Локситан как пишется

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В L’Occitane ходит шутка, будто у названия марки существует 39 вариантов произношения. Из них 37 неправильных

Пока мне известно только шесть, и я ломаю голову над остальными версиями:

Лочитане

,

Лохитан

,

Лоцитан

,

Локитан

,

Лоситан

и даже, не побоюсь этого слова,

Люксютан

. Так произносить не нужно!

Для русскоговорящих есть всего два правильных варианта: более привычный уху Локситан или Лёкситан на французский манер.

Что же означает такое странное название?

Вся южная часть Франции раньше называлось Окситанией. Люди этой местности говорили и говорят на окситанском языке (наиболее близок к каталонскому). В wikipedia до сих пор публикуют статьи на окситанском.

Само название Окситания произошло от слова «oc«, что в переводе с окситанского языка означает «да». Сложно придумать более жизнеутвреждающее название.

Окситания всегда славилась особым отношением к женщине. Соответственно, название марки L’Occitane переводится, как «Женщина Окситании» или «Окситанка», живущая в Провансе – L’Occitane en Provence.
Многие французы считают, что типичной окситанской внешностью обладает французская актриса Одри Тоту. А в мужской линии есть туалетная вода с названием L’Occitan. Заметьте, что буква ‘e’ на конце опущена, это указывает на мужской род. L’Occitan – это окситанин, который тоже живет в Провансе. L’ — в обоих случаях определенный артикль.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

«L’Occitane» redirects here. For the autoroute, see A20 autoroute.

L’Occitane en Provence

L’Occitane storefront in the International Finance Centre, Hong Kong, 2016
Type	S.A.
Traded as	SEHK: 973
Industry	Personal care
Founded	1976; 47 years ago
Headquarters	Manosque, France
Key people	Reinold Geiger (chairman) André J. Hoffmann (CEO) Olivier Baussan Rak-e Lopez
Products	Cosmetics and beauty products
Brands	L’Occitane en Provence, Melvita, Le Couvent des Minimes, Erborian, L’Occitane au Brésil
Revenue	€1,537 million (2021)[1]
Operating income	€220 million (2021)[1]
Net income	€157 million (2021)[1]
Total assets	€2,497 million (2021)[1]
Total equity	€1,200 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees	8,733 (2021)[1]
Website	www.loccitane.com

L’Occitane en Provence, [lɔk.si.tan ɑ̃ pʁɔ.vɑ̃s] «the Occitan woman (in Provence),»^[2] commonly known as L’Occitane, is a French luxury retailer of body, face, hair, fragrances, and home products based in Manosque, France. Founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan, with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. In 2010, the company became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

History[edit]

In 1976, 23-year-old Olivier Baussan used steam distillation to produce essential oil from wild rosemary^[3] and lavender which he sold at open-air markets in his native Provence. L’Occitane was named for the women of Occitania. This area existed during the Middle Ages, spanning southern France, north-eastern Spain and northern Italy. Occitan was the native language and is still spoken as a second language in some areas of this region.

In 1976, using an old soap factory that was donated to him, Olivier Baussan revived the traditional art of Marseille soap-making in Manosque, another Provençal village. He manufactured vegetable-based soaps. The first L’Occitane factory and boutique opened in 1981 in Volx, a village in Provence.^[4]

In the 1990s, Baussan sold a majority stake in the business to venture capitalists to finance expansion. As their approaches were incompatible, Baussan found himself excluded from daily management and strategic decision-making.^[5]

In 1994, Austrian businessman Reinold Geiger bought a 33% stake in the group.^[4] Through a series of capital increases, Geiger became majority shareholder in 1996.^[4] Geiger, as the new chairman, asked Baussan to return as creative director and lead product development. The company’s new focus on marketing strategy paved the way for international expansion.^[5] In the late 1990s the company changed its name to ‘L’Occitane en Provence’, to strengthen the connection with the company’s roots and because the term ‘Provence’ had more meaning to an international audience.^[6] On 20 April 2001, Clarins became a financial investor in the company through subscription to approximately 5.18% of the company’s shares and €11,433,750 convertible debenture loan. On 22 February 2005, Clarins further invested €16,525,580 in convertible debentures. When the debentures were converted, Clarins held 23.33% of the shares. The management executed a leveraged buyout in May 2007 following which Reinold Geiger’s stake rose from 31.9% to 48.7%, and Clarins’ stake was diluted to 10.0%.^[4]

