About Brittany Ferries

Since its formation, in 1972, largely in order to transport cauliflowers and artichokes from Roscoff to Plymouth, Brittany Ferries has grown into the leading maritime carrier on the Western and Central Channel.

When Great Britain joined the Common Market, the local farming co-operatives joined with the North Finistère Chamber of Commerce to form Brittany Ferries. It was recognised at the time that the UK represented a huge market for both the strong Breton farming community and Brittany as a tourist destination. In other words, Brittany Ferries could ship fresh produce north and bring tourists south.

Thirty years later the French farming co-operatives remain majority shareholders. Indeed, the split between the various categories - pension funds, banks, individuals and so on - has changed remarkably little since day one, as has another feature of Brittany Ferries' ownership - the French State has no financial stake.

In 1978, less than 10 years after it had started, this fast-developing ferry company took the brave step of starting services to Santander in Northern Spain, at the same time entering the Irish market with the Cork-Roscoff route. Both have grown steadily and continue to do so today.

As Brittany Ferries has matured, so has its significance to tourism in Western France and Northern Spain, with its influence reaching far beyond simply Brittany and Normandy. Not only is it a ferry operator, but it acts as a tour operator as well, supplying a vast range of self-drive holidays throughout France, Spain and, to a lesser extent, Portugal.

Today, Brittany Ferries operates one of the most modern fleets on the Channel and it accounts for over 50% of the traffic on the Western Channel.

Contact

Brittany Ferries, Millbay, Plymouth, PL1 3EW.

Registered in England No: 1080495