Our history

More Than a Human Adventure — DERICHEBOURG Multiservices Is a Family Story Serving People and the Environment for Three Generations

  • 1950: A Pioneering Spirit in the Service of the Environment
    • Early 1950s – The DERICHEBOURG adventure was just beginning…
      Guy Derichebourg, a former mechanic turned self-employed, drove around the Paris region in his small van. His job? Scrap dealer. Working alone, he offered his services to individuals, clearing out their basements and collecting scrap metal.
       
    • October 13, 1956 – Organizing Metal Collection
      Creation of the Compagnie Française des Ferrailles (C.F.F.) by Jean Dufayet and Marcel Robert (managers of the metallurgical recovery company Dufayet Robert), André Tapiau (owner of several recovery companies in the Paris region and a hunting pellet factory in Toulouse), and André and Jacques Ribier (managers of the Société métallurgique des Docks de Saint-Ouen).
  • 1960: The Recycling Market Takes Shape and Expands
    • April 23, 1963 – C.F.F. is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
       
    • July 27, 1966 – Shredding Technology: A Major Innovation
      The French Minister of Industry, Raymond Marcellin, inaugurates in Athis-Mons the first operational shredder in France, and one of the very first in Europe (capacity: 500 vehicles/day). This technology becomes a cornerstone of C.F.F.’s growth, reinforced in November 1969 by the commissioning of a second shredder in Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, near Lyon.
       
    • 1969 – Expanding from Individuals to Businesses
      Now a small family business with the involvement of Daniel Derichebourg (Guy’s son), the company enters a booming market: business waste recovery.
  • 1970: Winning Strategy and International Expansion
    • 1970 – Creation of Penauille Polyservices, a business services group that would one day merge with C.F.F., sharing the same service-oriented vision.
       
    • 1976 – Birth of a Leader
      Merger of Novafer and C.F.F. to enhance performance.
       
    • 1979 – International Development
      C.F.F. strengthens its industrial position in France and expands to the United States by acquiring a shredder in Oklahoma City.
  • 1980: Key Developments for the Group
    • 1982 – Preparing for the Future
      Acquisition of Sicaworms from Creusot-Loire and a second shredder in Houston, Texas.
       
    • 1983 – Overcoming the Crisis
      C.F.F. restructures its scrap operations into five major regional subsidiaries to be closer to waste production areas.
       
    • 1987 – A Pivotal Acquisition
      Purchase of Métalinor from Usinor-Sacilor, doubling C.F.F.’s turnover and expanding its shredder network.
  • 1990: A Global Leadership Position
    • 1991 – International Expansion
      Development of large-scale exports to India, Turkey, Egypt, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
       
    • 1993 – Pioneer of the Circular Economy
      C.F.F. plays a key role in the national agreement for end-of-life vehicle processing, creating Eco-Vhu to collect and depollute vehicles before shredding.
       
    • 1994 – DERICHEBOURG Acquired by Waste Management (USA)
      Daniel Derichebourg becomes a board member and investor in its U.S. subsidiary, later investing in C.F.F. at its request.
       
    • 1996 – Strategic Reorientation
      Becoming majority shareholder, Daniel Derichebourg launches a major restructuring plan.
  • 2000: A Turning Point in the Group’s History
    • 2000 – C.F.F. Becomes CFF Recycling
      The group establishes itself as an international environmental leader, active in recycling, waste recovery, urban cleaning, and industrial waste management.
       
    • 2005 – Rapid Growth
      CFF Recycling and Penauille Polyservices announce their merger project, creating a major player in industrial services.
       
    • July 18, 2007 – Birth of the DERICHEBOURG Group
      Fusion of CFF Recycling and Penauille Polyservices under the leadership of Daniel Derichebourg. The group now operates two main divisions: DERICHEBOURG Environnement and DERICHEBOURG Multiservices, with activities in cleaning, security, electrical and HVAC engineering, aerospace subcontracting, and staffing. Boris Derichebourg becomes President of DERICHEBOURG Multiservices.
  • 2010: Steady Growth for DERICHEBOURG Multiservices
    • 2014 – New Activities
      DERICHEBOURG Énergie EP is created, offering maintenance and public lighting management solutions.
       
    • September 7, 2015 – Continued European Growth in Portugal
      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices strengthens its presence in Portugal with the acquisition of SAFIRA. Founded in 2000, SAFIRA is a major player in the cleaning services market. With 5,000 employees and a turnover exceeding €30 million in 2014, SAFIRA is one of Portugal’s leading cleaning service operators. This acquisition reinforces DERICHEBOURG Multiservices’ presence in Portugal and across Europe, ensuring closer service to clients.
       
    • June 2, 2016 – Another Acquisition in the Cleaning Sector
      Through its subsidiary DERICHEBOURG Propreté, the group acquires Groupe Alter Services, a cleaning and associated services company with €17 million in revenue and around 1,000 employees.
       
    • September 2017 – Payroll Giving Introduced for Employees
      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices launches a simple and effective initiative enabling employees to support a charity through micro-donations (from €0.50 to €5) deducted from their salary. The company matches each donation, doubling its impact.
       
    • 2018 – New Ambitions
      Launch of DERICHEBOURG FM, a new subsidiary dedicated to facility management, and reinforcement of DERICHEBOURG Propreté through several acquisitions. Simultaneously, the aeronautics division opens offices in Shanghai and acquires the U.S. company AUSGAEL, becoming a global, recognized player in aerospace subcontracting.
       
    • 2019 – Further Growth in the Iberian Market
      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices acquires Gruponet, a Spanish cleaning company with €30 million in revenue and nearly 4,000 employees.
  • 2020: Entering a New Dimension
    • January 2020 – New Headquarters
      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices moves into the Derichebourg Tower in Créteil. Several subsidiaries also relocate there. Across the regions, “DERICHEBOURG Houses” are established to bring multiple activities under one roof.
       
    • April 2020 – Launch of the DERICHEBOURG Academy
      The DERICHEBOURG Academy enables employees to improve their skills, learn, discover, and develop professionally.
       
    • February 2021 – Creation of DERICHEBOURG Facility and DERICHEBOURG Aeronautics
      DERICHEBOURG Facility now groups together facility management, cleaning, reception, remote surveillance, and logistics activities.
      The aeronautics subsidiaries are renamed and unified under the DERICHEBOURG Aeronautics division.
       
    • April 7, 2021 – Launch of an Innovative Employment Initiative
      In partnership with Korian, DERICHEBOURG Multiservices launches the “Career Transition Pathways” program, allowing service sector employees to retrain as care assistants.
       
    • May 2, 2022 – Acquisition of Ylipson
      DERICHEBOURG Aeronautics Services acquires Ylipson, strengthening its presence in Germany. This acquisition brings complementary expertise to position the company as a key partner to Airbus.
       

    • March 6, 2023 – Strategic Agreement Signed
      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices signs an agreement for its acquisition by Elior Group, creating a new international leader in contract catering and multiservices with around 134,000 employees.
      As part of the transaction, DERICHEBOURG SA acquires a 48.8% stake in Elior Group.

      Daniel Derichebourg is appointed Chairman and CEO of the new group, and Boris Derichebourg becomes Group Chief Operating Officer.

      DERICHEBOURG Multiservices becomes the multiservices division of Elior Group, integrating all service activities.