L’Occitane has shops in over 90 countries,^[7] in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa; with 170 shops in the United States.^[5][8] At the launch of its IPO in 2010, the company announced that its products were sold in over 80 countries through over 1,500 retail locations; it had 753 L’Occitane Stores. In the year ended 31 March 2009, it generated sales of €537.3 million.^[4] It planned over 650 store openings with the capital raised.^[9]

In 2013, the company employed 6,600 people worldwide and created a new brand L’Occitane au Brésil, focused on products from Brazil.^[7][10]

In 2021, the company’s US unit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey.^[11][12]

In 2021 L’Occitane Group acquired the US beauty brand Sol de Janeiro, valued in US$450 million.^[13]

In March 2022, L’Occitane acquired a majority stake in the Australian skincare brand, Grown Alchemist.^[14]

Following 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, L’Occitane announced it would continue to keep its Russian stores open on the grounds that it wanted to protect its staff from potential retaliation.^[15] Several days later L’Occitane reversed their decision announcing that it would be closing its Russian shops and website.^[16] Nevertheless, Russian stores are still supplied with products, only as a separate legal entity with a new name (Л’Окситан).^[17]

Listing[edit]

In March 2010, the listing committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange approved its plan for a $400–$600 million initial public offering of L’Occitane International S.A., underwritten by CLSA, HSBC and UBS which the company had originally planned in 2008, but postponed because of the 2008 financial crisis.^[18] The company stated that two-thirds of the proceeds would be used to finance store openings.^[9] China Investment Corporation invested US$50 million in the company’s IPO as the cornerstone investor (for approximately 1.9% of the shares).^[19] Following the listing of shares in L’Occitane International SA, L’Occitane Groupe SA retains 75% of the shareholding of the company; shares owned by Geiger, Clarins and other shareholders are indirect.^[4]

Beauty products[edit]

All of L’Occitane’s products are developed and produced from its base in Manosque, where 1,000 employees work.^[7] The company sources the majority of its production from Provence and one of their main product l’Immortelle plants (Helichrysum italicum) from Corsica from producers who rely on traditional production methods.

L’Occitane contributes to preserve traditional cultivation methods by:

• Supporting the program to cultivate almond trees in the Alps of Haute-Provence.
• Preserving certain rare species through the planting of their own field of Immortelle flowers in Corsica.
• Developing partnerships with organisations that support the development of scented and aromatic plants, such as the Office National Interprofessionel des Plantes à Parfum,^[20] and
• Encouraging traditional cultivation, particularly that of lavender.

In addition to products sourced from Provence, shea butter is purchased directly from women’s groups in Burkina Faso as Fair Trade with the ECOCERT certification. The shea tree is considered sacred, and its butter is known as «women’s gold» because it is how the women make their money. Shea butter traditions are still used, such as only fallen fruit may be collected by women, and only women know the secret to making shea butter.^[21]

According to the company, it does not conduct animal testing, and no animal product or by-product, except for beehive products are used in the manufacturing process. L’Occitane develops most of its products and ingredients in line with the organic cosmetics specifications of the ECOCERT.^[22]

Melvita[edit]

L’Occitane bought Groupe M&A Development and its subsidiary, M&A Santé Beauté, which includes the organic cosmetic brand Melvita, in 2008.^[23] The company, which was founded in the Ardèche in 1983 by French biologist Bernard Chevilliat, commercialises ecological and organic cosmetics principally in France. In 1990, Melvita launched its first organic cosmetics range and its manufacturing obtained the ECOCERT certification.^[4] They now have stores in thirteen countries.

The L’Occitane Foundation[edit]

La Fondation d’Entreprise L’Occitane is a private organisation founded in 2006 by the company, with a budget of 4 million euros for 6 years, to support visually impaired people and help the economic emancipation of women. It supports associations for the visually impaired particularly in Burkina Faso with NGOs that are specialised in training professionals to reduce blindness. The L’Occitane Foundation has formed a partnership with Orbis, an organisation that fights against avoidable blindness in developing countries. To support economic emancipation of women, the L’Occitane Foundation partnered with the association Faa-I-tuora to improve the way of living of people in Dissin, in the South West region of Burkina Faso.

