La Compagnie Bretonne du Poisson

Founded in 1923 when Alain Furic and his fourteen-year-old son Jules established the Compagnie Bretonne du Poisson on the quay at Saint-Guénolé, Penmarc'h, the first sardine port in France. Now in its fourth generation under Sten and Maria Furic, children of Jean-François Furic, the company operates a 6,200-square-metre production facility in Penmarc'h and employs 86 people. Every step of production is done by hand, from gutting through to hand-packing. Sardines are fried in oil in the traditional manner before canning, and the company releases annual vintage-dated sardines with commissioned artist illustrations, each tin printed with the name of the fishing vessel, the landing port, and the harvest year. Albacore tuna tins name the individual boat that caught the fish. Products are sold exclusively through the company's own website and nine boutiques, and through specialist fine food retailers. Not stocked in supermarkets.