NAC Inc.

STORY

From a Thousand-Year-Old Salt Marsh

On the Atlantic coast of Brittany, France, lies a salt marsh that has carried on unchanged since the 8th century. Here, 225 paludiers — master salt harvesters — still make salt with nothing but sun and wind.

Panorama of the Guérande salt marshes, lit by a golden sunrise

HISTORY

Across a Thousand Years

The salt marshes of the Guérande peninsula stretch across 2,000 hectares — an area equal to some 430 Tokyo Domes. Recorded since the days of Charlemagne, they are among the oldest salt-making sites in Europe.

8th century — Records of the salt marshes dating to the reign of Charlemagne

9th century — The salt-marsh system used to this day is established

Middle Ages — Prized as "white gold" and exported across Europe

1970s — A younger generation revives the tradition

1988 — Relaunched as an agricultural cooperative

2024 — Inscribed on France's Intangible Cultural Heritage list

PALUDIER

Keepers of the Salt Marsh

Becoming a paludier — a master salt harvester — takes at least three years of training. Reading the wind, managing the water, judging the moment to harvest: all of it comes from experience, instinct, and a deep understanding of nature.

Today the cooperative is made up of 225 paludiers — 16% of them women, with an average age of 46. Each tends 50 to 60 salt pans, passing the craft on to the next generation.

"My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father — they were all salt harvesters."
— Maël Viaud, head of the cooperative

Aerial view of the Guérande salt marshes spreading toward the Atlantic

PROCESS

Made by Sun and Wind Alone

Seawater flows through three stages of basins, slowly concentrating under nothing but sun and wind. It is the ultimate low-impact method — no machinery, no fuel.

Vasière

Settling pond / 25g/L

→

Cobier

Evaporation pond / 150g/L

→

Œillet

Crystallizing pond / 260g/L

The thin layer of crystals that first forms on the surface of the crystallizing pond is "fleur de sel" — the flower of salt. What settles to the bottom is "gros sel," the coarse grey salt. From a single marsh, two salts of entirely different character are born.

Close-up of fleur de sel crystals — white salt glinting on dark slate

NATURE

Working with Nature

The Guérande salt marshes are far more than a place to make salt — they are wetlands that sustain a rich ecosystem. They hold a UNESCO landscape designation and are recognized as a Ramsar wetland and a Natura 2000 site.

A distinctive clay layer called "argile," formed over 300 million years, lines the floor of the marsh — keeping seawater from seeping away while lending the salt its abundant minerals. The grey hue unique to gros sel comes from this very clay.

The Le Guérandais product range — Nature & Progrès certified line

QUALITY

Certifications You Can Trust

Guérande salt's origin, quality, and method are all backed by independent certification. Never washed, never refined, never with additives — from quality marks for consumers to credentials for the trade.

For Consumers

Consumer certifications — quality, origin, organic

2012

PGI / IGP

EU Protected Geographical Indication, guaranteeing the origin and quality of Guérande salt (all products)

1991

Label Rouge

A taste-quality mark — a world first for sea salt. Covers the coarse and fine salts

1989

Nature & Progrès

Stricter than EU organic — salt made with care for both the environment and people

2009 / 2024

Agriculture Biologique

French organic certification. Covers the flavored salts

Trade & Business

Trade & business certifications — safety, region, CSR

—

Produit en Bretagne

Made in Brittany, supporting the regional economy (labeled on all products)

1990

APROSELA

A producers' body that upholds quality standards for traditional, hand-harvested salt

2024

PME+

A sustainability and CSR mark for small and mid-sized businesses

PRODUCTS

Product Lineup

Sun-dried Guérande sea salt, protected by quality certifications including the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI / IGP). Never washed, never refined, never with additives — and with no expiry. Salt is forever.

Fleur de sel de Guérande

Fleur de Sel

The "flower of salt," the first crystals to bloom on the water's surface. Less than 5% of the annual harvest. Delicate, dissolving cleanly on the tongue.

Finishing salt Sashimi & carpaccio Dipping salt for tempura

▼ View details

Minerals (per 100g)

Magnesium	480mg
Calcium	140mg
Iron	2mg
Sodium chloride	91.7%

Sizes

140g (paper tube) / 500g (poly bag) / 1kg (food-service)

From the chef

"A single pinch at the finish, and the dish is complete. That's the power of fleur de sel."

Gros sel de Guérande

Gros Sel (coarse grey salt)

Harvested by hand from the floor of the salt marsh. A natural grey, rich in minerals, with a firm grain. A salt beloved by professional cooks.

Seasoning & cooking Pasta water Salt-crust roasting

▼ View details

Minerals (per 100g)

Magnesium	420mg
Calcium	152mg
Iron	17.5mg
Sodium chloride	88.3%

Sizes

1kg (poly bag) / 5kg (food-service)

From the chef

"Just using it in your pasta water changes the result completely."

Sel fin de Guérande

Sel Fin (fine salt)

Gros sel, carefully ground into a fine, everyday salt. Quick to dissolve and easy to season evenly. The most beloved Guérande salt in Japan.

Everyday use Onigiri Salads & soups

▼ View details

Minerals (per 100g)

Magnesium	435mg
Calcium	160mg
Iron	17.5mg
Sodium chloride	96.6%

Sizes

250g (paper tube with shaker cap) / 500g / 10kg (food-service)

From the chef

"Use it on onigiri and the natural sweetness of the rice comes through beautifully."

