Identity Card:

The Boulangerie GAUTIER at Saint Sébastien-sur-Loire (44) has today the reputation of being one of the best bakeries in the Nantes region. Mr. and Mrs. Gautier are the artisans of its success. Offering a complete range of bakery and pastry products, all made in full view of customers in the large bakery, rue de Clisson, Mr. and Mrs. Gautier knew how to bring to reality numerous years of efforts and love of work done to perfection.

Jean-Yves Gautier knew since the age of 13 that the profession of baker was his destiny. Originally from the English Channel and son of a blacksmith, he remembers today that it is first the passion he devotes to fire that attracted him to the wood stove of the small bakery in his village. He will spend all his holidays up to the age of 16 in a bakery, love-struck with smells and the atmosphere of night work. He will quickly obtain a baker's Certificate then that of pastry as an independent candidate and will engage heart and soul in the profession.

After several years of practice, Jean-Yves becomes aware of the technical progresses which remain for him to achieve to be able to resolve quality problems he faces every day. He wants to learn, progress but training opportunities are rare. It is without hesitation that, when by chance he hears about the INBP of Rouen, he decides to sit for a Master's Certificate. The quality of education which will be provided as well as the emulation with other students he met there will be an important source of progress for Jean-Yves Gautier. Still, the quest for the mastery of his art does not stop there...

In 1989, at just the age of 26, Jean-Yves Gautier passes all stages of the Best Worker in France contest and wins the much coveted precious sesame. He will, first, put all his acquired mastery at the service of a bakery in the Toulouse region, while participating actively in the revival of the traditional French bread of the early 90s as a roving trainer at the INBP. An eternal dissatisfied, Jean-Yves will complete his training with a Master's Certificate in pastry in 1994.

In 1995, Jean-Yves and his wife, decide to take the plunge and invest in the acquisition of a bakery in Saint Sébastien-sur-Loire, the one they still own today. The combination of technical mastery of Jean-Yves and the relation with clients of his wife Mireille, very quickly filled their agenda. The Boulangerie Gautier currently employs 14 staff and people come from far to buy bread and outstanding pastries that fill up the shelves all day long.

Co-opted by his peers, Jean-Yves Gautier is since 2006 the President of the Federation of Bakers of Loire-Atlantique and takes to heart the problem of training and initiating young bakers: « There are many young apprentices motivated by the bakery, but our duty, as seniors, is not to lose them. They should be attracted above all to the primary opulence of the baker's profession. A baker has to manufacture his bread, his pastries as well as the majority of all the products he offers and he must do so with passion. We must cultivate in them this wealth which would help them overcome financial barriers and go beyond the fear of long working hours. »

Utilized VMI products:

- 1 PHEBUS 40 litres beater for the pastry and special breads.

- 1 PHEBUS 1500 Series fork mixer of 18 litres casting for small quantities.

- 1 REX fork mixer of 60 litres casting for larger quantities

Purchasing background of solutions proposed by VMI:

Mr. and Mrs. Gautier have always wanted to put their bakery on view for their customers. For them, it is a guarantee of quality and a way to share their passion. They have always favored the choice of working tools highlighting the kneading and the baking of bread in compliance with French traditions. It is in this context that fork mixers were obvious for them.

Main reasons for choosing VMI solutions:

1. The need to use reliable machines.

2. Offsetting health concerns of users.

3. Noiseless machines,

4. Easy to clean machines,

5. The efficiency and the proximity of a distributor.

Mister Jean-Yves Gautier, Best Worker in France and owner of the Boulangerie Gautier at Saint Sébastien-sur-Loire:

« I am very sensitive to the reliability of my machines. I want to be able to entrust them to my apprentices without worries. »

« I appreciate the efforts undertaken by VMI to fight flour spilling and hence take into account the health of bakers. »

« I want my teams to communicate easily in my bakery. Noisy machinery would prevent them to do so and undermine their efficiency and apprenticeship. »

« My mixers are installed in a way to be seen by our customers. We need to be able to clean them easily. »

« Our equipment distributor is next to our bakery. It is important that he can intervene promptly and be perfectly aware of our machines. A distributor must be reactive. This is the case of the one who sold us the VMI mixers. »