Before joining Eurovanille, I worked as a pastry chef.

In 1979, after my two years of apprenticeship and gaining my CAP (vocational diploma) as a pastry chef, confectioner, and ice cream maker, I volunteered early and left to do my 12 months of military service in Germany. When I came back, in November 1979, I had to find a job.

As it happened, a large and renowned Parisian patisserie, Coquelin Aîné, was looking for a pastry chef. Two days later, I started working there. I worked there for 17 years.

In July 1996, my boss decided to retire. With no one to take over, he closed this hundred-year-old establishment, and so I found myself out of work.

In January 1997, I decided to give myself a chance to change career direction. Whenever I saw the sales reps drop by the workshop, it made me want to do the same — especially as I have always got on well with people and enjoy talking to others, despite being rather shy back then. So I started looking for a sales position. First I called all our old suppliers, but none of them were hiring. So — for those who remember it — I got out my Minitel (France’s pre-internet online terminal) and searched through every food wholesaler, without success.

I did not give up, and one day, luck smiled on me.

I came across a very kind lady who gave me the names of the suppliers they bought their products from. On the list was Eurovanille.

So I called, and I got through to Olivier, Laurent’s brother. He told me he was actually looking for a part-time sales rep, from 8am to noon. At the time, they thought there was no work to be done in the afternoons. I proved otherwise and was hired full-time. I was given an appointment to introduce myself on rue Castagnary in Paris. When I arrived, I started to wonder what I had got into, because I found myself in a basement garage. After a few minutes, Olivier appeared.

Following that meeting, I was hired, and the story at Eurovanille began.