Gros sel séché de Guérande

Gros Sel Séché (dried coarse salt)

Gros sel, dried so it can be ground in a mill. Freshly cracked at the table — a single grain of crunch to finish a dish.

Table salt Grind it fresh

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Sizes

75g (glass jar with grinder) / 500g (poly refill bag)

From the chef

"Handy to keep on the table. You can adjust how coarse the grind is, so it suits everyone's taste and every dish."

Sel marin aux herbes

Sel Marin aux Herbes (herb sea salt)

Blended with organic herbs: parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, and tarragon — six in all.

Organic certified Grilling & meunière Pizza & focaccia

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Sizes

125g / 250g (paper tube with plastic cap)

From the chef

"From prep to finish. The fresh European herbs come through, making it an easy salt even for beginners."

Sel marin aux légumes & herbes

Sel Marin aux Légumes & Herbes (vegetable & herb sea salt)

An all-purpose seasoning salt of celery, garlic, onion, leek, and seaweed, with seven organic herbs added. A natural alternative to MSG.

Organic certified Soups & stews Even instant soup

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Sizes

250g (paper tube with plastic cap)

From the chef

"A salt packed with the savor of vegetables and herbs. Great in soups and steamed vegetables, and as an alternative to MSG."

Fleur de Sel à la Vanille

Fleur de Sel à la Vanille (vanilla)

Fleur de sel paired with natural Madagascar vanilla — a sweetly fragrant finishing salt. For desserts, foie gras, and fruit.

Desserts & sweets Foie gras

▼ View details

Sizes

65g (paper tube with cork cap)

From the chef

"Wonderful on desserts, of course — but a surprising match for fish, cream sauces, and naturally sweet vegetables, too. A truly gourmet experience."

Choosing the Right Salt

Fleur de Sel

Finishing, raw dishes, delicate ingredients

For sashimi, carpaccio, tempura dipping salt, the finish on a steak, tomatoes, and fruit. A single pinch at the very end.

Gros Sel

Seasoning, cooking, hearty ingredients

For pasta water (10g per liter), salt-grilled fish and salt-crust roasting, seasoning meat, and salting or pickling vegetables.

Sel Fin

Everyday use, even seasoning

For onigiri, salads, dressings, soups, and simmered dishes. A versatile salt that dissolves easily — the favorite in Japanese homes.

Guérande Salt Catalog

A catalog with full specifications
and usage guides for every product.

📥 Download PDF

COMPANY

A New Chapter for NAC

A working chef takes the helm of NAC, which has brought Guérande salt to Japan since 1997. As the authorized Le Guérandais importer, we step into a new stage.

For 17 years, I stood in the kitchen as a chef.
Guérande salt was, for me,
something I simply could not do without.

Now I carry on NAC, which has delivered this salt
for nearly 30 years, into its next chapter —
bringing you the real value only a chef can recognize.

Kurumi Tadokoro, Representative Director
Working chef / NAC Inc.

Kurumi Tadokoro, Representative Director — in a professional kitchen

1989

NAC Inc. founded
Importing thalassotherapy cosmetics made with Guérande sea salt

1997

April: Japan's salt monopoly law is abolished
Imports of food-grade Guérande salt begin — Japan's first authorized channel

2024

Working chef Kurumi Tadokoro takes over the business
The "new NAC" begins

Now

Driving digital transformation · launching NOIX Seasoning
Toward new possibilities in food

years of direct trade

A direct partnership with the Le Guérandais cooperative. Because we work through the authorized channel, we can issue quality and certificate-of-origin documents on request.

100%

inspected

Every box that arrives from France is opened and inspected one by one. We check for damage or deformation in transit, and any product that fails to meet our standards never reaches the Japanese market. The responsibility of an authorized importer.

months of stock on hand

Regular direct shipments by 40-foot container keep more than three months of stock on hand at all times. Supply stays steady, unaffected by shortages or shipping delays.

Company	NAC Inc. (NEW ASIAN CO., LTD.)
Founded	August 1, 1989
Capital	¥30,000,000
Representative Director	Kurumi Tadokoro
Address	Daishin Kogyo Bldg. 2F, 1356-2 Amagawaoshima-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 379-2154, Japan
Business	Authorized importer and distributor for the Guérande salt producers' cooperative (Le Guérandais) Registered specialized salt seller (Tokyo Customs) / Registered salt wholesaler (Kanto Finance Bureau)
Hours	9:00–17:30 (closed weekends & public holidays)

Guérande Salt,for Japan.

From a Thousand-Year-Old Salt Marsh

HISTORY

Across a Thousand Years

PALUDIER

Keepers of the Salt Marsh

PROCESS

Made by Sun and Wind Alone

NATURE

Working with Nature

QUALITY

Certifications You Can Trust

The Salt Chosen by Gourmets

Product Lineup

Minerals (per 100g)

Sizes

From the chef

Minerals (per 100g)

Sizes

From the chef

Minerals (per 100g)

Sizes

From the chef

Sizes

From the chef

Sizes

From the chef

Sizes

From the chef

Sizes

From the chef

Choosing the Right Salt

Fleur de Sel

Gros Sel

Sel Fin

Guérande Salt Catalog

A New Chapter for NAC

years of direct trade

inspected

months of stock on hand

NOIX Seasoning

Trade & Enquiries

Guérande Salt,
for Japan.