5 things you never knew about LU biscuits
Uncover some of the most interesting facts from LU’s history, from its romantic beginnings to the present day
Founded more than 175 years ago, LU remains one of the greatest success stories in the French food industry. Over the decades, the company has evolved from a tiny family business to a world-famous, market-leading brand. Plus, it’s managed to survive some of the most turbulent moments in history along the way. Here are just a few things you might not know about LU’s fascinating past...
It all started with a love story
In true French style, LU’s story had a rather romantic start, beginning in 1846 in the city of Nantes. It was here that two young bakers, Jean-Romain Lefèvre and Pauline-Isabelle Utile, fell in love, got married, then started making biscuits together. United by their shared passion for baking, the couple bought a patisserie and started selling fresh biscuits on a table in the shop’s courtyard. Their popularity quickly grew, and the pair opened a second store in 1854, under the name Lefèvre-Utile, or LU for short. Today, their legacy lives on in the simple, authentic ingredients and French passion that are still baked into every LU biscuit.
The first Petit Beurre recipe was created in 1886
After taking over the company, the couple’s youngest son Louis Lefèvre-Utile perfected the recipe and design of what would become his greatest success: the Véritable Petit Beurre biscuit. Quality was always the company's guiding principle, so Louis meticulously selected the ingredients himself, and the biscuit’s iconic oblong shape took inspiration from the French tea mats of the time. Additional design flourishes reflected the calendar year, including four corner ears for the four seasons, 52 teeth for the weeks of the year and 24 indents for the hours of the day.
LU often collaborated with famous artists
Louis believed the aesthetic of LU’s products, advertisements and packaging played an important role in attracting customers, so he involved several artists in designing them. In 1897, he sent sketches of his son to Firmin Bouisset, who turned them into the Petit Écolier (Little Schoolboy), which still features on LU’s Le Petit Chocolat biscuits. Later in 1903, he asked Alphonse Mucha to paint a portrait of French actress Sarah Bernhardt for a LU advertisement. By collaborating with well-known artists like this, he made sure LU became synonymous with modernity and innovation.
The company produced military rations during the World Wars
When World War I broke out, LU was one of three main biscuit manufacturers in Nantes that were requisitioned to make bread for military rations. The company ended up staying open through both World Wars to produce hard bread biscuits, made from flour and water, for the soldiers. Even when the production of Petit Beurre was halted due to a lack of raw materials during World War II, the military rations meant LU never stopped manufacturing.
The original factory still exists today
After LU expanded and relocated in the 1960s, the original factory was left empty. In 2000, it reopened as the Lieu Unique, a centre for contemporary culture that showcases a range of live entertainment, including theatre, dance, music and literary performances. If you visit today, you can still see one of the famous LU towers from the original factory that was restored in the 1990s.
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