In 2013, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) decided to recognise L’Occitane en Provence as an exemplary company within the framework of its 2013 «Growing Inclusive Markets» initiative.^[24] Since 2013, L’Occitane Foundation has rewarded an ophthalmologist every two years for his work in the fight against blindness. In 2013 Professor Volker Klaus received the first l’Occitane Sight Award with a €50,000 grant for his action in Africa.^[25]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• L’occitane Official website

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

«L’Occitane» redirects here. For the autoroute, see A20 autoroute.

L’Occitane en Provence

L’Occitane storefront in the International Finance Centre, Hong Kong, 2016
Type	S.A.
Traded as	SEHK: 973
Industry	Personal care
Founded	1976; 47 years ago
Headquarters	Manosque, France
Key people	Reinold Geiger (chairman) André J. Hoffmann (CEO) Olivier Baussan Rak-e Lopez
Products	Cosmetics and beauty products
Brands	L’Occitane en Provence, Melvita, Le Couvent des Minimes, Erborian, L’Occitane au Brésil
Revenue	€1,537 million (2021)[1]
Operating income	€220 million (2021)[1]
Net income	€157 million (2021)[1]
Total assets	€2,497 million (2021)[1]
Total equity	€1,200 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees	8,733 (2021)[1]
Website	www.loccitane.com

L’Occitane en Provence, [lɔk.si.tan ɑ̃ pʁɔ.vɑ̃s] «the Occitan woman (in Provence),»^[2] commonly known as L’Occitane, is a French luxury retailer of body, face, hair, fragrances, and home products based in Manosque, France. Founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan, with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. In 2010, the company became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

History[edit]

In 1976, 23-year-old Olivier Baussan used steam distillation to produce essential oil from wild rosemary^[3] and lavender which he sold at open-air markets in his native Provence. L’Occitane was named for the women of Occitania. This area existed during the Middle Ages, spanning southern France, north-eastern Spain and northern Italy. Occitan was the native language and is still spoken as a second language in some areas of this region.

In 1976, using an old soap factory that was donated to him, Olivier Baussan revived the traditional art of Marseille soap-making in Manosque, another Provençal village. He manufactured vegetable-based soaps. The first L’Occitane factory and boutique opened in 1981 in Volx, a village in Provence.^[4]

In the 1990s, Baussan sold a majority stake in the business to venture capitalists to finance expansion. As their approaches were incompatible, Baussan found himself excluded from daily management and strategic decision-making.^[5]

In 1994, Austrian businessman Reinold Geiger bought a 33% stake in the group.^[4] Through a series of capital increases, Geiger became majority shareholder in 1996.^[4] Geiger, as the new chairman, asked Baussan to return as creative director and lead product development. The company’s new focus on marketing strategy paved the way for international expansion.^[5] In the late 1990s the company changed its name to ‘L’Occitane en Provence’, to strengthen the connection with the company’s roots and because the term ‘Provence’ had more meaning to an international audience.^[6] On 20 April 2001, Clarins became a financial investor in the company through subscription to approximately 5.18% of the company’s shares and €11,433,750 convertible debenture loan. On 22 February 2005, Clarins further invested €16,525,580 in convertible debentures. When the debentures were converted, Clarins held 23.33% of the shares. The management executed a leveraged buyout in May 2007 following which Reinold Geiger’s stake rose from 31.9% to 48.7%, and Clarins’ stake was diluted to 10.0%.^[4]

L’Occitane has shops in over 90 countries,^[7] in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa; with 170 shops in the United States.^[5][8] At the launch of its IPO in 2010, the company announced that its products were sold in over 80 countries through over 1,500 retail locations; it had 753 L’Occitane Stores. In the year ended 31 March 2009, it generated sales of €537.3 million.^[4] It planned over 650 store openings with the capital raised.^[9]

In 2013, the company employed 6,600 people worldwide and created a new brand L’Occitane au Brésil, focused on products from Brazil.^[7][10]

In 2021, the company’s US unit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey.^[11][12]

