In 1996 , during a trip to the island of Madagascar , Brigitte Billardey meets virgin landscapes, authentic offering fruits with forgotten perfumes , to which is added the warmth of the Malagasy people.
"Every year, at the fruit season, since the age of 15 , I continue the family tradition of the jam ritual: wonderful moment of intimacy between my pot, fruits, sugar, all my senses awake. Madagascar was the trigger for an explosion of memories and childhood perfumes found. I put down my suitcases .
In 2005 , Brigitte concocted a Ginger jam for her restorer friends. The latter, conquered, order a small production for their customers. Enthusiastic about this idea, she creates a nice packagingwhere on the label will appear: "Ginger, Powerful aphrodisiac. To consume with moderation " . All the opposite happened.
In 2006 , Brigitte will represent Madagascar at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris . She will be very successful and will return there every year for 6 years.
" The Salon du Chocolat in Paris is a fun place, full of surprises and delicacies: I felt like Alice in Wonderland ."
At the meeting of small Malagasy producers in the four corners of the Big Island , Brigitte discovers the fragrances of vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, peppers and the unique taste of natural fruits. She then innovates the vanilla jelly : extraordinary Madagascar vanilla with a floral and sensual perfume. There follow multiple fruit combinations: spices, honey, rum.
One day , Brigitte became acquainted with the Grand Chocolatier François PRALUS in Madagascar. Between these two epicureans, lovers of Madagascar will be born a great friendship. Under the auspices of François PRALUS, Brigitte's jams will seduce a very large Parisian store of international renown. The construction of a laboratory is essential!
"My jams will travel under the name of " Bernadette de Lavernette " , my dear mother , whom I thank for the transmission of her know-how and her unique secret: a pinch of love in each little pot ".
In 2008 , Brigitte will be selected and invited to Tokyo to attend the 33 th International Exhibition FOODEX . Among the few importers, one of them seduced by the quality of its products signs an exclusive contract.
" This country so distant, so little known, with the dreaded demands , opened to me its doors. What a delicious reward to see my jams appreciated by the Japanese at the palace of a very great sensitivity.
In 2009 , Brigitte was awarded a Special Prize for her jams at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris .
In 2010 , Brigitte received an International Excellence Award for her candied fruit and her candied pepper at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris . The same year, she is invited to the FABEX show in Tokyo . It builds a large laboratory meeting the most demanding European standards and establishes the manufacturing process complying with HACCP standards .
Today Bernadette's products from Lavernette are exported to France , Belgium , Japan , Reunion , Switzerland , the Antilles 
(St Barthelemy) , Taiwan