Groupe Bernard: a century of renewed ambitions
Meeting with Chloé Bernard, CEO of Groupe Bernard
A few months ago, you wrote on LinkedIn, “Car repair shops have always been a part of my life”. Did you think you were destined to take the helm of the family business?
Chloé Bernard: Joining the family firm was by no means a given. Having grown up in Bourg-en-Bresse, in the world of garages, initially my sights were set further afield. It was my brother, Cédric, who persuaded me to join him in the company. At 30, I seized the opportunity to experience this amazing professional and family adventure, something I couldn't have imagined ten years earlier.
Your shareholding is no longer 100% family-owned. What has this decision to open up the business brought you?
Chloé Bernard: We own 60% of the company. Since 2019, the remaining 40% has been held by the Frey family, via the French subsidiary of their group, Emil Frey. This type of association is based on clear governance and constructive dialogue. Furthermore, this collaboration allows us to benefit from inter-sector synergies and to pool certain operational expertise, in the service of our financial performance and the development of our activities. I am also a firm believer in the open enterprise model. It encourages risk-pooling, facilitates swift adaptation to market changes and fosters the sharing of knowledge and resources. In line with this philosophy, Groupe Bernard now has several joint venture companies.
Groupe Bernard celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021. How does it manage to stay ahead of the game over the long term?
Chloé Bernard: To succeed in the long term, we must excel in execution, with constant attention to detail. My favourite saying is: “Retail is detail”! Putting the customer at the heart of our priorities, innovating relentlessly, diversifying our activities and striving for operational excellence at every stage are the principles that have allowed us to thrive over the decades. These foundations continue to guide our development today.
Which strategies does Groupe Bernard use to address the many challenges facing the transport sector, such as technological and environmental issues?
Chloé Bernard: Mobility is a fundamental need. In response to these changes, we are focusing our efforts on several areas. First and foremost, electrification, since it represents a tremendous opportunity by offering both a new type of engine and a solution for the planet. We also combine social and environmental responsibility, such as donating vehicles to Solidarauto (a network of community garages working to combat professional exclusion through mobility) or to certain associations, such as, recently, the Foyer Notre-Dame des Sans-Abris in Lyon and the Centre Communal d'Action Sociale in Bourg-en-Bresse. Digital transformation is another strategic lever, including for operational activities like ours. We are particularly focused on digitising certain processes and deploying artificial intelligence to help our teams process routine requests. Finally, we invest in training and developing the skills of our employees, who are at the heart of all these transformations.
Last year, you were a FWE40 winner in the ETI category. What does this distinction represent for you?
Chloé Bernard: I'm very selective when it comes to my commitments, simply because I'm so busy. But I felt really proud to be joining a programme supported by BNP Paribas. In our line of work, we can't exist without our banking partners, whether for financing external growth or meeting working capital requirements. The fact that my relationship manager proposed and supported my application is a sign of mutual trust, that touched me deeply. This distinction also represents a tremendous opportunity for personal and professional development. I work in a sector that is still very male-dominated, and joining a women's network of this size is invaluable. Every interaction broadens my perspective and allows me to pause from the daily grind that revolves around operations. I'm thinking, for example, of Nathalie Balla, former CEO of La Redoute and mentor of our FWE40 class, whose career both inspires and motivates me.
Groupe Bernard: multi-brand automotive and industrial vehicle distribution in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain, France)
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Consolidated sales
Technilum: city ligths
Meeting with Agnès Jullian, CEO of Technilum
Technilum® was born from a forward-thinking vision of urban lighting, developed by your father Guy Jullian. What did he believe?
Agnès Jullian: In 1971, public lighting was conceived solely from a utilitarian perspective with the aim being to manufacture poles and light heads to illuminate the roads. As a pioneer of the term “Urban Lighting Furniture”, Technilum® revolutionised this approach by focusing on designing and producing high-quality, long-lasting, sustainable and easy-to-maintain products. Our guiding principle remains to light up the urban space using aesthetic, timeless furniture made from high-quality materials. We are proud that many of our projects from the 1970s and 1980s are still in place!
How doesTechnilum® stand out from other players in its sector?
Agnès Jullian: From the outset, we have specialised in designing and manufacturing aluminium urban lighting furniture. Now, we are adding a high level of service, setting us apart from our competitors. First of all, we position ourselves as a systems integrator, meaning that we manufacture both the supports (masts and poles) and the lighting fixtures. Moreover, we are specialists in aluminium, a material that is fully and infinitely recyclable. We have developed genuine expertise in its uses over more than 50 years. We are also a 100% French manufacturer that focuses on developing its own industrial facilities and in 2017 our production site was expanded by nearly 5,000 sq.m. Finally, we develop customised projects offering high added value with project managers, architects and landscape artists, not to mention lighting designers and developers. Our key capability lies in effectively interpreting client requirements, assessing project feasibility, adapting design solutions, and overseeing progress, all while upholding both aesthetic standards and functional integrity.
Our ability to support all types of projects, including the most high-end, has earned us a reputation for being specialists in “haute couture” lighting. The company's prestigious client base tells its own story: Liberty Park, the High Line, Vessel and Hudson Square in New York, the Ottawa LRT, Montreal, the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, Port Victor or La Défense in Paris, Place Pey Berland and the quays of Bordeaux, the Paillon in Nice, the Croisette beach side in Cannes, etc.
You have opted for 100% French manufacturing. What does running a growing SME in the Occitanie region mean to you?
Agnès Jullian: Since a company's growth is subject to economic and geopolitical uncertainties, it is its desire to grow that allows it to continue to innovate constantly! Furthermore, being located in the South of France, and having an atypical industrial site in Lézigno, is a definite advantage for welcoming our visitors: a former wine estate, renovated in 1999, the headquarters of Technilum® stands as a fine example of how to convert a heritage site. Moreover, we currently have many projects nearby that allow us to showcase our expertise while introducing people to our wonderful region.
What support did BNP Paribas provide in your development?
Agnès Jullian: To help us achieve our international ambitions — 30% of our turnover currently comes from exports — the bank financed the expansion of our production site in 2017, a project requiring an investment of €10 million. More recently, BNP Paribas has helped us to accelerate our digital transformation, as evidenced by our new ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning).
You were the 2024 winner of the FWE40 award in the SME category. What does this distinction represent for you?
Agnès Jullian: This award is a welcome national recognition. It also represents an additional networking opportunity, already initiated at the ConnectHers BNP Paribas event at Roland Garros last May.
Technilum: outdoor street lighting furniture Lézigno (Hérault)
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Employees
Consolidated sales
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French Women Entrepreneurs 40
In 2024, Agnès Jullian and Chloé Bernard were FWE40 prize winners. Awarded by a jury composed of the partners of the awards (BNP Paribas, Women's Forum, Bpifrance, SISTA, HEC Paris, Be a boss and Carbone 4), the 40 winners join the “FWE40 Club”, which allows them to benefit from a year of tailor-made support. Networking, training, media visibility, CSR performance evaluation, participation in key events, etc. Whatever their needs, each can count on the expertise of the partners in the ranking to accelerate the growth of their business. BNP Paribas is focused on offering them dedicated support and advice on financing issues, as well as several networking sessions.