In 2021 L’Occitane Group acquired the US beauty brand Sol de Janeiro, valued in US$450 million.^[13]

In March 2022, L’Occitane acquired a majority stake in the Australian skincare brand, Grown Alchemist.^[14]

Following 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, L’Occitane announced it would continue to keep its Russian stores open on the grounds that it wanted to protect its staff from potential retaliation.^[15] Several days later L’Occitane reversed their decision announcing that it would be closing its Russian shops and website.^[16] Nevertheless, Russian stores are still supplied with products, only as a separate legal entity with a new name (Л’Окситан).^[17]

Listing[edit]

In March 2010, the listing committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange approved its plan for a $400–$600 million initial public offering of L’Occitane International S.A., underwritten by CLSA, HSBC and UBS which the company had originally planned in 2008, but postponed because of the 2008 financial crisis.^[18] The company stated that two-thirds of the proceeds would be used to finance store openings.^[9] China Investment Corporation invested US$50 million in the company’s IPO as the cornerstone investor (for approximately 1.9% of the shares).^[19] Following the listing of shares in L’Occitane International SA, L’Occitane Groupe SA retains 75% of the shareholding of the company; shares owned by Geiger, Clarins and other shareholders are indirect.^[4]

Beauty products[edit]

All of L’Occitane’s products are developed and produced from its base in Manosque, where 1,000 employees work.^[7] The company sources the majority of its production from Provence and one of their main product l’Immortelle plants (Helichrysum italicum) from Corsica from producers who rely on traditional production methods.

L’Occitane contributes to preserve traditional cultivation methods by:

• Supporting the program to cultivate almond trees in the Alps of Haute-Provence.
• Preserving certain rare species through the planting of their own field of Immortelle flowers in Corsica.
• Developing partnerships with organisations that support the development of scented and aromatic plants, such as the Office National Interprofessionel des Plantes à Parfum,^[20] and
• Encouraging traditional cultivation, particularly that of lavender.

In addition to products sourced from Provence, shea butter is purchased directly from women’s groups in Burkina Faso as Fair Trade with the ECOCERT certification. The shea tree is considered sacred, and its butter is known as «women’s gold» because it is how the women make their money. Shea butter traditions are still used, such as only fallen fruit may be collected by women, and only women know the secret to making shea butter.^[21]

According to the company, it does not conduct animal testing, and no animal product or by-product, except for beehive products are used in the manufacturing process. L’Occitane develops most of its products and ingredients in line with the organic cosmetics specifications of the ECOCERT.^[22]

Melvita[edit]

L’Occitane bought Groupe M&A Development and its subsidiary, M&A Santé Beauté, which includes the organic cosmetic brand Melvita, in 2008.^[23] The company, which was founded in the Ardèche in 1983 by French biologist Bernard Chevilliat, commercialises ecological and organic cosmetics principally in France. In 1990, Melvita launched its first organic cosmetics range and its manufacturing obtained the ECOCERT certification.^[4] They now have stores in thirteen countries.

The L’Occitane Foundation[edit]

La Fondation d’Entreprise L’Occitane is a private organisation founded in 2006 by the company, with a budget of 4 million euros for 6 years, to support visually impaired people and help the economic emancipation of women. It supports associations for the visually impaired particularly in Burkina Faso with NGOs that are specialised in training professionals to reduce blindness. The L’Occitane Foundation has formed a partnership with Orbis, an organisation that fights against avoidable blindness in developing countries. To support economic emancipation of women, the L’Occitane Foundation partnered with the association Faa-I-tuora to improve the way of living of people in Dissin, in the South West region of Burkina Faso.

In 2013, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) decided to recognise L’Occitane en Provence as an exemplary company within the framework of its 2013 «Growing Inclusive Markets» initiative.^[24] Since 2013, L’Occitane Foundation has rewarded an ophthalmologist every two years for his work in the fight against blindness. In 2013 Professor Volker Klaus received the first l’Occitane Sight Award with a €50,000 grant for his action in Africa.^[25]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• L’occitane Official website

L’Occitane en Provence (Л’Окситан)^[1] — французский бренд натуральной косметики с производством в Маноске (Франция). Был основан в 1976 году Оливье Боссаном. По мысли основателя марка создавалась с целью возрождать и сохранять традиции Прованса. L’Occitane переводится как «жительница Окситании».

