Founded in 1966 by Jean Desjoyaux, the family-run company based in La Fouillouse is today the world’s leading exclusive network for in-ground pool construction. In 2019, the Desjoyaux group, which has 7 subsidiaries worldwide, 163 sales outlets in France and export sales to 80 countries, achieved record sales of €103 million.
Interview with Jean-Louis Desjoyaux, a manager who is swimming in happiness and is preparing to hand over the reins of the company to the fourth generation.
L’entreprise Desjoyaux en quelques mots et en quelques chiffres ?
We are a family business based in the Loire Valley, employing 240 people. We produce at our La Fouillouse site. We also have 7 subsidiaries worldwide and export to 80 countries, including recently Costa Rica, Syria, Hungary, Israel and Georgia. We currently have 163 sales outlets in France, and continue to open new ones every year. In terms of results, we achieved record sales in 2019, reaching €103 million, with consolidated net income of €9.7 million after tax. In the first three months of the new financial year, the Group achieved growth of just over 10% in France and abroad.
Sur quoi repose le succès du groupe Desjoyaux ?
Our success is based on three main factors. Firstly, weather conditions have become increasingly favorable in recent years, with some very fine summers. Secondly, families who are refocusing on a cocooning spirit by wishing to create a new living space outside the home. The swimming pool has become much more democratic, and is gradually becoming a consumer good like a fireplace or an extra car. Last but not least, our expertise is based on a powerful local network in France. We are very close to our end customers, offering them quality products (pools, equipment and accessories), and our Research and Development enables us to launch between three and four new innovative products on the market. In addition, all our products are created for export, which currently accounts for 35% of our sales and is set to rise to 40% this year. Our objective for 2023-2024 is to generate 50% of our sales in France and 50% from exports.
Vos projets pour 2020 ?
This year, we will again be creating jobs at our La Fouillouse industrial site. And, between now and 2021, we’ll be investing around 15 million euros, in particular to buy five injection molding machines and extend our buildings.
Quels sont vos liens avec l’ASSE ?
My links with ASSE go back a long way. I’ve always been a fervent supporter of Les Verts. In my office, I have a photo dating back to 1963 (when I was 10) in which I’m posing alongside Jean Snella and Rachid Mekhloufi, then captain of Les Verts. I myself played for ASSE as a pupil. Today, I’m still a fervent supporter of Les Verts and regularly attend matches. We’re proud that the Desjoyaux group has been sponsoring the team for fifteen years.
Article published in L’ESSOR DE LA LOIRE on 21/02/2020