Our history

Discover Caramels d’Isigny’s story

Since the 16 th century, the region around Isigny-sur-Mer has been specialising in butter and cream production. Isigny harbour

and its coastal outlet allowed important development for commercialising dairy products and has popularised Isigny’s name in a

big part of the world.

These flagship products built the region’s reputation and richness.

In the 1930’s, the dairy production diversified with confection. This is how Caramels d’Isigny was born.

1932

The very first caramel recipe, including fresh milk and Isigny cream was born and developed by Établissements Galliot d’Isigny.

Many remember those sweets sold under the brand “Isicrem”.

1939

“Isicrem” sweets are now in competition with “Dupont Crème” sweets from Dupont d’Isigny located in La Cambe. Their business

started with the production and trade of Isigny butter in 1894 and diversified with the making of biscuits and caramel.

1950s-70s

This is the golden age for caramel which is sold in all the cinemas and bakeries. Because of this huge success, industrial

companies positioned themselves on the market and slowly started sounding the death knell for handmade productions.

1975

Établissements Galliot went bankrupt

1995

Dupont d’Isigny relocated to Carentan (Manche).

NO MORE CARAMEL WAS PRODUCED AROUND ISIGNY-SUR-MER.

1994

The enthusiasm for handmade caramel from Isigny-sur-Mer doesn’t wear off. Isigny-sur-Mer’s council and Coopérative Isigny

Sainte-Mère were looking for a way to compensate for Dupont d’Isigny’s relocation, so they called on a former sales and logistics

manager, a caramel expert, to create in April 1994 “Normandie Caramels” and revive handmade production of caramel in Isigny-

sur-Mer.

Normandie Caramel has been created and sells its sweets under the registered trademark “Caramels d’Isigny” in a small shop at Isigny-sur-Mer’s harbour, launched in May 1994.

At that time, the Coopérative see in the production of high-quality caramel a new possibility to increase the value of Isigny-sur-

Mer’s quality milk, so they first housed the factory before they built the new and current one, with a small direct selling shop.

Year after year, the company developed its offer – sweets, caramel shards and powder, popcorn, caramel spread…

Diversification is one of the keys for this little SMB’s success.

2012

As a matter of homogenisation, “Normandie Caramels” got renamed into “Caramels d’Isigny”, just like the brand under which

the products are sold.

2015

Factory tours have been offered since 1994, making it a true tourist attraction. A dedicated tour space opened in April 2015 to

add more comfort and accessibility for visitors. It was an immediate success with 37,000 visitors during the first year.

2016

After creating the tour space the previous year, the shop “Les Halles d’Isigny” opened. As a true 350m² gourmet palace, Les Halles display all of Caramels d’Isigny’s offer as well as a selection of products from Normandy: cheese, Calvados, biscuits, apple cider, jam…

2018

New logo for Caramels d'Isigny.

2019

Caramels d’Isigny went for sale. The Coopérative acquired the company to make sure it stays alive and to develop this company with vert complementary and shared knowhow. The two historical partners, both attached to their terroir and traditions, are now united.

2024

The company celebrated its 30 th anniversary! It started with just 5 employees in 1994, and Caramels d’Isigny now employs 38 people, split up between the office, production, tour space and shop.

2025

The logo gets a modern update!

The logo got modernised!

La Maison du Biscuit, a family-run biscuit factory located in Sortosville-en-Beaumont (Manche) joined Coopérative Isigny Sainte-Mère and Caramels d’Isigny.