Article : La Nouvelle République, 30 september 2006
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The Gazelle Prize from the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in 2005, the ‘Forces PME’ prize from the General Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in 2006: Berry Services, in Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre, is reaping the benefits of spectacular growth.
These awards acknowledge the highest growth rates in terms of turnover and workforce. Jean-Claude Benéteau, 42, is clearly proud, but in his own reserved way.
“After some ten years working at Mead, I set up my own business in a sector that didn’t exist.” The company carries out the inspection, labelling and reconditioning of imported (primarily ready-to-wear) goods.
Berry Services was started from scratch, with a stroke of luck—the assembly of euro converters. “We changed the casing in accordance with the customer,” explains Jean-Claude Benéteau, “and our responsiveness served as our advertising.”
Eight years later (the company was founded in 1998), Berry Services employs thirty-eight members of staff, in addition to a number of temporary workers depending on the period, and has a turnover of 2.5 million euros.
“We operate in a promising market,” says Mr. Benéteau, “and we adapt to customers’ requirements by constantly re-evaluating ourselves. The aim is never to impose anything on the customer as it’s them that decides.”
Jean-Claude Benéteau invented a new business activity and recruited women who had previously worked in the clothing industry, delighted at their luck.
How far will he go? “This year, progress has slowed—we want to reinforce the organisation of the company and catch our breath.” But this is merely a break: Jean-Claude Benéteau is considering growing the company externally, without affecting the Neuvy site, which now covers 4,500 m². In 1998, at the time the company was set up, it comprised only 500 m².
Hervé Aussant
