Isigny Sainte-Mère

As the most awarded dairy company in France, it's no surprise that Isigny Sainte-Mère's is world-famous and an approved PDO site. Combining traditional know-how and the ideal pastures of Normandy, it has won over 300 medals.

When the Isigny-sur-Mère and the Sainte-Mère Cooperatives combined in 1980, they set out to conquer the world. Today, as the most awarded dairy company in France and as an approved PDO site, it's clear it is succeeding.

The Isigny region in Normandy was Europe's largest wetlands. When the sea retreated, it left behind a clay soil on which green grass grows in abundance. For centuries, the region's dairy farmers have produced exceptionally fine milk, earning a well-established reputation for quality.

Thanks to the salty seawater of the Channel, combined with fresh water from the Cotenin peninsula and the Bessin mashes, the region's climate is mild and damp. The cows graze these grassy pastures, which makes their milk rich in mineral salts and trace elements.

The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is an equivalent of the French State AOP label. It is an official mark of quality which recognises the unique characteristics of the Isigny PDO butter and cream based on its outstanding terroir. To ensure the best quality butter and cream, their producers and farmers have constantly improved their techniques while respecting the values of the Isigny terroir. In fact, their cows graze on succulent and nutritious pasture for more than half of the year.