The General Confederation of Roquefort :

the house of sheep breeders and cheese makers since 1930

SINCE 1930

In the country of Roquefort, there are remarkable constructions. The attic tower of Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux and the abbey of Sylvanès, the castle of Montaigut and the Millau Viaduct for example. There is also a symbolic “big house”, of ingenious architecture, which since 1930 has brought together at the same table the actors of the cheese industry: the General Confederation of Ewe’s Milk Producers and Roquefort Industrialists, also called the General Confederation of Roquefort.

The PDO Roquefort is not letting itself be shorn of the wool in the face of counterfeiting attempts. This is primarily why the General Confederation of Roquefort was founded: to defend and protect the first denomination of origin, recognized on July 26, 1925. Today, it continues to carefully monitor compliance with the specifications of PDO and supports manufacturers and producers in their quest for food and environmental requirements.

The General Confederation of Roquefort is a collective. A collegiate body where the logic of competition gives way to the same passion of Roquefort. Its board of directors has 24 members: 10 delegates from manufacturers (the industrial college) and 14 representatives of sheep breeders (the producer college). An originality of this small cheese republic: the presidency (one year) alternates between a manufacturer and a breeder.

Control of milk quality, food safety, agro-ecological transition, better conservation of fodder for the flock of ewes, better ergonomics of milking facilities, concern for animal well-being, promotion of the sector and its territorial anchorage: so many fields of intervention cultivated by the Confederation, ahead of societal expectations and in symbiosis with the Roquefort identity.

A sector tool
at the service of the collective

The daily life of the sector matches both the seasonal rhythm of milk production and the unpredictable rhythm of marketing or societal changes. A total of 90 employees work at the General Confederation of Roquefort. They provide support and expertise to breeders and cheese makers, take part in study and research programs and promote the image of Roquefort. Their missions are divided into four departments.

The PDO
department

The Quality
department

The Livestock
department

The Communication
department

It is the watchtower of Combalou. It keeps watch against the usurpations of Roquefort and threats of customs tariffs.
He seizes opportunities to protect and disseminate the denomination around the world. Constantly on the lookout, he verifies compliance with the PDO specifications by the players of the sector, according to internal and external controls. He exercises his vigilance for the good of the radius of Roquefort and its influence in the world.

It helps breeders to produce milk that overflows… with quality.
Disinfection of sheepfolds, cleaning of milking machines, conservation of fodder, diagnosis of the atmosphere of buildings, hygiene audits, collection of milk samples: he intervenes in the field to detect bacteria and block them. It accompanies research work on pathogenic germs. It is at the service of raw milk for increased food safety.

It lavishes all his care on the Lacaune sheep, the department’s mascot.
The genetic progress of the sheep breed and animal welfare mobilize his attention. It contributes to studies on farming systems and the influence of ecological factors on livestock. He advises breeders on the management of their herds, the transition to agroecology, resilience to climate change.
For sustainable and efficient farms.

It imagines advertising campaigns, boosts his social networks, co-invents the “Roquefort celebration”
event, handles media relations, prepares marketing strategies, participates in trade fairs. In short, it moves heaven and “causses” to promote the PDO and land a piece of Roquefort on your table. From there, appetizers and word-of-mouth do the rest!

Occupational equality women/men:
the very good 2022 Confederation Index (98/100)

Pay Gap Indicator : 38 / 40
Deviation of Increase indicator : 35 / 35
Indicator Increase Return Leave Maternity: 15 / 15
Indicator Under-represented sex among the highest paid: 10/ 10

The PDO
department

It is the watchtower of Combalou. It keeps watch against the usurpations of Roquefort and threats of customs tariffs.
He seizes opportunities to protect and disseminate the denomination around the world. Constantly on the lookout, he verifies compliance with the PDO specifications by the players of the sector, according to internal and external controls. He exercises his vigilance for the good of the radius of Roquefort and its influence in the world.

The Quality
department

It helps breeders to produce milk that overflows… with quality.
Disinfection of sheepfolds, cleaning of milking machines, conservation of fodder, diagnosis of the atmosphere of buildings, hygiene audits, collection of milk samples: he intervenes in the field to detect bacteria and block them. It accompanies research work on pathogenic germs. It is at the service of raw milk for increased food safety.

The Livestock
department

It lavishes all his care on the Lacaune sheep, the department’s mascot.
The genetic progress of the sheep breed and animal welfare mobilize his attention. It contributes to studies on farming systems and the influence of ecological factors on livestock. He advises breeders on the management of their herds, the transition to agroecology, resilience to climate change.
For sustainable and efficient farms.

The Communication
department

It imagines advertising campaigns, boosts his social networks, co-invents the “Roquefort celebration”
event, handles media relations, prepares marketing strategies, participates in trade fairs. In short, it moves heaven and “causses” to promote the PDO and land a piece of Roquefort on your table. From there, appetizers and word-of-mouth do the rest!

Occupational equality women/men:
the very good 2022 Confederation Index (98/100)

Pay Gap Indicator : 38 / 40
Deviation of Increase indicator : 35 / 35
Indicator Increase Return Leave Maternity: 15 / 15
Indicator Under-represented sex among the highest paid: 10/ 10

The Organoleptic commission

It is both a passing examination and a sensory experience. Four times a year, a commission observes, sniffs and tastes the Roquefort from the seven manufacturers. It is made up of retired ripeners, local chefs or even cheese dairy employees, anyone who, in Roquefort, knows a thing or two about it. 21 criteria are subject to their assessment: color, smoothness, length in the mouth…

Continue the discovery …

Link to: A collectively organized sector

A collectively organized
sector

Since 1930, the sector has been organized collectively through the General Confederation of Roquefort.

Link to: First PDO in history

Roquefort
1st PDO in history

Roquefort is the first designation
of origin cheese in 1925

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Confédération Générale des Producteurs de Lait de brebis et des Industriels de Roquefort

depuis 1930

36 Avenue de la République
BP 40348 – 12103 MILLAU cedex

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