История марки

В 1976 году 23-летний Оливье Боссан покупает паровой дистиллятор, собирает урожай дикого розмарина и получает из него чистое эфирное масло. Он продает его на местных рынках, продукт пользуется спросом у местных жителей — так рождается Л’Окситан. Однажды Боссан обнаруживает заброшенную мыловаренную фабрику. У него появляется идея возродить искусство изготовления марсельского мыла. С помощью единомышленников Оливье создает мыло традиционными методами, используя растительную моющую основу.^[2]

Изучая мир в поисках новых компонентов и традиционных технологий, в 1982 году Боссан отправляется в африканскую страну Буркина-Фасо, где местные женщины открывают для Оливье Боссана масло орехов карите. Со временем масло карите, известное своими исключительными питательными свойствами, становится одним из основных ингредиентов косметики Л’Окситан и одним из символов бренда.

В 1980-м году открывается первый бутик в провансальском городке Волькс, в 1996-м году — в Париже. В 2000 году Л’Окситан открывает первый салон в Москве в ТЦ «Наутилус». Сегодня Л’Окситан насчитывает более сотни салонов во всех крупных городах России.^[3] В России продукция Л’Окситан представлена компанией ООО «Л’Окситан Рус».

В 2011 году компания Л’Окситан вошла в список 50-ти наиболее успешно развивающихся брендов по мнению Джима Штенгеля (Stengel 50 List).^[4]

Продукция

В ассортименте Л’Окситан есть средства по уходу за лицом, телом, волосами, парфюмерия, ароматы для дома. Линии создаются вокруг одного ключевого растительного ингредиента и называются в его честь — лаванда, миндаль, олива, можжевельник и т. д. Все ингредиенты добываются в Провансе, за исключением вербены и бессмертника, которые Л’Окситан выращивает на органических плантациях на Корсике, и масла карите, которое Л’Окситан производит в Буркина-Фасо. Создавая свою косметику, компания придерживается трёх основных ценностей: чувственности, подлинности и уважения.

Согласно принципам компании, косметика Л’Окситан не тестируется на животных. При создании косметических средств Л’Окситан не используются продукты животного происхождения, за исключением ульевых продуктов (мед, маточное молочко, прополис). Чтобы подтвердить приверженность этому обязательству, Л’Окситан вступила в организацию PETA, объединяющую 600 компаний, которые приняли решение не тестировать свою продукцию на животных.^[5]

Отдельные продукты Л’Окситан получают сертификат французской организации ECOCERT.

Благотворительность

В 2006 году компания Л’Окситан создала собственный Фонд Л’Окситан, который развивает по всему миру три направления благотворительности:

1. Экономическая эмансипация женщин Буркина-Фасо^[6]
2. Сохранение знаний о природе во Франции^[7]
3. Оказание помощи людям с нарушениями зрения по всему миру^[8] совместно с благотворительной организацией ОРБИС^[9]

Примечания

Официальный сайт

Ссылки

• Фонд Л’Окситан (англ.)

Французский бренд L’Occitane вернулся в Россию с названием «Л’Окситан». Пользователи Сети заметили новые вывески в московских торговых центрах и высмеяли владельцев бутиков за «оригинальность». Теперь в рунете ждут возвращения «Секрета Виктора» и «Абибаса».

Жители России заметили, что в некоторых торговых центрах заработали магазины французской компании L’Occitane, которая в апреле 2022 года временно приостановила деятельность в РФ. Однако теперь бутики с люксовыми средствами по уходу и косметикой встречают клиентов под другой вывеской — «Л’Окситан».

Первые посетили магазинов с новым названием поделились снимками в соцсетях. Фото из ТЦ «Океания» в Москве появилось в телеграм-канале «Стрелец-Молодец».

Вывеску с «Л’Окситан» также заприметили в московском ТЦ «Европейский».

Название на кириллице с сохранением фирменного шрифта позабавило пользователей Сети. Комментаторы посчитали, что владельцы бутиков могли найти более оригинальное решение.

