30th General Assembly of Produit en Bretagne, February 9 and 10, 2023 - testimony of Jean Coisnon, President of Produit en Bretagne.

Produit en Bretagne chose Saint-Malo to celebrate its 30th anniversary

The Palais du Grand Large hosted the Produit en Bretagne association for its anniversary and annual general meeting. On February 10, 2023, nearly 1,000 members from the five departments of historic Brittany discussed the future of France's leading regional brand in a studious and friendly atmosphere!

Jean Coisnon, you are the president of Produit en Bretagne. Why did you choose the Palais du Grand Large for your event?

There are logistical reasons: facilities that can accommodate more than 1,000 people are rare in our five departments. In Saint-Malo, we have an auditorium that is ideal for plenary sessions, warm spaces for meetings, and a modular structure at the foot of the Palais du Grand Large that is large enough to host our BtoB meetings. Access to the convention center is easy, whether you come by train(the station is a 15-minute walk away) or by car, with parking in front of the building. Organizing our network's general meetings puts a certain amount of pressure on our shoulders, we can't afford to miss such events. We have to be sure that everything will go smoothly: we know the team at the Palais du Grand Large - this is the fifth time that Produit en Bretagne has occupied the convention center since 2002 - and we know that we can trust them.

Are there other reasons for this choice?

In a congress, if the content is important, the form is just as important. Exchanging, building, networking in Saint-Malo, with a view of the sea, with the ramparts and the old town within reach, is also what made this day a highlight for the members present. Personally, I was happy to be there because I love Saint-Malo. It is a city that breathes history, travel, adventure, drama and war sometimes... It is a city of culture with great festivals like Étonnants Voyageurs (which joined our association) or Quai des bulles. And then there is the sea, which is indispensable to me.

Produit en Bretagne has existed for 30 years. It was a pioneering territory brand, is it still so?

The founders of Produit en Bretagne invented locavorism by creating the first territorial brand. They were determined, pioneering and innovative, as Bretons know how to be. This desire to innovate has not wavered for 30 years. We continue to be forerunners. One of the challenges of the next decade is to support our member companies and structures in a product innovation approach, but also in a social, societal and environmental one. Our customers and users are pushing us to commit to a CSR policy. Our employees too: it is the sense of history and a necessity if we want Brittany to remain economically attractive and keep its brains and skills.

Interview conducted by : Beatrice Ercksen