Our choice came quite quickly on La Rochelle, in view of the manner in which was distributed the city, with green spaces, a University of important cultural activities centre, for a city this size, and the proximity of the sea. It was only on paper, I had never set foot in La Rochelle.

In November 1995, Charles Kloboukoff and a dozen of its 22 employees arrived in La Rochelle to realize for themselves. They are greeted by the leaders of the Chamber of commerce and the economic cell of the General Council, which they discover the city. "Everyone has been conquered, remembers the leader." And in addition, there was a non-negligible argument: a premium for assistance in relocation paid to employees; the equivalent of six months of salary. At the time, the decision was made in the aftermath, in December. "Valérie Cauche, now responsible for procurement, was also of the trip:"When it arrived at La Rochelle, it was love at first sight."

The company moved in March 1996, and accelerating its growth. After three years in leased buildings, it installs its own premises in 1999; 4,000 to Périgny m2bâtis in the rochelaise suburb. Léa Vital employs then 150 employees, a turnover of EUR 20 million. Today, the company, renamed Léa Nature, became a general practitioner of organic products which occupies 23,000 m2de buildings and employs 570 employees, a turnover of EUR 100 million.

In retrospect, Charles Kloboukoff has not regrets his move. "The more difficult it is to make the decision." After, it must be fearless, and also have a measure of unconsciousness. "Today, the company is integrated into the rochelais landscape. Charles Kloboukoff, Member since 2008, the City Council of La Rochelle. "We had the chance to create many jobs and recruit locally, giving the company a strong cultural identity that it would have not had in the Paris region." There, a company of 600 people goes unnoticed; Here, it has a real role to play. And the image of the city perfectly matches our green business image. "On employees, it has nor regrets rochelais choice. "Initially, the change of life has been a little difficult, advance Corinne Olivier, who was Secretary at the move. W I do not propose. The pace is not the same as in Paris. Here, out of work, you can go to the beach, rather than an hour and a half of public transport.