Также в рунете предложили назвать некоторые бутики «Лоцитан», чтобы россияне окончательно запутались в произношении — правильно читать сочетание «cc» как «кс».

Теперь россияне ожидают возвращения в страну бутиков «Секрет Виктора» (Victoria’s Secret), «Абибас» (Adidas) и «Репка» (Apple).

Телеграм-канал «Осторожно, Москва» сообщает, что компания L’Occitane, возможно, продала российскую часть бизнеса, поэтому магазины не откроются с прежним названием.

Ранее Medialeaks рассказывал, как в Россию вернулись магазины Reserved, Cropp и Mohito с новыми укороченными названиями — RE, CR и M. Пользователи рунета в шутку придумали замену для других ушедших брендов, превратив Adidas в Ad, а Zara в патриотичное ZR (ZaRussia).

«L’Occitane» redirects here. For the autoroute, see A20 autoroute.

L’Occitane en Provence, [lɔk.si.tan ɑ̃ pʁɔ.vɑ̃s] «the Occitan woman (in Provence),»^[2] commonly known as L’Occitane, is a French luxury retailer of body, face, hair, fragrances, and home products based in Manosque, France. Founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan, with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. In 2010, the company became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

L’Occitane en Provence

L’Occitane storefront in the International Finance Centre, Hong Kong, 2016
Type	S.A.
Traded as	SEHK: 973
Industry	Personal care
Founded	1976; 47 years ago
Headquarters	Manosque, France
Key people	Reinold Geiger (chairman) André J. Hoffmann (CEO) Olivier Baussan Rak-e Lopez
Products	Cosmetics and beauty products
Brands	L’Occitane en Provence, Melvita, Le Couvent des Minimes, Erborian, L’Occitane au Brésil
Revenue	€1,537 million (2021)[1]
Operating income	€220 million (2021)[1]
Net income	€157 million (2021)[1]
Total assets	€2,497 million (2021)[1]
Total equity	€1,200 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees	8,733 (2021)[1]
Website	www.loccitane.com

HistoryEdit

In 1976, 23-year-old Olivier Baussan used steam distillation to produce essential oil from wild rosemary^[3] and lavender which he sold at open-air markets in his native Provence. L’Occitane was named for the women of Occitania. This area existed during the Middle Ages, spanning southern France, north-eastern Spain and northern Italy. Occitan was the native language and is still spoken as a second language in some areas of this region.

In 1976, using an old soap factory that was donated to him, Olivier Baussan revived the traditional art of Marseille soap-making in Manosque, another Provençal village. He manufactured vegetable-based soaps. The first L’Occitane factory and boutique opened in 1981 in Volx, a village in Provence.^[4]

In the 1990s, Baussan sold a majority stake in the business to venture capitalists to finance expansion. As their approaches were incompatible, Baussan found himself excluded from daily management and strategic decision-making.^[5]

In 1994, Austrian businessman Reinold Geiger bought a 33% stake in the group.^[4] Through a series of capital increases, Geiger became majority shareholder in 1996.^[4] Geiger, as the new chairman, asked Baussan to return as creative director and lead product development. The company’s new focus on marketing strategy paved the way for international expansion.^[5] In the late 1990s the company changed its name to ‘L’Occitane en Provence’, to strengthen the connection with the company’s roots and because the term ‘Provence’ had more meaning to an international audience.^[6] On 20 April 2001, Clarins became a financial investor in the company through subscription to approximately 5.18% of the company’s shares and €11,433,750 convertible debenture loan. On 22 February 2005, Clarins further invested €16,525,580 in convertible debentures. When the debentures were converted, Clarins held 23.33% of the shares. The management executed a leveraged buyout in May 2007 following which Reinold Geiger’s stake rose from 31.9% to 48.7%, and Clarins’ stake was diluted to 10.0%.^[4]

L’Occitane has shops in over 90 countries,^[7] in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa; with 170 shops in the United States.^[5][8] At the launch of its IPO in 2010, the company announced that its products were sold in over 80 countries through over 1,500 retail locations; it had 753 L’Occitane Stores. In the year ended 31 March 2009, it generated sales of €537.3 million.^[4] It planned over 650 store openings with the capital raised.^[9]

In 2013, the company employed 6,600 people worldwide and created a new brand L’Occitane au Brésil, focused on products from Brazil.^[7][10]

