About us

 

 

QSN Notre histoire

Background

Founded in 1946 after World War II by Mr Clément Lorieux, the Huilerie Vernoilaise oil mill - formerly known as the Huilerie Lorieux - used to supply neighbouring villages with rapeseed, sunflower and walnut oil.
Over the years, our mill has diversified its offer, starting by transforming oil extraction residue into cattle feed, flour and fishing bait in the 1970s - now known under the “Puissance Pêche” brand.
We also positioned ourselves within the organic produce market by developing a range of organic virgin oils in the 1980s, when Mr James Lorieux took over from his father.
In 2007, Mr François-Louis Delepoulle, aged only 23, became James Lorieux’s associate. François-Louis’ dynamic approach, taste for new and exciting challenges, and long-standing passion for table oils enabled the oil mill to boost its sales thanks to the creation of a more varied and original range of oils - to which gastronomic mustard and vinegar ranges were appended. He also encouraged the brand to modernise its image and packaging.

 Notre histoire

 


QSN notre savoir faire

Know-how

We carefully select all our raw materials, choosing to primarily use local or at the very least French nuts and seeds.
This has been the company’s spirit for over half a century now, thus enabling it to forge a local network of over 3,000 private suppliers who collect their own walnuts and hazelnuts in October, dry them, crack them open and bring them to the oil mill between January and March. Our virgin walnut and hazelnut oils are therefore exclusively extracted from kernels originating from the Val de Loire area. The company’s traditional know-how stems from age-old manufacturing methods.
With a view to preserving the nuts’ original and natural flavours and smells, oil millers at the Huilerie Vernoilaise crush and roast the kernels in large pouches, and have used the same oil presses since the company’s creation (vertical hydraulic cast iron presses that can reach 200 tonnes in pressure) - now over half a century old.

 


QSN nos valeurs

Values/h2>

Our master oil producers’ know-how is passed down from one generation to the next. We have managed to preserve ancestral virgin oil production methods, sticking to key crushing, cooking, extraction (using the cast iron, century-old vertical presses as shown in this photo), decanting and filtering steps.

 


QSN notre philosophie

Philosophy 

Our know-how, experience and passion intertwine to offer you high-quality and delicious oils, which we continue to produce every day.

 

l'essentiel...l'excellence


QSN nos récompenses

Awards 

In 2009, James and François decided to enter their first cold pressed virgin walnut oil/a> in the Concours Général Agricole de Paris. Since then, that same oil won six medals (2 bronze, 1 silver, 3 gold) six years running, as well as three Excellence Awards (2012, 2013 and 2014) granted for the consistency and quality of their work.
The meticulous selection of our kernels (provided by private suppliers), as well as the traditional know-how brought to the table by our master oil producers, are the key to high taste and nutritional quality in all our gastronomic table oils.

 

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We would like to thank all our private suppliers for their hard work and trust; without their high kernel and walnut quality, our oils and awards would not be possible