11-02-2026 09:51    Vincent

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Enjoying a good slice of FQC

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit Moulins Bodson, a supplier for the Carrefour Quality Program (Filière Qualité Carrefour - FQC). It was a chance to discover the range of sourdough breads offered by Carrefour, but also to see where the flours that feed this program come from.

Land and generations connected

We were welcomed by Claude Bodson, who shared the rich history of the company: the mills have existed since 1810, he is the seventh generation running the business, and the eighth generation is already preparing to take over.
Moulins Bodson operates completely independently, and as Claude says, their clients are primarily the farmers. Since 1999, the company has aimed to highlight the terroir, particularly that of the Dry Hesbaye, a region known for its excellent farmland.
A wide variety of crops are grown there: wheat, fodder barley, beets, chicory, vegetables, rapeseed, flax… The climate conditions are particularly favorable. Since 1999, the goal has been to produce higher-quality, more flavorful grain, through responsible cultivation, attentive care of the plants, and residue-free production.

Seven sourdough breads

With Carrefour, Moulins Bodson provides a natural, tasty, protein-rich flour, processed on a human scale. There are no blends, additives, bleaching agents, or improvers. The flour is then sent to La Lorraine, which uses it to prepare the sourdough, the mixture of flour and water fermented to act as a natural starter for the bread dough.
The artisan division of La Lorraine then handles kneading, resting times, and baking to create the range of seven sourdough breads found in Carrefour’s bakery sections:

• White pavé
• Grey pavé
• Whole wheat boule
• Light multigrain boule
• Dark multigrain boule
• Spelt-sesame bread
• Nut-raisin bread

The bread range has been designed down to the smallest detail: shape, crumb, and weight have been carefully chosen. La Lorraine prepares the breads, which are delivered ready to bake in stores. The bread you find in this section is therefore truly fresh bread, not industrial.

My 20/CENT

For information, the Carrefour Quality Program includes over 300 products, including around 70 Belgian lines out of about a hundred in total. It would probably deserve a podcast all on its own! But let’s focus on this bread range.
Bread remains a true attraction. Working with natural bread made from local, healthy ingredients is real added value for a retailer. On the ground, you see how simplicity can go hand in hand with quality: a sustainable and responsible producer, an artisan processor, and that’s it. Contrary to popular belief, this is not industrial bread disguised as artisan.
And why is sourdough interesting? Sourdough bread clearly stands out from yeast breads: you taste the terroir, it provides greater satiety, and delivers true flavor satisfaction.
In the end, the Carrefour Quality Program demonstrates that it is possible for a retailer to offer natural, local, and tasty ranges on a larger scale, while remaining human-sized and artisanal.