Descours & Cabaud
Groupe Descours & Cabaud
10, rue du Général Plessier
BP 2437
69219 LYON Cedex 02 - France
Tél. : +33 (0) 4 72 40 85 85
Fax : +33 (0) 4 72 40 86 88
Email : com@descours-cabaud.net
Internet, news : www.descours-cabaud.com
Groupe Descours & Cabaud
10, rue du Général Plessier
BP 2437
69219 LYON Cedex 02 - France
Tél. : +33 (0) 4 72 40 85 85
Fax : +33 (0) 4 72 40 86 88
Email : com@descours-cabaud.net
Internet, news : www.descours-cabaud.com
Descours & Cabaud today :
Founded in 1782, Descours & Cabaud has established a steadfast position over the years as a leader in the distribution of professional supplies to the industrial and construction sectors.
For more than two centuries, the independent, family-owned group of Descours & Cabaud has been imbued by the winning spirit of its founders, passed down from generation to generation. This entrepreneurial vision has shaped its history and continues to guide the company, which is firmly of the view that there can be no value creation without entrepreneurial freedom.
Descours & Cabaud, which has 13,500 employees and 700 points of sale worldwide, generated a turnover of €3.8 billion in 2018. Its governance is ensured by a Supervisory Board, headed up by William de Pinieux and an Executive Board, of which Philippe Massonneau is the President.
As the leading player in France and a major one in Europe and North America, Descours & Cabaud offers the broadest range of products and services on the market, via its tree European brands, DEXIS, PROLIANS and HYDRALIANS.
DEXIS is the partner brand for players in the industrial sector. Expert in all sectors of industry, DEXIS helps boost the performanceof its customers through a comprehensive offering of industrial maintenance solutions covering mechatronics, machining, and personal protective equipment.
PROLIANS is the partner brand for players in the building sector. Expert in all aspects of construction, PROLIANS lends more than 200 trades in the sector daily assistance via the most comprehensive offering of supplieson the market, backed by numerous services that facilitate and simplify the activity of its trade customers.
HYDRALIANS is the expert for the water and landscape sectors. HYDRALIANS offers its trade customers the widest specialised ranges on the market, services with high added value and personalised support in their projects.
The history of Descours & Cabaud starts in Gray, in Haute-Saône where the Dufournel family owned blast furnaces.
1782
In 1782, César Dufournel set up a metallurgical products retail outlet along the banks of the Saône river in Lyon. He had in-depth knowledge of the steel industry and trading was his in-laws’ business.
1789
The Revolution and its consequences virtually bankrupted César Dufournel’s business. His son, Charles, revived the activity at the beginning of the 19th century.
1861
André Descours and Lupicin Cabaud took over the management of the company which then opened up to the international market with the setting up of a network of correspondents in Trieste, Bucarest, Galatz, Bari, Naples, Palermo et Geneva.
1883
The company’s international development built momentum with the implantation in Argentina, then a few years later in Algeria, Vietnam, Tunisia, Cambodia and Morocco. The first professional developments dated back to the beginning of the 20th century with the distribution of hardware and tooling products.
1914
The Great War strongly disrupted activities, leading to shortages of supplies and unprecedented price increases. Thanks to its international presence, the Group crossed those difficult times. This presence was increased, especially in Argentina and in the Maghreb regions, up until 1929. The economic crisis strongly affected the turnover of Descours&Cabaud over the following five years.
1939
The Second World War had a tremendous negative impact on business in mainland France. Nevertheless, its large diversification steered Descours&Cabaud through this chaotic period.
Around 1950
The group established itself in French West Africa and in Madagascar, relay to the forced withdrawal from Indochina then from Algeria in 1963. In the same era, Descours&Cabaud management decided to increase activities in France and to set up in Spain and in the United States.
1980 to 1990
Descours & Cabaud increased its development in France and broadened its product range.
1994
The takeover of GDFI, which had 42 selling points, provided the Group with the opportunity to position itself as the French leader in industrial trading supplies.
2000
Since 2000, Descours & Cabaud has accelerated its European expansion, establishing itself in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. In addition, the Group developed new businesses such as roofing products, home automation and water management businesses.
2015
Descours & Cabaud has reached a historic milestone in its external growth strategy by making major acquisitions internationally, particularly in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and North America. The Group aims to build a leading European position on the industrial supplies and personal protective equipment sectors. It now boasts 700 points of sale in 13 countries.