Processes

For Minerve, the authenticity of its products remains a priority. Whether it concerns its beansprouts, the importation of its exotic products, or the quality of its chestnuts, Minerve uses its skills and field experience to offer its clients the best and most natural products possible (without chemical treatments or GMOs…).

 

beansprouts chestnuts  

 

a) Manufacture

The entire manufacturing process takes place in our Quéven factory, a modern factory that complies with the highest standards in the fields of hygiene, safety and respect for the environment. Minerve has developed an effective industrial tool, to respond efficiently and flexibly to the requirements of its clients.

The main raw materials received are of agricultural origin, for example soybeans, chestnuts and fresh or frozen vegetables.

Growing, harvesting and preparing the beansprouts on the same site has several advantages:

  • It guarantees the quality of the raw material.
  • Harvest after cutting the roots of a natural product.
  • The beansprouts do not suffer during transport.
  • Preparation is done on the same day as harvest.

The products manufactured by MINERVE are prepared in three workshops:

  • Canning or bottling of beansprouts and salads.
  • Exotic workshop: preparation and packing of sauces or the dressings for ready-made meals in our exotic range.
  • Preparation and packing of chestnuts.

Minerve controls the essential phases of the production process, which allows it to guarantee the supply of impeccable products with constant quality to its clients,.

b) Labelling and dispatch

Once packed, the products are stored at MINERVE's logistics base, then they are labelled according to the client on one of the labelling lines at the site. When the pallets have been prepared, the products are dispatched by transport companies to the different clients or purchasing centres.
Growing, harvesting and preparing the beansprouts on the same site,

 

 

With a marketing network present throughout France and Europe, its skilled and receptive personnel in all the company's sectors of activity (marketing, production, quality…), its high degree of flexibility and swift responsiveness at the production level and a strong innovation policy, Minerve is a reliable, high quality partner, already referenced by many national and European firms.


Constantly alert to the requirements of the market, always on the lookout for new products or recipes, with the permanent aim of satisfying its clients, Minerve has made the quality of its service an important pillar of its business strategy.

beansprouts (mung beans)

This is a unique procedure. The beans are imported from Thailand. They are carefully selected, MINERVE is the only company using this growing method without additives or treatments.

In addition, the type of sprout used (mung bean) is a variety that cannot be genetically modified (genetic modification is not permitted for beansprouts).
Samples are, however, regularly taken and sent to a certified laboratory, which allows MINERVE to guarantee to its clients that its beansprouts are 100% natural.


Mung Beans

A treasure house of nutritional benefits:

Beansprouts are a goldmine for health and there are many studies that demonstrate their dietary benefits.

Soya beans are rich in carbohydrates (38%), fibre (5%) and micronutrients (4%): particularly vitamins E and B, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, calcium,...

In addition, soybeans contain 8 of the 20 amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body.
Another interesting characteristic of soybeans is that they are an excellent source of protein, in fact they are the richest source of protein in the vegetable world.The ease of digestion and the nutritional value provided by a 40% content of quality proteins can therefore provide a good replacement for animal proteins.

Beansprouts are also considered to have several medicinal properties (prevention of osteoporosis, cancer prevention…).

Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (more than 60%), soybeans are a very well balanced food item, having a real incidence on the reduction of the level of "harmful" cholesterol in the blood, without causing reductions in the level of "good" cholesterol.

The main nutritional advantages of beansprouts are therefore their exceptional richness in high quality proteins and lipids.


 

 

 

Chestnuts

What is the difference between "marrons" and "châtaignes" ?

They are both fruits of the sweet chestnut tree. The only difference is in the husk:
if the fruit is partitioned, it is a "châtaigne", otherwise it is a "marron". Both are called chestnuts in English.
Each tree bears a variable proportion of "châtaignes" and "marrons" (to qualify for the "marron" label, the average proportion of partitioned fruits must not exceed 12%).

Nutritional properties:
From the nutritional viewpoint, chestnuts are low in proteins and lipids, and contain several vitamins, especially vitamin B and C, as well as a high concentration of mineral salts.


Origins:
We use the Castanea sativa mill variety. The chestnuts are imported from Italy, Spain or Portugal.
They are sorted, then transformed into cream of chestnut and chestnut purée, or packed whole.

Nowadays more than 50% of the population buys chestnuts at least once every three months. Chestnuts are now eaten throughout the year, though the main demand is still for the Christmas period.
Chestnuts are above all a "party" product (70% of people eat them on special occasions), mainly used as a side dish, consumers have well defined requirements for this product.


The "châtaigne" label on products designates chestnuts packed dry in jars.
The "marron" label on products designates canned chestnuts.