Founded in 2010 by Franck Lavarde, LMK Energy (an acronym of Lavarde and the names of the founder’s daughters, Mandy and Kelly) has always been focused on innovation. Their ambition: to develop a wood chip torrefaction process to produce a fuel capable of replacing coal in the industry. “My father wanted to offer a credible alternative to coal, both efficient and environmentally friendly,” explains Mandy Gadenne, who now leads the company with her sister and her husband, Etienne.
However, the beginnings were challenging. The industrial unit, developed with a technological partner, did not function as expected and technical incidents weakened the entire project. “We experienced fires, production stoppages—it was extremely challenging both personally and financially since my father had invested a large part of his own funds.”
The arrival of a large industrial group brought hope to the entrepreneur, and for over a year, the teams worked on improving the process. “We were on the verge of achieving something very promising,” she recalls, “but the abrupt withdrawal of our partner was a real blow! We had to fight to recover our assets and patents and start almost from scratch.”
A strategic turning point Faced with these obstacles, LMK made a strategic turn in 2013 by shifting towards the production of densified logs to generate revenue quickly. “We had no choice; we had to find a solution to keep the company alive and preserve jobs,” continues Mandy Gadenne. “The beginnings were not easy because it was a product with a bad reputation; many thought there was glue, that it did not heat properly—we had to do a lot of education, explain that it was a 100% natural product and more efficient than traditional wood.”
The company from the North initially started with direct sales and gradually opened up to large-scale distribution. “We built our network step by step, establishing a relationship of trust with our partners. It started with Gamm Vert, then with retailers like Intermarché, Leclerc, Leroy Merlin, Bricomarché, and Jardiland, while still maintaining sales to individuals.” This dynamic allowed them to expand rapidly and broaden their range to meet the expectations of distributors. “We understood that we had to offer a complete range to exist in this market,” she emphasizes. “Today, we can meet all the needs for wood fuels.”
LMK Energy has equipped itself with a unit for packaging pellets and a large storage space to secure supplies. “The market is very volatile, especially for pellets, so it is essential for us to anticipate and ensure product availability.”
60,000 tons of fuels per year Today, LMK Energy is a solid SME, employing about twenty employees and distributing approximately 60,000 tons of fuels each year. “By innovating and investing, we have managed to transform a critical situation into a sustainable economic model.” LMK has also developed its own logistics fleet to gain speed and flexibility and “ensure service quality,” says Mandy Gadenne. “Our trucks are equipped with breathalyzers to ensure the reliability of deliveries and the safety of drivers, a rare measure in the industry.”
This allows them to envision the future with serenity, without giving up their initial ambition. “The torrefaction process is mastered but still requires investments that we cannot afford alone. The technology has great industrial potential, so we need to find partners to relaunch this project and close the loop.”
