{"id":518,"date":"2026-07-02T16:31:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.desjoyaux.com\/en\/?p=518"},"modified":"2026-07-02T16:31:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:31:24","slug":"jean-louis-desjoyaux-our-factory-is-one-of-a-kind-worldwide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.desjoyaux.com\/en\/2026\/07\/02\/jean-louis-desjoyaux-our-factory-is-one-of-a-kind-worldwide\/","title":{"rendered":"Jean-Louis Desjoyaux: “Our Factory Is One of a Kind Worldwide”<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exclusive interview with Jean-Louis Desjoyaux, Chairman and CEO of Piscines Desjoyaux, listed on Euronext Growth Paris and still controlled by the founding family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux, Chairman of the family-owned Desjoyaux Group, is preparing the handover to the fourth generation. From the company’s production site in La Fouillouse, France, he discusses the Group’s \u20ac50 million investment plan, its new plastic recycling center, and its diversification into recycled PVC production. An interview focused on a manufacturing facility he proudly describes as fully integrated and entirely Made in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""Jean-Louis
Jean-Louis Desjoyaux poses in front of his factory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>In a recent press release, you stated: “Manufacturing in France without additional costs is possible when you control the entire process.”<\/em> Do you still stand by that statement?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> Absolutely, at least in our industry. It may be more difficult in cosmetics, textiles, or home furnishings. But in our case, through extensive industrialization and automation, we are not only preserving jobs\u2014we are creating them\u2014and we manufacture 100% of our products in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale:<\/strong> So, in the swimming pool industry, this is achievable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> Completely. Our La Fouillouse factory is unique in the world. There is no other production facility with such a high level of integration. We are a global company exporting to 80 countries, yet nowhere else does such a manufacturing model exist. Within six months, we will be operating eight different industrial activities on the same site. I never describe myself as a pool builder\u2014I consider myself an industrial manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>You mention that 90% of your components are manufactured in-house. Why not the remaining 10%, and what are they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> In fact, we’re closer to 95%. The remaining components are mainly stainless steel products that cannot be replaced by plastic, such as parts for our pool enclosures, and aluminum profiles that we still purchase because we do not yet extrude aluminum ourselves. Everything else has been integrated. Even parts we used to source from China, such as bolts and washers, are now manufactured in-house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>Your investment program amounts to \u20ac50 million, including \u20ac25 million over the past two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> We have built up a substantial financial reserve. We are entrepreneurs with a long-term vision, and the transition to the fourth generation is already underway. My financial strategy has always been to self-finance 100% of our investments. The entire \u20ac50 million has therefore been financed internally. As we speak, our net debt is negative\u2014our cash reserves significantly exceed our debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>What proportion of your revenue currently comes from activities outside the swimming pool business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> At the moment, almost none. We only launched our recycling and calendering operations about two months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>So recycling is what makes these new business activities possible ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> Exactly. Our calendering line has an annual production capacity of six million square meters. Around 800,000 square meters are used for our own needs, which already justifies the investment. That leaves more than five million square meters available for other markets, particularly waterproofing PVC membranes. I’m also tired of geopolitical tensions and wars weighing on our business performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>What are your objectives for these non-pool activities over the next five years ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> This production line alone has the potential to generate \u20ac25 million in revenue. Within five years, non-pool activities could represent between 20% and 30% of our total turnover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>Becoming a supplier of waterproofing PVC is a completely different business. Is this a way to reduce the seasonality of the swimming pool market?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> Yes, but it’s also about protecting ourselves from weather-related fluctuations. This year we experienced a heatwave, but next year it could rain all summer\u2014and when it rains, people buy umbrellas instead of swimming pools. I’m also tired of geopolitical uncertainty and wars affecting our business. The objective is to smooth out seasonality by expanding our industrial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyon Capitale: <\/strong>You mentioned war. How has it affected your business ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Louis Desjoyaux:<\/strong> Take Germany, for example. We used to build more than 1,000 pools there every year; today we’re down to around 300 or 400. That’s a direct consequence of the war in Ukraine. The situation around the Strait of Hormuz has had little impact on us so far. Germany\u2014and indeed much of Europe\u2014has been severely affected, including France. Ultimately, it’s a question of purchasing power: consumers are spending less and saving more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Excerpt from an interview published in <\/em>LYON CAPITALE<\/a><\/strong>
Journalist:<\/strong> Ivan Balkanski<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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