In just a few hours, several years of work went up in smoke. During the night of August 17th to 18th, a fire broke out in a construction zone and destroyed nearly 80% of the Gastronomy Pavilion at Bordeaux's MIN. The building, severely damaged, has been closed pending a structural assessment.
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2 iconic businesses stripped of their production facilities
Among the hardest-hit businesses are Hasnaâ Chocolats Grands Crus, internationally recognized for its bean-to-bar creations, and Henriette & Olga, whose ice creams are among France's most celebrated.
Their laboratories have been completely destroyed or rendered unusable by flames, water infiltration, cracks, and products used during the emergency response. Machinery, raw materials, cold storage rooms, and inventory have vanished, causing a halt
complete halt of their production capacity.View this post on Instagram
A race against time to avoid the worst
Since the disaster, the two companies have been multiplying efforts with Bordeaux Métropole, the MIN, the City of Bordeaux and their partners to find temporary premises or share production workshops.
The goal is to gradually restart their activity, with production expected between January and February 2027, so they can return to normal operations in spring. However, everything will depend on insurance compensation, the availability of new premises, and the work that needs to be done.
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A fire with serious consequences
In total, 2,200 m² of the building were destroyed and 8 of the 9 businesses housed in the Gastronomy Pavilion were impacted.
While awaiting the results of the building's expert assessment, the two Bordeaux houses are continuing their mobilization with a shared goal: to recover a production facility and preserve expertise that shines a light on Bordeaux far beyond the Gironde region.