Parole de Breizh, invites you to discover the Pink Granite Coast through encounters with those who live, transform and cultivate Brittany. These ambassadors are craftsmen, artists, producers… but above all, inhabitants of Trégor. They love the Pink Granite Coast and explain why it’s important to cultivate what’s essential!
Rencontre #25Parole de BreizhSylvain Le Roux
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An atypical career
Sylvain began by completing a BEP in cabinetmaking in Tréguier. From there, he spent five years traveling the world, living in Australia, Canada, the West Indies, Brazil and the United States. These experiences enriched his worldview and broadened his horizons.
A particularly memorable experience was working in one of Canada’s largest gold mines, which triggered Sylvain’s career change. Attracted to this field since childhood, Sylvain decided to seize the opportunity to become a gold miner working in a mine, but the reality was far from the dream:
I was polluting the earth. We were making holes, leaking oil… The whole dirty side of industry was there.
This job didn’t correspond to his values and triggered a profound rethink. Sylvain became aware of the negative environmental impact of this industry, which prompted him to look for an activity that was more respectful of nature and in line with his personal convictions.
As a result, Sylvain decided to return to France. Nevertheless, after completing his contract, he decided to honor it, despite the difficult working conditions – temperatures down to -50 degrees, 12-hour days, and isolation from his loved ones.
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From Martine's Popote to the Trégor cannery
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The idea for the cannery arose from a joke between friends in a potato field. After deciding to return to France, Sylvain helped a friend who was an organic market gardener, and came up with the idea of valorizing surplus production by creating a vegetable canning factory: La Popote de Martine.
Sylvain attended a number of training courses throughout Brittany, with the Chambres des Métiers, to turn his plan to set up a canning factory into a reality.
Followed by the banks, the first premises went under his nose. Sylvain rebounded by perfecting his training at the Conserverie du Trégor, run by Bruno and Olivier Goarin. After two years of passing on his knowledge, Sylvain took over the reins of the local company specializing in the famous Breizh’illettes.
Today, Conserverie du Trégor offers the Breizh’illettes range of fish rillettes and ready-made meals, all made with local, high-quality products, especially the fish, freshly landed in Breton ports. The products are sold in small quantities directly from the store, or in nearly 200 outlets. Their products are sold mainly in Brittany, in wine cellars, delicatessens and primeur stores.
Why Trégor?
Originally from Lannion, Sylvain is deeply attached to his region. After his travels, he realized that no other place could match the beauty and quality of life of the Trégor. Between the sea and farmland, this region offers everything he needs for personal and professional fulfillment. Sylvain values short circuits and strives to use mainly Trégor products, thus creating a strong link between his company and the local terroir.
Sylvain’s Chinese portrait
If you were an element? “Water
If you were a color? “Blue
If you were a sound? “The sound of waves
If you were a season? “Spring”
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Cultivating the essential
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What does the phrase “Cultivate the essentials” mean to you?
For Sylvain, cultivating the essentials means giving priority to local products, both organic and non-organic, and promoting short circuits by working with local structures. Being a strong brand in the Trégor region, and having products that are essentially local.
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