|
The incredible expansion of Cornouaille Nautique
…or how a small company
in Finistère became the first Bénéteau dealer in France.
Cornouaille Nautique - Bénodet - 1980 |
Amateur sailing was barely
on its first tacks when François L'helgoualch, who had been
working as a marine engineer in Loctudy for 40 years, decided
to gamble on diversification.
In 1969,
it was a daring thing to do, but the Bigouden tradesman
felt that he needed to become a boat dealer to be able to
sell more engines.
He took on the Yachting France
brand which grouped together Arcoa, Jouët and Lanaverre.
These were leading brands at the time, whereas Bénéteau,
which only employed 20 people at the time, produced only
a few boats a year.
However, François L'helgoualch
had a hunch. One year later, he chose the Bénéteau
brand that was buidling small fishing boats at
the time. "He thought that these small boats from Brittany
really looked good" remembers his son Yves, now General
manager of Cornouaille Nautique. "We sold four boats a year
at the time!". Capellan, Kerlouan, Piranha, etc.
Such loyalty was extremely rare.
Cornouaille Nautique - Bénodet - 1980 |
Bénéteau produced its first
yacht in 1976. The First 30 Mauric opened a royal path to
the legend of the First in all sizes, of which there are
now thousands on all the seas of the world. A year later
was the beginning of the fishing/excursion powerboat with
the Antarès' older brother, the 7.50. This was very popular.
Extremely rare among dealers,
Cornouaille Nautique always stayed loyal to Bénéteau
and this loyalty is now rewarded.
Yves L'Helgoualch's knowledge
of the sailing market is unequalled. "This is the reason
why we now sell boats all over the world.
We have never waited for a boat to be sold on paper, to
order it at the boatyard. With us, when the customer
decides to buy, his boat is already on the trailer or under
the crane.".
Today, Cornouaille Nautique
delivers boats all over the world: in Europe, the West Indies,
as well as in the United States, Mexico, etc.
|
