Olibet cookies, an industrial adventure: the historical and gourmet exhibition at MUS

The Musée d'Histoire Urbaine et Sociale in Suresnes tells us about a time that people under 90 can't possibly know... Which leaves very few people. Fortunately, the MUS has organized this exhibition to remind us of the history of Biscuits Olibet! The cookie company was one of the first to set up in the Hauts-de-Seine commune around 1880. With its old-fashioned iconography featuring children, the family business is well known in the region.

For those who have never heard of it, and for those who want to recall childhood memories, the Musée de Suresnes invites you to join us from July 10 to September 21, 2025, to discover the exhibition De Talence à Suresnes.Olibet cookies, an industrial adventure.

In 1844, in Talence, near Bordeaux, Jean-Honoré Olibet decided to make and sell artisanal and fancy cookies, appealing to both the humble and the bourgeois in the South of France. This small business soon expanded, and several cookie factories were opened in France. The town of Suresnes welcomed one of these factories in 1879. A godsend for this town in the throes of economic development.

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In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Biscuits Olibet competed with Biscuiterie Nantaise (BN) and Lefèvre-Utile (LU). To stand out from the crowd, Olibet relied not only on its recipes, but also on its brandimagery: advertisements, posters and cookie tins all featured a highly recognizable decorative style.

TheMUS exhibition, produced in partnership with the city of Talence, and thanks to loans from the Olibet family's descendant, unveils numerous collector's items, telling the story of the brand and Suresnes' industrial past.

You'll admire rare objects, posters, boxes, advertisements, postcards and even a genuine antique cookie! The tour plunges us into an old-fashioned, graphic universe, full of memories. Visitors plunge into this gourmet and aesthetic universe, encountering a small piece of Suresnois and French heritage.

A lovely exhibition for the whole family to enjoy, sharing history between generations.