Entrepreneur Ariane Daguin is the guest of honor at the Lectoure Melon Festival this Friday. Between the Gers and New York, this passionate about gastronomy is engaged.
It is now 37 years since Ariane Daguin opened her delicatessen “D’Artagnan” in New York City. Meeting with this Gersoise who knew how to impose the foie gras in the land of the hamburger.
What does the Gers represent for you?
I am a native of here, I am Auscitaine and I grew up here. I have my roots here and I have kept my accent well. When I was 18, I left as an au pair in the United States with the goal of becoming a journalist. It was expensive so I worked in the summer to pay for my studies in a delicatessen, the first in the country, “The three little pigs”. I stayed there for five years until the moment when two young Israelis came with the aim of marketing foie gras.
When did you start your business?
My bosses were not interested in the two men’s proposal and so I decided to start creating my company. I wanted to market quality products with the best ingredients possible. The company now has nearly 300 employees. 50% of sales go to restaurant chefs, 25% to stores and 25% to e-commerce, which is growing a lot.
How is the market doing right now in the United States?
We were fortunate not to lay off any employees. Recently, the country passed the country’s restructuring budget, which will help businesses even more. Today, things are off to a good start and that’s good. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
Do you have plans for the future?
I always want to try lots of new things. Initially, we only sold fatty duck, then we have diversified with today poultry or game, always of high quality. More recently, with my daughter Alix, we embarked on a new project: an educational farm of seven hectares. We cultivate a lot of products there and always livestock. We have also set up a small store that sells ready-made meals and canned goods with farm produce. We are also trying truffle oaks, we will see in two years for the results.
What does the Lectoure Melon Festival represent for you?
My father was inducted in 1971 and I know Lectoure melon well, I am delighted to participate in this 2021 edition.
Melon festival
This Friday August 13 is the traditional Lectoure melon festival. On the program, music, meals for associations or even inductions. To end the evening, dance ball then fireworks at 11 p.m.
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