FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our expertise with our own ranges gives us the keys to provide subcontracting services for distributors or large brands by adapting our formulations, flavours, packaging etc. to develop the products you desire.

We have 2 dedicated Research & Development Laboratories.

One at our Longvic site (Dijon, 21) for the development and formulation of liquid products, and another one at our Marseille site for the solid soaps.

Our Research & Development teams work closely together with the Quality, Marketing, Production and Commercial teams to design products which meet our clients’ specific needs while complying with the regulations in force. Our R&D teams perform the formulation and the stability and compatibility tests. We are committed to constant innovation to offer high-quality cleaning, hygiene and disinfection solutions.

For our branded products, we work on stocks and the standard delivery times for the products are generally less than 10 days.

For the branded products (private brands/subcontracting) :

• They are available on command.
• The times may vary depending on the customisation required.
• In general, the delivery time for the branded products is between 10 days and 1 month, depending on the complexity of the customisation and the quantity requested.

To answer your questions, you can email our customer service department at contact@prodef.fr

The PRODEF Group is fully committed to promoting “Made in France” on an international scale. Since 2014, we have reinforced our presence abroad by creating an “Export” department within Compagnie du Midi, one of our subsidiaries. This approach is part of our desire to defend and enhance French know-how all over the world.

We have a full offer of cleaning and cosmetic products, all designed and manufactured in France. Our real Marseille soap, elaborated in our own soap factory in Marseille using traditional methods, arouses a particular interest abroad. Our international development policy has allowed us to experience significant growth within this sector.

We give great importance to selecting distributors who share our values. By establishing solid partnerships, we actively contribute to promoting “Made in France”. The exceptional quality of our products and the professionalism of our team have placed us in some of the most prestigious shops across the world, making us one of the most dynamic French SMBs in our sector all over the world.

Our products are all designed, developed and manufactured in France: the liquid products at our Longvic site next to Dijon (21), the solid soaps in Marseille (13) and the wiping products and La Nénette in Carros (06).

Real Marseille soap meets specific criteria listed by the UPSM, the Union of Marseille Soap Professionals, of which Savonnerie du Midi is a founding member. Authentic Marseille soap only contains 4 ingredients: vegetable oils (72% minimum), caustic soda, water and salt. It never contains colourants, artificial flavours or preservatives. It is prepared in the cauldron, in accordance with Marseille procedures, under the surveillance of a master soap maker. All carried out in Marseille and its region. Marseille soap is distinguished by its cuboid shape. “72% oil” is engraved onto the soap and it bears the name of the soap maker who manufactured it.

We ensure the performance and characteristics of our products during a period of 3 years but it is important to note that these products remain safe for users even after this period.

The preservation of the products after dilution is strictly subject to compliance with certain good practices. Leaving a product in an open flask, bucket or container, even with a mop, will inevitably compromise its integrity.

The correct identification of the products is just as essential to guarantee efficient disinfection. As experts in disinfection, our reputation is based on the quality of the recommendations we provide to our clients and that includes complying with good practices.

We can therefore have a 7-day conservation duration after dilution but on the express condition that the products are stored in appropriate conditions.

The Hygiène & Nature products are reserved for professionals and are distributed all over France. They are available from specialised distributors. You can contact us via le formulaire de contact or by phone, and we will inform you of your company’s closest distributors.

The Maître Savon de Marseille products are distributed to food supermarkets all over France and abroad.

You will find the Corvette products :

In our reseller shops:
To receive the list, send an email stating your town to our customer service department at contact@savonneriedumidi.fr

In our Marseille shops:
City centre: 28 place aux huiles 13001 Marseille (open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 18:30)
Factory: 72 rue Augustin Roux 13015 Marseille (open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00)

On our online shop:
E-shop : la-corvette.com

La Nénette is distributed by car accessory specialists, especially Feu Vert and Norauto, all over the country and on our online shop

Our suppliers reflect the quality of our products and our company’s values. We therefore ensure that they are in line with our commitments and raison d’être.

Our procedure consists of several steps :

1. Firstly, we send an evaluation questionnaire which makes it possible to assess the services from the suppliers according to specific criteria, particularly the quality of the products and the CSR commitment of the activity.
2. Then, we have the suppliers sign the ethical and social charter for responsible purchasing in order to keep track on their commitment regarding compliance with our company’s values and raison d’être.
3. We write up specifications which we also use as a contract with the suppliers in order to list each clause which will make up our contract and which therefore must be respected throughout all the exchanges.

If you receive a product which is faulty or damaged, we are committed to resolving the situation quickly and satisfactorily.

We will first of all ask you to contact us within 8 days following the receipt of your order. Our team will then look into your complaint and give you specific instructions for returning the product.

