Chabret is aiming for strong export growth
Better known under its Chabret brand name, Établissements Béal is aiming for strong export growth. The brand will be present at Ambiente 2025 to showcase to the global market the wooden furniture, butcher blocks, and end-grain cutting boards that have built its reputation since 1885.
Since 1885, Chabret has been known among food industry professionals as the specialist in wooden furniture, butcher blocks, and end-grain cutting boards. In 2007, Etienne Béal, who trained as a salesman, took up the challenge of taking over this fine company, with the help of his brother-in-law Cyprien Meynard, a production engineer. Since then, they’ve been carrying on the tradition of fine wood products, based on rare skills that are of great use to cooking enthusiasts. At the heart of Saint-Bonnet-le-Château workshop (Loire), which has been awarded the Atelier d’Art de France and Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) labels, they produce both mass-produced and made-to-measure products, serving professionals and private customers alike.
Their exceptional craftsmanship has earned the company recognition from top names and prestigious projects. Renowned butcher Hugo Desnoyer made the right choice by selecting them to equip his establishments, while Frédéric Le Guen Geoffroy chose them to support him in the 2023 World Pâté en Croûte Championship – which he won. Chabret can also be found in the Bocuse d’Or competition and even on the set of Top Chef and Objectif Top Chef (M6), where contestants work on its end-grain butcher blocks. In a different kind of project, Chabret crafted the six large double-tiered trolleys on wheels that are central to the merchandising concept of the ‘Art de la Table’ section at Galeries Lafayette Paris. The brand also supplies the butcher section at La Grande Épicerie de Paris (Le Bon Marché). It is regularly selected by prestigious tableware brands – such as Degrenne, La Cornue, and Revol – to create complementary collections. Brazier enthusiasts can also find Chabret products at Hexagone, whose items are 100% artisanally made in France. All of them turn to Chabret for the brand’s unique quality and product durability.
The Exceptional Craftsmanship of Chabret – Specialists in End-Grain Wood
Wood has always been the material of choice for furniture makers. Renowned for its sturdiness, ‘end grain’ wood withstands all shocks and blows from blades. Since these are crafted with the wood grain aligned vertically, the cutting surface neither splinters nor breaks. Manufactured in compliance with NF food hygiene standards, Chabret butcher blocks and cutting boards remain smooth and hygienic over time… lasting up to twenty years with daily use! The ancestral end-grain wood technique involves cutting the wood perpendicular to the trunk’s fibres, as if slicing it into sections. The resulting blocks are assembled one by one to form an exceptionally durable cutting surface. All the more so because Chabret carefully selects the finest hornbeam from the Jura, renowned for its fibre density, which surpasses that of oak.
Expanding Horizons
Historically a manufacturer of butcher blocks for professionals, Chabret has recently diversified to reach a wider audience. Today, its range is structured around three main product categories, all made in France and certified.
Passionate about woodworking and design, Chabret’s teams have developed a range of butcher blocks presented in three collections: ‘Classic’, ‘Contemporary’ and ‘Special Collection’. This wide range of products illustrates the expertise of the company, which is increasingly working with kitchen designers on made-to-measure projects.
The countertop butcher block, also known as a cutting board or block top, is crafted from end-grain wood. It can be made from hornbeam or walnut. Reversible, it provides the perfect solution for all cutting tasks. Custom options, such as grooves, drawers, or handles, can be added according to the client’s preferences. In its workshops, Chabret produces a wide range of boards, including presentation boards made from edge-grain wood (crafted from beech, hornbeam, or walnut) and cutting boards made from end-grain wood. Each of these boards can be customised according to the customer’s preferences, whether in terms of wood species, dimensions, design or the addition of a marking or logo.
A Local Player with Global Reach
Chabret designs and manufactures its products in France, in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château (42). Its commitment to local development is reflected in strong partnerships with nearby suppliers: 100% of its product lines are crafted in its French workshop, 80% of its wood is sourced from French forests, its maintenance balms are produced just 5 km away, metal parts are machined 12 km from the site, stainless steel is supplied by a partner located 20 km away, and its knives and scrapers come from Claude Dozorme, a cutlery manufacturer 60 km away.
A dynamic and agile SME, Chabret regularly exhibits at major trade fairs in France (Maison&Objet, Esprit Meuble, Sirha…) and plans to expand its international network by participating in trade fairs abroad.
Source: Home Fashion News Magazine – January 2025 / HFN56