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Maison Bornibus
Alexandre Bornibus was born in 1821, in the town of Verpillières-sur-Ource in the Aube department. He first worked as a primary school teacher, and went on to manage a dairy. In 1855, when he was nearing his forties, he took over a mustard factory in Paris’ Les Halles district.
Initially named Touaillon & fils, he quickly decided to rename the factory Bornibus, the eponymous brand that we have all come to know.
In just a few years, Alexandre Bornibus had become one of the kings of mustard in France, especially thanks to his efforts in terms of innovation. In 1864, he registered a patent for a “method for filtering mustard and other various substances”.
Thanks to this industrial development, he was soon to become a great name in the mustard industry, and numerous newspapers published articles about it.
The rise...
In 1869, Le Petit Journal wrote: “This manufacturer, thanks to his own unique processes, has managed to popularise mustard; he has succeeded in getting this condiment into every home”.
In his dictionary, Pierre Larousse lists one of Bornibus’ inventions: “For long trips and excursions to remote climes, this industrialist has invented mustard that comes in dried bars. To use it, just scrape off the desired amount with a knife, moisten it with a few drops of water, and voilà, you immediately have your condiment”.
A few years later, the Encyclopaedic and biographical dictionary of industry and industrial arts wrote that Alexandre Bornibus had become the leading and most important producer of mustard. From that moment on, the name Bornibus was renowned throughout Europe, and it was not long before Bornibus conquered the world”.
In addition to the industrial progress he brought about, Alexandre Bornibus is also recognised for the innovative way he managed the company on a social level. Indeed, he gave his employees one day off a year so they could all leave together in the company’s cars to enjoy a meal in the countryside. One employee said at the time: “We go into the fields to frolic in the honour of the medals that he obtained during the year for his products and his manufacturing equipment”.
A new era
Even today, it is impossible to miss this beautiful facade decorated with a pediment bearing the name “Alexandre Bornibus” and several plates in honour of Bornibus mustard and the company’s founder. Large tarnished plastic signboards are testament to how the activity continued until well into the 1980’s.
In 1882, Alexandre Bornibus died, and the company was then handed down to his three sons who continued to ensure its development. Two of the three brothers, Georges then Lucien, also died shortly afterwards, leaving Paul to head the enterprise.
Paul was to be the very last Bornibus to run the company, since it was Charles Boubli, a former employee at Felix Potin, who took over its management in 1931. At the beginning of the 1970’s, the company still employed 70 people.
In 1992, Charles Boubli’s two daughters transferred control over to new shareholders who then left the boulevard de la Villette.
In 2012, the company Agrodor, which operated under the brand, filed for bankruptcy leaving Bornibus without a future after more than a century and a half of history.
That same year, Casimex Fine Foods took over the brand, intent on restoring its image of yesteryear. With its vintage look and its refined recipes, Bornibus has now made its come back, stronger than ever before.
Find out all about Bornibus since its creation in 1855 and the biography of its creator Alexandre Bornibus in our Bornibook by clicking on the button below.