Jérôme François Awarded

Classic Oak Products would like to extend our congratulations to Jérôme François, CEO of TFF Group, for receiving the rank of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour. 

Being the highest order of merit in France, this is no small feat. The medal was presented to him as a professional and personal recognition of his work within France’s flagship cooperage industry. 

Jérôme François has contributed to the TFF Group for more than 30 years – the world’s leader in wood products for the ageing of wines and spirits. Classic Oak Products is part of the TFF Group, supplying the Australian and New Zealand wine industries with barrels made in some of the most prestigious cooperages, in the world’s great wine regions. 

Joining the TFF Group in 1989, Jérôme François became Chairman of the Management Board in 2003, where he led the TFF Group’s strategy of acquisition and complementary business creation. Remaining considered, prudent, and respectful, he sought ways to adapt to each market, which includes Europe, North America, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. This enabled organic and external growth on the five continents where the Group carries out four complementary activities: stave-milling, cooperage, vat manufacturing and the production of wood products for oenology.

In 1991, he created a research centre in close association with the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology. A first in the world of coopering.

As he was awarded the medal, Jérôme François said:

‘I am very honoured to receive the prestigious medal that I wish to dedicate first of all to my parents who were the linchpin and third generation of the construction of TFF Group, but also to all our teams.

It is they who are responsible for our success and for our international reach. And it is with them that I share the same passion: allowing our customers around the world to make the most of their harvests thanks to high-end, innovative and environmentally friendly ageing containers, manufactured in the noblest tradition of French know-how.”

We are proud to be a part of the TFF Group success story, and commend Jérôme for all of his contributions to the industry.

Peter Dunlop, Hamish Black, and the Classic Oak Products Team.