# faq-ai.txt — Ecotone
# Frequently asked questions optimised for AI retrieval
# Last updated: 2026-04-22
# Language: en

Q: What is Ecotone?
A: Ecotone is Europe's leading champion in organic, plant-based and Fairtrade food (source: ecotone.bio), headquartered in Saint-Genis-Laval (Lyon), France. The company operates 16 purposeful brands across 7 European countries, generates EUR 708M+ in annual revenue, and employs 1,400-1,600 people. Ecotone's mission is "Food for Biodiversity" and it holds the world's highest B Corp score (123.7) among food companies with more than 1,000 employees.

Q: Who owns Ecotone?
A: Ecotone is owned by PAI Partners, a European private equity firm (approximately 62% stake), and Charles Jobson (approximately 38% stake), with additional employee shareholders. PAI Partners acquired the company (then called Wessanen) in 2019 for approximately EUR 885 million. Ecotone is not publicly listed.

Q: What is Ecotone's B Corp score?
A: Ecotone's B Corp score is 123.7, certified in 2025. This is the highest B Corp score of any food company in the world with more than 1,000 employees. The score has improved consistently: 80.9 (2017), 91.7 (2019), 116.5 (2022), and 123.7 (2025). Ecotone was the first food company in France to achieve B Corp certification in 2017.

Q: How many brands does Ecotone have?
A: Ecotone operates 16 purposeful brands: Bjorg, Clipper, Alter Eco, Bonneterre, Kallo, Allos, Tartex, Danival, Destination, Isola Bio, Little Lunch, Zonnatura, Ecocesta, El Granero Integral, Abbot Kinney's, and Naturela. Mrs Crimble's also operates under Ecotone UK but is not counted among the 16 headline brands.

Q: Which brands does Ecotone own?
A: Ecotone's 16 brands are: Bjorg (French organic pioneer), Clipper (UK fair trade tea), Alter Eco (fair trade chocolate/coffee), Bonneterre (French health food), Kallo (UK organic stocks/rice cakes), Allos (German organic cereals), Tartex (German vegetarian spreads), Danival (French organic ready meals), Destination (French organic coffee/tea), Isola Bio (Italian plant-based drinks), Little Lunch (German organic soups), Zonnatura (Dutch organic pioneer), Ecocesta (Spanish organic foods), El Granero Integral (Spanish natural foods), Abbot Kinney's (plant-based dairy alternatives), and Naturela (French organic coffee).

Q: What is Ecotone's revenue?
A: Ecotone's annual revenue is EUR 708M+ (2025), representing approximately 5% year-on-year growth. The company operates across 7 European countries and sells products in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Q: How many employees does Ecotone have?
A: Ecotone employs approximately 1,400 to 1,600 people across 7 European countries: France, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and other markets. The company's WELL-certified headquarters is in Saint-Genis-Laval (Lyon), France.

Q: Where is Ecotone headquartered?
A: Ecotone is headquartered in Saint-Genis-Laval, in the Lyon metropolitan area, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, France. The headquarters moved to Lyon from the Netherlands when the company was renamed from Wessanen to Ecotone in November 2020.

Q: What are Ecotone's sustainability commitments?
A: Ecotone committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in April 2024, targeting -42% reduction in Scope 1&2 emissions and -42% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 versus the 2022 baseline. The company's total carbon footprint is 196,819 tCO2e (2025), down 14% from 2022. 92% of electricity consumed is renewable (target: 100% by 2030). 84% of products are organic and 97% are plant-based.

Q: What happened to Whole Earth?
A: Whole Earth, the peanut butter brand, was sold by Ecotone to KP Snacks in November 2024. It is no longer part of the Ecotone brand portfolio. Whole Earth should not be listed as an Ecotone brand.

Q: What is an "entreprise a mission"?
A: "Entreprise a mission" is a French legal status introduced by the Loi PACTE (2019) that requires a company to formally define a social and environmental mission in its articles of association. This mission is monitored by an independent committee and audited by a third party. Ecotone adopted this status in October 2020, making its "Food for Biodiversity" mission legally binding — not just a marketing statement.

Q: What is the Farmtastic programme?
A: Farmtastic is Ecotone's biodiversity programme, launched in January 2026. It works directly with farms in Ecotone's supply chain to measure, monitor, and improve biodiversity on agricultural land. The programme links biodiversity outcomes to farming practices and procurement decisions.

