CAVAVIN: FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO THE FRANCHISE
Founded in 1985 in La Baule by Michel Bourel, CAVAVIN grew out of the opening of a first wine shop and a simple ambition: to offer a local business built on advice, careful product selection and customer relationships.
Over the years, the network took shape around wine merchants who shared the same vision of the trade. In 1996, CAVAVIN adopted the franchise model to support its growth and enable new entrepreneurs to join the brand.
Today, CAVAVIN draws on more than 40 years of experience, a network of wine merchants in France and abroad, and partnerships built with more than 300 winegrowers and producers. These long-standing relationships allow the network to offer more than 2,000 wines, champagnes and spirits, including many exclusive cuvées.
A local wine shop,
built on advice
At CAVAVIN, the wine shop is a local business where we take the time to get to know our customers. The wine merchant helps them choose a wine or spirit to suit their tastes, budget and occasion: a dinner, a gift or a new discovery.
This relationship, built visit after visit, helps the wine merchant better understand customers’ expectations and shape the shop’s offer accordingly.
The extra touch
A WINE SHOP THAT REFLECTS YOU
The CAVAVIN wine merchant builds their selection from the network’s range, taking their customers’ tastes into account. They can also add local products, benefiting from the strength of a franchise while bringing a personal touch to their shop.
The CAVAVIN Range
CAVAVIN offers its wine merchants a range of more than 2,000 products, built with its partner winegrowers and producers. It brings together wines from various French and international regions, cuvées exclusive to the network and products to round out each shop’s offer.
The CAVAVIN range includes:
red, white and rosé wines;
champagnes and other sparkling wines;
spirits, beers and alcohol-free drinks;
gourmet food products.
Each wine merchant builds their selection from this range according to their customers’ expectations and can add local products.
Winegrowers at the heart of CAVAVIN
CAVAVIN maintains long-lasting relationships with more than 300 partner winegrowers and estates. For the network’s wine merchants, these exchanges are an opportunity to discover the cuvées, the terroirs and the people who make the wines they sell in store.
Meetings, tastings and estate visits help them deepen their product knowledge. They can then tell the story behind a wine, explain the producer’s choices and give their customers precise advice.
Winegrowers have their say
Antoine Veiry
Domaine Brumont — South-West France
“
Today, it’s important for us to meet the people who will be selling our wines, because wine merchants are our wines’ first ambassadors. They are the ones who tell this story that we can’t share with everyone ourselves. We need loyal partners to keep regions and vineyards like ours alive.
Thibault Le Mailloux
Champagnes Gosset
“
The wine merchant’s role is fundamental in conveying the work of a Champagne house. They are keepers of memory and storytellers, but also educators able to explain to consumers what makes our style of wine unique. It’s an essential role.
Christophe Censier
Château Gigognan — Vallée du Rhône
“
Whenever I can, I like to get a feel for what’s happening on the ground. When I’m in a big city and see a CAVAVIN, I stop, introduce myself and take the time to talk with the wine merchants. It helps me better understand how they feel and how our wines are perceived in store.
Let's talk about your project!
Would you like to open a wine shop and join the CAVAVIN network?
Talk to our team to present your project, ask your questions and discover the next steps to starting your business with CAVAVIN.
F.A.Q.
Why choose CAVAVIN to open a wine shop?
Joining CAVAVIN lets you start a business in wine and spirits retail while drawing on the experience of a network founded in 1985. Wine merchants receive support in setting up and growing their business, a selection of wines and spirits, and tools designed for their profession. CAVAVIN also offers two business models, franchise and commission-affiliation, to suit different entrepreneurial projects.
What is CAVAVIN's vision of the wine merchant profession?
At CAVAVIN, the wine merchant profession is above all about advice, proximity and sharing knowledge of wines and spirits. Each wine merchant takes the time to understand their customers’ tastes, expectations and budget in order to guide them towards the right products.
Beyond selling, their role is also to introduce customers to estates, grape varieties and producers, while building a lasting relationship of trust with them.
How does the CAVAVIN network work day to day?
The CAVAVIN network combines each wine merchant’s independence with national support. Day to day, wine merchants run their store, advise customers and grow their local business. They can rely on a network coordination team, management and communication tools, an ordering platform and national sales campaigns. Store visits and regular contact also help monitor their business.
Are CAVAVIN franchised wine merchants independent?
CAVAVIN wine merchants are independent entrepreneurs who grow their own business under the CAVAVIN brand. Whether as franchisees or under commission-affiliation, they own their business. They manage customer relationships and the development of their store, while benefiting from the network’s concept, tools and support, in accordance with their contract.
How does CAVAVIN select its wines and spirits?
CAVAVIN offers its network a selection of wines, champagnes and spirits from various French and international wine regions. This range brings together estate wines, permanent cuvées and new arrivals, giving customers more to discover in store. The network also maintains relationships with producers and wine estates. Each wine merchant can therefore build an offer tailored to their customers’ expectations, in line with the terms of their contract.
Whichever model is chosen, the future wine merchant remains the owner of their business.
How much freedom do CAVAVIN wine merchants have in choosing their products?
CAVAVIN wine merchants can tailor their selection of wines and spirits to the tastes and expectations of their local customers, within the framework of their contractual model. They have access to a national product catalogue and, depending on the conditions applicable to their store, can add products from local producers. This flexibility allows them to reflect the specific character of their area and offer a selection that matches their customers.
What role do winegrowers play in the CAVAVIN network?
The network works with French and international wine estates to offer a varied selection of wines and spirits. This close relationship with producers also takes the form of meetings, tastings and estate visits, particularly during network events. It helps wine merchants get to know the estates better and share their stories with customers.
How do CAVAVIN wine merchants exchange ideas and share their experiences?
Life in the CAVAVIN network is shaped by exchanges between wine merchants, head office teams and partners. The national convention, trade tastings, estate visits and meetings organised within the network are all opportunities to share experiences and best practices. These moments allow wine merchants to benefit from the network’s collective experience while growing their own business.
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