Merchant ships under sail: Grain de Sail

Coffee, chocolate and… Grain De Sail sails!

Grain de Sail is a French food company based in Morlaix. The project was conceived and implemented in 2012 by François Liron with financial support from Olivier Barraud, an offshore wind energy entrepreneur. 

The most interesting aspect is that the company produces chocolate and roasts coffee beans. Grain de Sail chose sailing ships as its primary means of shipping its goods to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sailing in the merchant navy.

Grain de Sail II

In 2020, the company commissioned its first 24-meter cargo ship, Grain de Sail, which began operating transatlantic voyages. The next step was the construction of a second vessel, the 52-meter Grain de Sail II. Its operations are scheduled to begin in 2024.

Expanding borders and new fleet vessels

And now, Grain de Sail, a pioneer in the field of sailing cargo transportation, has recently announced a new shareholder expansion—its second since 2025. The company is attracting a group of investors to support the rapid growth of its businesses. The investment is "several million euros," which are planned to be used for the construction of a new factory in Dunkirk and the launch of a giant sailing vessel.

Following the successful commissioning of the cargo sailing vessels Grain de Sail I and Grain de Sail II, the company continues to grow. Grain de Sail has officially announced a capital increase, with funds coming from a group of investors from Brittany. This was stated in a published statement:

"Grain de Sail has proven the viability of its unique business model, which combines food production (chocolate, coffee roasting, rum distillation) with carbon-neutral maritime logistics – the company acts as both a shipowner and a supplier. 

Grain de Sail II

Over the past few years, Grain de Sail has cultivated a powerful brand based on the idea of decarbonizing maritime transport, allowing it to establish a leading position in major organic chocolate and coffee chains. Maintaining annual growth of over 20%, the group is strengthening its position to finance further development, preparations for the construction of a new plant in Dunkirk, and the commissioning of new sailing cargo vessels over 100 meters in length.

The second factory

Both projects—the construction of a new vessel and a new factory—are expected to become a reality thanks to the second investment campaign (the first took place in 2021). 

"The Morlaix-based group intends to build another food processing facility in Dunkirk—a site has already been secured, and a building permit has been submitted and approved," the statement reads. The site will house a "multifunctional" building, which will house chocolate and coffee production lines, offices, a shop, and a tour area. The complex will be within walking distance of the center of Dunkirk. Completion is expected by the end of 2027. The new factory will operate alongside the existing production facility in Morlaix, which opened in 2021.

And the third cargo sailboat

The second important announcement (or rather, confirmation of previously outlined plans) is the start of construction of a wind-powered cargo vessel over one hundred meters long, designed to carry over two hundred containers. 

Grain de Sail III Concept

This sailing ship will be a project on a completely different scale than the company's previous vessels: 110 meters long and with a sail area of approximately 4,000 square meters, Grain de Sail III is intended to be "the world's largest container ship under sail." 

The vessel's power system is designed to be completely autonomous and environmentally friendly: it will incorporate Grain de Sail's proprietary energy production technologies, as well as a pellet boiler providing heating and hot water for the crew. 

Grain de Sail III Concept

The design includes retractable centerboards, which improve performance in headwinds and reduce draft when approaching a berth. All these features make the Grain de Sail III a flagship of green maritime logistics and an example of what sustainable transport can look like in the future.

New video on Interparus channel

The new flagship Dufour 54 yacht is now available for review—and not just any review! A full-scale test drive in real-world conditions is already on our channel. Enjoy!

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20.11.2025