“Savonnerie Louis Cordesse” does that ring a bell? We are standing on Avenue Cordesse in Marseille. It is more than just a street. It echoes with the legacy of a family deeply woven into the city’s industrial and social fabric.
Avenue Cordesse is named after the Cordesse family. The Cordesse family left their mark on Marseille. Let’s journey back to 1897. Louis Cordesse left his village. Family expectations played a big role. He moved to Marseille after marrying Elise Bosc.
Louis started working in his father-in-law’s business. Soon after, around 1899, he founded the Savonnerie Louis Cordesse. It quickly became La Phocéenne de Savonnerie. This soap factory became a prominent name.
Louis Cordesse died young in 1919. He was only 47. A cousin managed the business for six years. Then, André, Louis’s eldest son, stepped in. He was an engineer. Jean, his younger brother, soon joined him.
In 1936, the brothers bought the Société Marseillaise de Sulfure de Carbone. They also acquired its oil mill. They renamed it Huilerie et Savonnerie Rabatau. The company expanded rapidly. They established branches in West Africa, Algeria, and Morocco. In 1937, they acquired Huileries Niçoises Félix Audemard.
The Cordesse brothers became major players. They were among the top five oil producers in the region. They employed nearly a thousand people. Imagine sacks of goods carried on men’s backs. Jean-Louis Cordesse, one of Jean’s six sons, joined the group in the 1950s. He managed and developed the Marseille division. He later founded Les Aliments Rabatau. It became Société France Aliments in 1965.
The soap factory became part of Unipol in 1959. This structure united all Marseille oil producers. Jean briefly led it. Jean-Louis returned to the oil industry. From 1965 to 1979, he worked with Huileries Réunies. These were co-founded by his uncle. He also worked with Établissements Peterson of Dakar. He then headed Grandes Huileries Métropolitaines. It was a world leader in grapeseed oil. It was also France’s third-largest olive oil producer. He retired at 69.
Jean-Louis Cordesse was more than an industrialist. He was devoted to community work. This commitment reflected his father’s and uncle’s values. André Cordesse contributed to Marseille’s economy. He became president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1948. He worked to rebuild the port. He also sat on the board of Le Provençal-Le Soir. He was married to Maryse Defferre. She was Gaston Defferre’s sister. He also served on the Economic and Social Council.
Jean Cordesse focused on social and humanitarian work. He re-established the Red Cross in Marseille. He helped develop Hôpital Paul-Desbief. He also contributed to Clinique du Camas. Furthermore, he helped a retirement home and Hôpital Ambroise-Paré. His wife, Madeleine Cordesse, was dedicated to hospital charities. Jean-Louis Cordesse followed in their footsteps. He became president of the Red Cross. He also led the Association des Hôpitaux Phocéens. He was also part of the Protestant consistory of Marseille center. Additionally, he served on the board of Ambroise-Paré. His brother Jean-Pascal was its director-general.
The fourth generation did not continue the family businesses. Jean-Louis Cordesse’s children pursued different paths. Despite this, the Cordesse legacy remains. Avenue Cordesse stands as a reminder. It honors a family that shaped Marseille’s history. The Cordesse family’s impact goes beyond industry. It encompasses social responsibility and community service.