The Lidl supermarket on boulevard Jules-Verne is located in a former chocolate factory -

J. Urbach and private collection

  • Located at the Chocolaterie bus stop, the Lidl supermarket on Boulevard Jules-Verne is located in a former factory.

  • “The facade and the entire volume of the building are classified as a Nantes heritage,” explains Stéfanie Hirsch, property development manager for Lidl.

Every day, thousands of Nantes residents who use line C1 pass or stop at the Chocolaterie stop.

But do they all really know what that name refers to?

On Saturday, on the occasion of Heritage Days, the little-known history of this former chocolate factory on Boulevard Jules-Verne will be revealed.

The Lidl supermarket, which now occupies the building, is organizing a guided tour of this place belonging to Nantes' industrial heritage.

Because in 1920, eighty years before the arrival of the German brand, the “Compagnie nantaise des chocolats” sign had just been set.

"The entrance to the site was at that time directly from offices located in place of the current Lidl car park", explains one to the heritage department of the city of Nantes.

The workers then walked to the industrial building, occupied by the current supermarket, where 25 employees now work.

"The chocolate factory was an important factory which manufactured the famous Menier chocolates, often confused with Meunier," we continue to the city of Nantes.

She made chewable milk chocolate bars, with or without hazelnuts.

The cocoa beans were then transported from Madagascar, Ivory Coast or Cameroon, on board the famous

Belem

.

Entrance to the chocolate factory - Private collection

"Classified as a Nantes heritage"

Saturday, it is also a particular architecture that visitors will be able to discover.

Its three vaults, which give the building this odd characteristic shape, have been preserved.

And this even if an over-structure was recently placed on the roof as part of the rehabilitation and expansion of the store (3.7 million euros), an operation completed this summer.

"The facade and now the entire volume of the building are classified as part of the Nantes heritage," explains Stéfanie Hirsch, property development manager for Lidl.

Its structure, made mainly of concrete, is of real interest when we know that many buildings of this type have now disappeared.

Inside, we decided to remove the false ceiling to reveal the constructive system, made up of posts and beams.

It's a lot of constraints but it's very interesting to be able to sublimate it further.

"

The Lidl supermarket on boulevard Jules-Verne in Nantes - J. Urbach / 20 Minutes

A setting that has also seen another Nantes company prosper for thirty years.

Because after the departure of Menier chocolates from Le Havre, the Saupiquet cannery took over the premises, shared with the charcuterie brand Tante Coline, in 1950. In 1998, a commercial and industrial rehabilitation project, “Operation Saupiquet Is launched.

A space became the Lidl store.

The other, at the back, still accommodates around sixty units.

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