Caudalie

History

Graduated from Skema Business School, Mathilde Thomas's first job specialized in Perfume Series in Grasse.

In 1993, during the harvest of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, French husband and wife Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas met Professor Joseph Vercauteren of Pharmacy in Bordeaux, a polyphenols specialist, and his research team. Mr.Vercauteren shared one of his discoveries with them - that PCOs (procyanidolic oligomers) extracted from grape-seeds, are significantly more effective than vitamin E against free radicals.

In 1995, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas launched Caudalie by developing a range of three products containing stabilized grape-seed polyphenols with anti-ageing properties. The name Caudalie means "the haunting scent of wine".The image of grape is always on the packages, it is also nicknamed as "Big Grape".

In 1999, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas created their first Vinothérapie Spa in the grounds of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Caudalie USA, a subsidiary, was founded in 2001.

Nowdays, Caudalie is a multi-channel French skincare company, specialising in anti-ageing, skincare, body care, fragrance & masks. Ingredients are derived from the grapevine.

The company is active in toxicology and ecology. It refuses to use artificial preservatives, mineral oil and animal by-products.

Moreover, Caudalie is very eco-friendly. As a keen member of some eco organizations such as WWF, Cœur de Forêt, 1% for the planet , it donates the part revenue for animal and forest.

Controversy

On February 7, 2013, the Court of Appeal of Paris sentenced Caudalie to pay 90 000 euros to a former employee for unlawful redundancy after a maternity leave. This employee received the support of the "Défenseur des Droits" (the French Authority against Discrimination and war) during the trial.