Cognac Grande Fine Champagne 1865 - Réserve de Jean Halley

Jean Halley

Jean-Nicolas Halley (1872-1932), or simply "Jean", was one of the earliest French industry captains. In 1900, he bought the Cherbourg-based wholesale company "Les Entrepositaires", where he had previously worked for a few years. He then specialized in selling wines and spirits. In doing so, this Cognac enthusiast managed to multiply his sales revenues and hired dozens of people. Five years later, he married Thérèse Le Cacheux, who gave him two children: Jean and Paul-Auguste. The brothers inherited the company when their father died.

Jean and Paul-Auguste took care of "Les Entrepositaires", which stayed open even during World War II. In 1941, Paul-Auguste left Cherbourg for Lisieux, in the Calvados department. There, he opened his own wholesale business, while Jean-Louis stayed in the family's hometown to manage his father's store. Paul-Auguste married Marthe Brard and together they had two boys, named Paul-Louis and Robert. In 1961, father and sons created the Promodès supermarket group together. Their very first store opened in 1962. Seven years later, they launched the Champion brand, as well as the hypermarkets Continent in 1972.

Jean, the son of Paul-Auguste, was the manager of the first Continent hypermarket. Later, he was promoted to director of Prodis (a branch specialized in wine) and Prodim (the local stores branch). In 1999, Promodès merged with the Carrefour group, giving birth to a new giant of mass retail (the second largest retail group in the world, right after Wal-Mart). Jean became one of the first shareholders of Carrefour during the merger. Later, he bought three wine estates in Fronsac, in 2000, which he then entrusted to his son Guillaume.

As you can see, Jean-Nicolas Halley was the patriarch of a very successful family, whose work gave us one of the biggest supermarket chains in the country. Very famous for his original store in the Manche department, he was also a shrewd connoisseur of fine wines and spirits, which he collected. Discover one of this great man's personal little treasures: the Cognac 1865, "Grande Fine Champagne" appellation.