Hygie31 Group, a leading player in the healthcare sector, is proud to announce that its CEO, Herven Jouves, was honoured with the prestigious BFM Award for Entrepreneur of the Year during a ceremony that took place in the Grand Palais, in Paris, on 13 January. An incredible evening that brought together over 800 decision-makers from France's leading companies and unicorns. For the last 20 years, this prize has highlighted the success and renown of French companies. Herven Jouves was chosen to receive this award among 9 players who had left their mark on the French economy in 2024.
A committed, visionary entrepreneur
Herven Jouves, a graduate of INSEEC Bordeaux Business School, spent most of his career working for retail chains (Darty, Conforama, Delbard and Virgin Megastore). In 2012, he was appointed Managing Director of Laf Santé where he drew on his expertise to structure the group and develop a business model that was totally one of a kind in the healthcare sector. As such, Herven Jouves turned the network of 30 Pharmacie Lafayette pharmacies into an incomparable Healthcare ecosystem. In 2021, he founded Hygie31, with the ambition of becoming one of Europe's Healthcare leaders. The Group's rapid development is driven by its 8 subsidiaries, which mutually benefit each other and contribute to the Group's development, as well as by its ability to invest in tomorrow, in particular in AI and logistics. With combined turnover of 3.3 billion euro in 2024, 7 acquisitions in 3 years, bringing the Group to 1,400 pharmacies across Europe, 15,000 networked pharmacy employees and 500 corporate employees, the Toulouse-based company has become a pivotal healthcare sector player in France and in Europe.
«I created Hygie31, an incomparable Healthcare ecosystem where our subsidiaries mutually benefit each other and contribute to the Group's development, for the benefit of our members. My firm belief is that tomorrow, pharmacists will be local Doctors so that healthcare is accessible everywhere, for everyone, all the time ».
Herven Jouves, Hygie31 CEO
A prize that rewards a career based on a really firm belief
Since he arrived at the helm of Laf Santé in 2012, Herven Jouves, a man of conviction, was driven by a great desire to change the Healthcare market. With this in mind, he invented pharmacy retail in 2012 and created France's favourite socially-committed chain, around a unique concept "low prices / great choice / personalized advice": Pharmacie Lafayette. A disruptive model and an innovative concept now embraced by the whole profession. This trailblazer then went on to turn the chain into a service-focused model, 5 years before the emergence of Covid. Since the pandemic, pharmacists have become key players in the French healthcare system and have taken on an increasing number of healthcare tasks that benefit the general public. The creation of Hygie31 in 2021 enabled him to take his vision even further. By anticipating changes in the market, which has become more concentrated and vertical, Herven Jouves created a Healthcare ecosystem with an incomparable model for patientss, with a straightforward ambition: to become one of Europe's Healthcare leaders. The Group's business focuses on 3 pillars: a Group chain model "Healthcare for everyone", which can be rolled out internationally, regional networks of local pharmacies, and digital business already implemented in 7 countries. In 2024, Hygie31 confirmed its ability to invest in the future of European Healthcare and contributed to its transformation via structuring investments in artificial intelligence and the introduction of a groundbreaking logistics solution. 2025 promises to be the year for ramping up with new acquisitions, the ambition of representing 2,000 pharmacies, i.e. 10% of the market, and exciting projects in the pipe for France and Europe.
A prize to centre stage the success and renown of French companies
The BFM Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, organized for the 20th year running by BFM Group, is an event created to honour a business leader who left their mark on the French economy in 2024, along with 8 other players who impacted the economy in their respective fields. This event is a must for players in the French economy. Herven Jouves, just like the nineteen winners who came before him, are symbols of success and inspiring role models for tomorrow's generations of entrepreneurs.
