The RAVI in the Pays de Montbéliard

The RAVI in the Pays de Montbéliard

« Above all, make sure that there is no hunger in the country ».
This is how Robert Peugeot expresses his concern to feed the employees (and their families) during the First World War. From the distribution of food by truck to the birth of “RAVI” (short for refueling), discover the history of the creation of these “Peugeot” food stores.

During the First World War, the State asked French industrialists to participate in the war effort, to provide arms and military equipment. Peugeot received its first order for 75 shells in October 1914. The first shells were manufactured by bar turning to meet the production rates required by the army. Then comes the time of manufacturing by stamping. Ernest Mattern will allow the company to reorganize its way of working. Where some speak of Taylorism, Robert Peugeot prefers to speak of a new organization of factories and work. Disqualified workers carry out simple operations where force no longer comes into play.

Life seems to be getting back to normal, except for the absence of middle-aged men at the front. The return of skilled workers remains anecdotal. The proximity of Montbéliard to the front created food supply difficulties, but the countryside was close. More seriously, the advance of the Prussian troops cut off access to raw materials from the North and East: this shortage slowed down production. The only concession: the trucks whose production is exploding. Sochaux manufactures more than 6,000 trucks during the conflict. Its workforce increased from 430 employees in 1914 to 1850 at the end of the war.

At the same time, and for fear of being cut off from France by the enemy advance, the state granted industrialists in the Montbéliard region the right to coin money so as not to interrupt the flow of money and allow the inhabitants to refuel. Before leaving for the front, Robert Peugeot asked to “make sure that we are not hungry in the country“. Then appeared the refueling service of the Peugeot establishments, first of all with the establishment of a distribution of essential foodstuffs by truck then very quickly appeared the famous “Ravi”, food stores which lasted until the beginning of the 1980s in the Pays de Montbéliard.