The Legacy of Tarrerias-Bonjean:
For over 5 generations, Tarrerias-Bonjean has preserved the tradition and know-how of fine cutlery in Thiers, France. We are proud of our heritage as a supplier of excellence. Our commitment to quality, technicality and robustness reflects our passion for products designed to accompany you in all your culinary adventures.
Discover our range of cutlery, developed with the highest standards to offer you quality, innovation and confidence, wherever you are and whatever the circumstances.
This is a postcard titled
"Picturesque Thiers: The Cutlers"
(estimated date 1919)
At that time, professional photographers crossed France to take photographs of traditional trades, towns and villages, tourist sites to make postcards (main travel souvenirs at the time), it is the oldest visual testimony that we have of our history. This photo was taken in 1919 in our workshop (which we called a "spinning wheel") in the village of Moulin Neuf, on the banks of the river La Durolle (which can be seen under the trees in front of the windows) The "master grinders", lying on boards, carry out the grinding operation by hand, that is to say the beveling (in a "V") of the blades by friction on large stone millstones, using the strength of their arms, using the weight of their upper body. The millstones are driven by the driving energy of the river water.
We can see a small dog lying on the legs of a knife grinder to warm his master. The central character, seated, is Joseph TARRERIAS (8th generation of cutler) and in the door frame in the background: his wife, also a cutler. We can see a young girl of 11 years old, blurred, in the very foreground who was doing manual polishing (a gentler operation to shine the blades). This is Marie BONJEAN (daughter of 11 generations of cutlers). She married Lucien TARRERIAS (son of Joseph) in 1926 and worked with him. They both founded the company TARRERIAS-BONJEAN (TB), thus combining their two family names... forever. Their son Georges TARRERIAS married Andree BOUTERIGE in 1965, they worked together. Their children, Carole and Eric TARRERIAS, are the current directors of the company... and the 11th generation of cutlers.
1580
Claude Tarrerias, the first member of the Tarrerias lineage to be listed as a cutler, begins his illustrious career. His son, Jean, will perpetuate the cutlery tradition.
1648
The family is dedicated to the art and mastery of cutlery, and the departmental archives record the mention of Claude Tarrerias who became a master grinder in Celles-sur-Durolle. Since then, successive generations of the Tarrerias family have nourished and preserved the ancient tradition of cutlery.
In the marriage contract of Jean Tarrerias (son of Claude Tarrerias) dating from 1646, mention is made of his activity as a cutler.
1962
Victor Lucien Tarrerias, the ninth generation of cutlers, created the Tarrerias Bonjean cutlery company with his wife Marie Bonjean, thus bringing an industrial dimension to knife manufacturing.
1989
The future is assured. In 1989, Eric Tarrerias joined the family business, while his sister, Carole Tarrerias, joined them a few years later as well as her husband Stéphane Guillaumont.
1998
The era of industrial independence. By integrating the entire knife manufacturing process within the company, from the steel coil to the polishing of the finished product, Tarrerias Bonjean takes on the challenge of creating a knife in which all the stages are carried out in a single place.
2001
The subsidiary of Tarrerias Bonjean, the Générale de Découpage company, managed by Stéphane Guillaumont, has obtained the prestigious EPV (Living Heritage Company) label, a mark of recognition from the State distinguishing French companies with excellent artisanal and industrial know-how.
2007
Tarrerias Bonjean becomes the first French cutlery company to obtain ISO 9001 version 2000 certification. This standard establishes requirements for the implementation of a quality management system aimed at continually improving customer satisfaction and providing compliant products and services.
2016
Faced with the company's uninterrupted growth, the managers, Carole and Eric Tarrerias, were forced to move. They left the historic "Brûlé" site in Celles-sur-Durolle to move to a new building in Pommier Chansonnière in La Monnerie-le-Montel. With its 1,300 m² of offices and 4,700 m² of storage space, this move was also an opportunity to introduce automated order preparation technology (PTS).
2022
The Tarrerias Bonjean company continues its expansion, marked in 2022 by the inauguration of a new warehouse, an extension of the building built in 2016. This development is part of the company's ecological transition, symbolized by the installation of solar panels on the roof of the new warehouse.
Tarrerias Bonjean, in the circle of the Henokiens
We have the great honour of announcing that Tarrerias Bonjean has joined the prestigious circle of Henokiens, an association bringing together family businesses whose history goes back more than two centuries. Founded in 1981, this international association is distinguished by its high standards: only family businesses that are run by the descendants of the founders and that continue to operate from their original headquarters can join. This exclusivity makes it a very restricted club, where sustainability and family transmission occupy a primordial place.
Tarrerias Bonjean: a story that spans the ages
Founded in 1580 by Claude Tarrerias, a master knife grinder in the Thiers region, Tarrerias Bonjean has embodied the passion for cutlery since its beginnings. Thirteen generations of master knife makers have succeeded one another to make this company what it is today: a key player in French cutlery, combining tradition and innovation. The family heritage, carefully passed down to each generation, bears witness to the perseverance and passion for this profession, written into the very DNA of the company.
The company has evolved over the centuries, mastering every step of knife manufacturing. After the Second World War, Lucien Tarrerias and his wife Marie Bonjean propelled the company to an industrial dimension, making Tarrerias Bonjean a reference in the field. Since 1998, our company has taken on the challenge of maintaining an entirely French production, proudly embodying the know-how of "made in France".
A commitment to the future
Today led by the 13th generation, represented by Eric and Carole Tarrerias, Tarrerias Bonjean continues to innovate, as evidenced by the creation of Evercut® technology, which revolutionizes blade durability. At every stage of our development, we focus on continuous improvement, creativity and respect for the environment, with a view to sustainability and performance.
With our entry into the circle of Henokiens, we celebrate more than 440 years of history, an uninterrupted cutlery tradition and a future that we continue to build with passion and determination.
Tarrerias Bonjean is more than a company, it is a family history that continues, exceptional know-how, and today, a pride to be a member of the Hénokiens.
A prestigious recognition
The Henokiens symbolize excellence and longevity in the business world. Being part of this association demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the family heritage and the ability to span the centuries while innovating. Tarrerias Bonjean, by joining this association, shows that its values of excellence, transmission and innovation are recognized internationally. It is a tribute to our longevity and our know-how passed down from generation to generation for more than four centuries.