Thibaut Poulain, 5th generation general manager of the Carrière du Boulonnais group, explains his entry into the world of the lumber industry.
After 130 years spent extracting and transforming mineral materials, the Carrières du Boulonnais (CB) group is gradually changing its playing field. Indeed, the family business, which achieves 250 million euros in turnover and employs 800 employees, has just strengthened its activity in wood with the takeover of Cosylva, specialist in Douglas glulam, and James, manufacturer recognized in the construction of buildings for stud farms and the agricultural world. A choice that is not a simple portfolio expansion: the group intends to evolve its model towards activities more in line with environmental issues.
For Thibaut Poulain, representative of the fifth generationwood constitutes a strategic sector in particular because of its capacity to store carbon. He explains to Batirama the reasons for this shift as well as the group’s ambitions for its new subsidiaries.
Thibaut Poulain, here in the photo, is today the general director of the CB Group. He notably led the group’s diversification operations in the wood sector, with the acquisition of Cosylva at the end of 2024, then that of James in 2025. A graduate of INSEAD, he represents the fifth generation of the Poulain family at the head of the group. © CB Group
Jonas Tophoven / Batirama: the Carrières du Boulonnais group has 130 years of history. What is its positioning today and how do you envisage its evolution in the face of environmental issues?
Thibaut Poulain : The origin of band Careers in Boulonnais dates back 130 years, 1896, with the production of marble, which evolved into that of aggregates. Over the generations, the company has refined its material processing know-how by offering technical products, on the one hand for construction, but also refractory products which constitute a notable part of exports. Added to this are mineral powders for industry, construction and the food industry, used in particular in the decarbonization of cement: limestone so finely ground that it partly replaces the cooked limestone from klinker production. We employ 800 people and our turnover is 250 million euros, 25% of which is abroad, including production of refractories in the USA. I represent the 5th generation of a group specializing in material transformation, which wishes to evolve towards more environmentally friendly sectors of activity.
Bo Ranch James riding school, La Chapelle la Reine, in the South-East of Ile de France. © CB Group
J. T / Batirama: why did you opt to cover Cosylva and James?
Thibaut Poulain : We searched, on the wood marketwhich companies could complete our portfolio. Cosylva is a lamellar maker who therefore transforms materials in the wood sector. We seized this opportunity and cover of James came immediately without a direct link. Together, the two entities represent a turnover of €40 million and therefore constitute a substantial division of the group. In the current climate context, we believe that thewood industry has opportunities for developmentin particular because of its carbon storage properties.
Magnificent Barp hall by Cosylva. Delivery 2025, Val de l’Eyre, Gironde. Métaphore architecture agency, BE Cesma, frame Julien Lavoine Charpentiers. © CB Group
J. T / Batirama: the Cosylva and James recoveries date back around six months, how do you analyze their situation?
Thibaut Poulain : THE world of wood is new for us. We are in the learning phase. There is no question for us of changing the functioning of these two entities in their structure, supplies, personnel. We are not coming into this market to teach it to be more profitable, at least initially. It’s mostly about observing and learning.
Cosylva in Bourganeuf in the Creuse, a key player in French Douglas architecture. © CB Group
J. T / Batirama: how did the wood industry welcome you?
Thibaut Poulain : I was personally pleasantly surprised by the good reception given by CB group has benefited in this sector. For their part, the Cosylva and James brands have a very good rating. Cosylva, notably as specialist and initiator of the BLC Douglassupplies an impressive quantity of wood builders and adapts to the demands of architects. We find Cosylva elements everywhere in Francenot only beams with variable or non-variable inertia, but also our famous circular posts. As for James, he is a prestigious player in the stud farm market, also positioned in the agricultural shed market. These are two flagships of French wooden construction in the broad sense, and we are proud to develop them from a French industrial family group, specialized in the transformation of materials.