We have been PME+ certified by the FEEF for our CSR commitment. We offer products certified by the European Ecolabel and Ecocert. Also, some of us have opted for the Origine France Garantie label for certain products. Finally, all our production sites are ISO 9001 certified.

These certifications demonstrate our commitment towards sustainable commercial practices, the quality of our products and our responsibility towards preserving the environment. We are proud to be able to provide products which respect these high standards.

The PRODEF Group, through its Savonnerie du Midi, Hygiène & Nature and Compagnie du Midi production workshops, offers a wide range of hygiene and professional cleaning products. Here is a glimpse of the main categories of products available :

Solid Soaps

We offer a variety of solid soaps, such as Provence soap and the real Marseille soap, which are suitable for home or body cleaning, and manufactured in accordance with traditional methods.

Liquid Products

Our liquid products are available in different formats depending on your specific needs, going from 125mL to 1000L. They are multipurpose and can be used for various professional cleaning tasks, in particular for cooking, disinfecting, cleaning floors, sanitary surfaces, windows, textiles and dishes, and for washing and disinfecting hands, the body and hair

Wiping Products

We also offer a range of wiping products which include different types of sponges and scourers to meet your cleaning and maintenance needs. These products are manufactured at our three production sites, all ISO 9001 certified, and each one has specific expertise in designing and manufacturing professional cleaning and cosmetic products. Thanks to our additional production workshops, the PRODEF Group is able to offer you a wide range of products while making good use of our expertise in the professional and general public markets.

At PRODEF, the safety and efficiency of our hygiene and cleaning products are the priority. We implement many measures to guarantee the quality of our products.

Rigorous Research & Development (R&D)

Our R&D laboratory works closely with our teams to develop safe and high-performing formulas. We invest in innovative technology to remain at the cutting edge of efficiency and safety.

Compliance with the Strictest Standards

All our products are subject to rigorous standards and comply with the valid regulations. Our demanding quality policy guarantees that our products meet the strictest standards, thus ensuring their safety and efficiency.

ISO 9001 Certification

The ISO 9001 certification of all of PRODEF’s subsidiaries is proof of our commitment towards quality, including the safety of the products. This certification proves our ability to meet client requirements and the regulatory standards.

Ecolabel and ECOCERT Certification

Our European Ecolabel and ECOCERT certifications are proof of our commitment towards the environment, as well as the safety of the products. These certifications are recognition of the fact that the manufacturing procedures respect human health.
Rigorous Control of the Manufacturing Procedures: we apply strict quality controls at each step. This includes the meticulous selection of the raw materials, the monitoring of the transformation procedures, random production line inspections, the validation of each production and performance tests to guarantee the safety and efficiency of each product.

Transparency towards the Consumer

We are transparent towards our consumers by using a clear mode of communication and wording which do not mislead them. The usage safety of our products is information which we showcase.

What is an ECOCERT eco-detergent ?

A private initiative launched in 2006 to promote the use of natural components, this frame of reference is applied to detergents in the widest sense.
Since then, ECOCERT Greenlife has not stopped perfecting its specifications and in 2012, it obtained accreditation for its frame of reference, eco-detergents made of organic ingredients. The products are certified by ECOCERT which makes sure that the ingredients comply with its frame of reference and also validates the company’s environmental management system.

What is the European ECOLABEL ?

This label especially focuses on the product’s life cycle to reduce its environmental impact. Certified by AFNOR, the product must meet the strict frame of reference criteria established at European level.
Reviewing the ecological criteria every 3 to 5 years makes it possible to take into account the technological changes and maintain selectivity. This approach also makes it possible to shift the market towards virtuous products and maintain an incentive for progress.
The efficiency of the products is tested in relation to a reference product chosen among the most sold ones on the market.

OUR CSR POLICY

PME+ is a label created by the FEEF (Federation of Companies and Entrepreneurs of France) to promote the development of SMBs committed to a CSR approach in the country, particularly in the mass retail category.

Every year, Ecocert Environnement carries out the certification audits.

The PME+ label is:

• 192 companies
• 39000 products
• 22300 jobs

Hygiène & Nature is PME+ certified in accordance with the “Design, manufacturing and marketing of cleaning products” guidelines.

This voluntary initiative is part of our CSR approach and commits us as a company, employer and employees to integrate the values of this label into our strategy, culture and daily actions.

Eco-design corresponds to the systematic integration of environmental aspects from a product’s design to the end of its life.

For Hygiène & Nature, the objectives are :

• Integrating the environment into the design stages in order to reduce the negative impacts of the products on the environment throughout their life cycle ;
• Offering products respectful towards humans by limiting the use of substances dangerous to health, as well as animal and vegetable life ;
• Reducing useless emissions and waste ;
• Preserving the performance and efficiency of the products ;
• Training and informing consumers.

We work everyday to reduce the impact of our activity and our products on the environment and health.