In 2021, the company’s US unit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey.^[11][12]

In 2021 L’Occitane Group acquired the US beauty brand Sol de Janeiro, valued in US$450 million.^[13]

In March 2022, L’Occitane acquired a majority stake in the Australian skincare brand, Grown Alchemist.^[14]

Following 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, L’Occitane announced it would continue to keep its Russian stores open on the grounds that it wanted to protect its staff from potential retaliation.^[15] Several days later L’Occitane reversed their decision announcing that it would be closing its Russian shops and website.^[16] Nevertheless, Russian stores are still supplied with products, only as a separate legal entity with a new name (Л’Окситан).^[17]

ListingEdit

In March 2010, the listing committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange approved its plan for a $400–$600 million initial public offering of L’Occitane International S.A., underwritten by CLSA, HSBC and UBS which the company had originally planned in 2008, but postponed because of the 2008 financial crisis.^[18] The company stated that two-thirds of the proceeds would be used to finance store openings.^[9] China Investment Corporation invested US$50 million in the company’s IPO as the cornerstone investor (for approximately 1.9% of the shares).^[19] Following the listing of shares in L’Occitane International SA, L’Occitane Groupe SA retains 75% of the shareholding of the company; shares owned by Geiger, Clarins and other shareholders are indirect.^[4]

Beauty productsEdit

Lavender fields in Provence

All of L’Occitane’s products are developed and produced from its base in Manosque, where 1,000 employees work.^[7] The company sources the majority of its production from Provence and one of their main product l’Immortelle plants (Helichrysum italicum) from Corsica from producers who rely on traditional production methods.

L’Occitane contributes to preserve traditional cultivation methods by:

• Supporting the program to cultivate almond trees in the Alps of Haute-Provence.
• Preserving certain rare species through the planting of their own field of Immortelle flowers in Corsica.
• Developing partnerships with organisations that support the development of scented and aromatic plants, such as the Office National Interprofessionel des Plantes à Parfum,^[20] and
• Encouraging traditional cultivation, particularly that of lavender.

A tin of L’Occitane shea Butter

In addition to products sourced from Provence, shea butter is purchased directly from women’s groups in Burkina Faso as Fair Trade with the ECOCERT certification. The shea tree is considered sacred, and its butter is known as «women’s gold» because it is how the women make their money. Shea butter traditions are still used, such as only fallen fruit may be collected by women, and only women know the secret to making shea butter.^[21]

According to the company, it does not conduct animal testing, and no animal product or by-product, except for beehive products are used in the manufacturing process. L’Occitane develops most of its products and ingredients in line with the organic cosmetics specifications of the ECOCERT.^[22]

MelvitaEdit

L’Occitane bought Groupe M&A Development and its subsidiary, M&A Santé Beauté, which includes the organic cosmetic brand Melvita, in 2008.^[23] The company, which was founded in the Ardèche in 1983 by French biologist Bernard Chevilliat, commercialises ecological and organic cosmetics principally in France. In 1990, Melvita launched its first organic cosmetics range and its manufacturing obtained the ECOCERT certification.^[4] They now have stores in thirteen countries.

The L’Occitane FoundationEdit

La Fondation d’Entreprise L’Occitane is a private organisation founded in 2006 by the company, with a budget of 4 million euros for 6 years, to support visually impaired people and help the economic emancipation of women. It supports associations for the visually impaired particularly in Burkina Faso with NGOs that are specialised in training professionals to reduce blindness. The L’Occitane Foundation has formed a partnership with Orbis, an organisation that fights against avoidable blindness in developing countries. To support economic emancipation of women, the L’Occitane Foundation partnered with the association Faa-I-tuora to improve the way of living of people in Dissin, in the South West region of Burkina Faso.

In 2013, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) decided to recognise L’Occitane en Provence as an exemplary company within the framework of its 2013 «Growing Inclusive Markets» initiative.^[24] Since 2013, L’Occitane Foundation has rewarded an ophthalmologist every two years for his work in the fight against blindness. In 2013 Professor Volker Klaus received the first l’Occitane Sight Award with a €50,000 grant for his action in Africa.^[25]

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• L’occitane Official website