Nicolas Paul began his career as a production engineer in the United States. He later joined the Kearney consulting firm, where he led around fifteen growth and transformation strategy missions in various industrial sectors. Seeking a more operational role, he joined the Yum! Group, where he successfully oversaw KFC operations at the regional level, covering 60 sites and 3,000 employees. As Director of Development, he spearheaded the expansion of the KFC brand throughout France, overseeing up to 30 new openings annually. Despite promising prospects, Nicolas made the decision to leave his salaried position to focus on his entrepreneurial project: the acquisition of an SME.
Nicolas holds degrees from Arts & Métiers and ESSEC.
Founded in 1992, Groupe Thomas Plants is one of the leading producers of vegetable seedlings. With a turnover of nearly €16 million at the time of acquisition, the Group annually delivers over 200 million seedlings to more than 1,000 customers. Leveraging recognized expertise, advanced mechanization, and regular investments in its two production sites in Ploubazlanec (Brittany) and Tarascon (Provence), the Group has maintained an average growth rate of over 10% for several years.
This growth also benefits from an early positioning in the organic product market, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the production.
The two founders, both in their sixties, wished to carry out a capital and managerial transfer while preserving the independence of their Group. It was essential for them to find a partner capable of ensuring their succession in the operational management of the Group and financially supporting an ambitious development plan while respecting the expertise and local roots of Thomas Plants.
Both of them remain significant shareholders in the company, while several longstanding managers from the Group join the ownership alongside Nicolas Paul.