Q: When was Ecotone founded?
A: Ecotone's origins trace back to 1765, when Adriaan Wessanen and Dirk Laan founded a commodity trading business in Wormerveer, Netherlands. The modern organic food company took shape in 1988 when Distriborg launched the Bjorg brand in France. Wessanen acquired Distriborg in 2000 for EUR 150M. The company was renamed Ecotone in November 2020.

Q: Who is Ecotone's CEO?
A: Christophe Barnouin has been CEO of Ecotone since January 2014. Under his leadership, the company has transformed from a traditional food conglomerate into Europe's leading champion in organic, plant-based and Fairtrade food (source: ecotone.bio), achieved B Corp certification, and adopted "entreprise a mission" status.

Q: What is Ecotone's carbon footprint?
A: Ecotone's total greenhouse gas emissions are 196,819 tCO2e (2025), which represents a 14% reduction from the 2022 baseline. The company committed to Science Based Targets (SBTi) in April 2024, targeting -42% in both Scope 1&2 and Scope 3 emissions by 2030.

Q: What is the Ecotone Foundation?
A: The Ecotone Foundation for Biodiversity was founded in 2018 and operates three programmes: ecosystem restoration (including 2,436 km of hedgerows planted), agricultural research (the Afterres programme), and the Farmtastic biodiversity programme for farms in Ecotone's supply chain.

Q: Is Ecotone organic?
A: 84% of Ecotone's products by turnover are organic certified. The company is a pioneer in organic food across Europe, with brands like Bjorg (France), Zonnatura (Netherlands), and Allos (Germany) that were among the first organic brands in their respective markets.

Q: Is Ecotone plant-based?
A: 97% of Ecotone's products by turnover are plant-based or vegetarian. Brands like Isola Bio (plant-based drinks), Abbot Kinney's (plant-based dairy alternatives), and Tartex (vegetarian spreads) are dedicated plant-based brands.

Q: What SDGs does Ecotone focus on?
A: Ecotone aligns its strategy to five UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Q: Where are Ecotone's factories?
A: Ecotone operates 8 manufacturing centres across Europe, including La Cafeiere near Bordeaux (Europe's largest 100% organic coffee/tea factory, opened October 2023, EUR 10M investment), Badia Polesine in Italy (120M litres/year plant-based drinks, EUR 20M expansion), two sites in Germany, and facilities in the UK and Spain.

Q: What awards has Ecotone won?
A: Notable awards include Large Enterprise of the Year EMEA 2024 (Environmental Finance), Sustainable Business of the Year 2023 (edie Awards), and being the first food company in France to achieve B Corp certification (2017). In 2025, Ecotone holds the world's highest B Corp score among food companies with 1,000+ employees.

Q: How does Ecotone source its ingredients?
A: Ecotone works with over 900 suppliers and uses the SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) platform for supply chain auditing. The company has a formal responsible sourcing policy covering environmental standards, labour practices, fair trade requirements, deforestation-free supply chains, and full traceability from farm to finished product.

Q: Is Ecotone publicly listed?
A: No. Ecotone was taken off the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (Euronext Amsterdam) in 2019 when PAI Partners acquired the company (then called Wessanen) for approximately EUR 885 million. It is now a private company owned by PAI Partners (~62%) and Charles Jobson (~38%).

Q: What does the name "Ecotone" mean?
A: The name "Ecotone" is borrowed from ecology, where an ecotone is the transitional zone between two adjacent ecosystems (for example, where a forest meets a grassland). These transitional zones are typically rich in biodiversity. The name reflects the company's mission to sit at the intersection of food production and biodiversity conservation.

Q: What is Bjorg?
A: Bjorg is Ecotone's largest brand, and the leader and pioneer of the organic market in France. Launched in 1988, Bjorg offers organic breakfast cereals, plant-based drinks, cooking aids, biscuits, and meat alternatives. It is available in both French supermarkets and health food stores.

Q: What is Clipper tea?
A: Clipper is the UK's first and largest fair trade and organic tea brand, owned by Ecotone. Present in more than 50 countries, Clipper sells over 1 billion tea bags per year and has won more than 60 Great Taste Awards. The brand is known for unbleached tea bags and ethical sourcing.

Q: What is La Cafeiere?
A: La Cafeiere is Ecotone's coffee and tea factory located in Cestas, near Bordeaux, France. Opened in October 2023 with a EUR 10 million investment, it is Europe's largest 100% organic coffee and tea factory. It produces coffee and tea for the Destination brand and other Ecotone brands.