Viviers de Sion: buy fresh shellfish and crustaceans in Vendée

Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
Food Lovers

Shellfish and crustaceans … You know the drill, but do you know where to stock up on seafood and other ocean delicacies during your stay in the Vendée region ? Pink shrimp from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, oysters refined in salt ponds, crabs, lobsters, scallops, spider crabs, langoustines … Delicious meals with family or friends await, thanks to Viviers de Sion ! For over 100 years, this family business, now in its fourth generation of passionate individuals, has combined quality with respect for the sea's resources, offering its discerning clientele the finest seasonal and ultra-fresh products. A look at a company that is both traditional and modern.

Vendée, its seafood and ocean specialties

The Vendée region is THE destination to indulge in and savor the bounty of the ocean. Fish lovers, as well as shellfish and crustacean enthusiasts, are in the right place for a true iodine boost, all year round. Because, yes, there is a season for seafood, just like for vegetables and meat! Depending on the breeding season, which is correlated with sea temperature and other environmental factors, we must adapt to the rhythms of nature to ensure fresh and delicious shellfish and crustaceans. This is where the expertise of the Merceron family is invaluable. For four generations and over a century in the small seaside resort of Sion-sur-l'Océan, in the heart of the commune of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, this Vendée family has successfully preserved the precious resources of the ocean to delight its customers.

The adventure began in 1920 with Frédéric Berthomé, a restaurateur who, to ensure a sufficient supply without being subject to the vagaries of fishing, created a small fishpond opposite his establishment. Today, it's the Hôtel Frédéric, which still exists! Les Viviers de Sion, meanwhile, has earned its stripes; the name is truly an institution and a guarantee of quality in the region! In 1955, to avoid constantly monitoring his lobsters and langoustines, which squabble at low tide, Frédéric had the first seawater tanks built—the above-sea fishpond! It was a success, and since then the building has been regularly modernized to house and keep the live animals (vivier = live).

A lovely walk along the sea in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, a good idea to work up an appetite before your seafood meal.

The prettiest seaside resorts in Vendée.

Buy fresh shellfish and crustaceans all year round in Vendée

The company has 3 locations:

In Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, or at Viviers de Sion, individuals (locals, vacationers ) can find top-quality shellfish and crustaceans, with regular deliveries.
Les Sables d'Olonne, where the company's headquarters and wholesale facilities are located. Vendée Crustacés is the branch of the company that sources its seafood from the Vendée fish markets and then redistributes these delicacies to other fish markets outside the department (as far as Rungis in the Paris region), and then primarily to restaurants, fishmongers, etc.
In Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, the Merceron family has invested in oyster-refining ponds to produce delicious Fines de Claire oysters with a subtle, delicate, and elegant flavor , with a hint of hazelnut… They are plump, generous, and perfectly balanced. Also available at Viviers de Sion, the shop!

Les Viviers de Sion sources its seafood from fish markets (Les Sables, Noirmoutier, Saint-Gilles, and Île d'Yeu), but also directly from small-scale fishermen. Having been established for a century, you can be sure they know the right people to stock their stalls with top-quality products, right? Buying directly from fishing boats also has the advantage of allowing for very competitive pricing. Finding affordable seafood in the Vendée region isn't always easy, and that's one of the Merceron family's priorities: making these seafood products accessible at a fair price. For some products, depending on the season (because you want lobster for Christmas and the holidays, don't you?), they have to source from Scotland, where the colder waters allow for out-of-season availability in France. Carefully selected by Les Viviers de Sion, you can trust them completely.

Remember to place your order in advance ; a quick phone call is all it takes to reserve what you need, as shellfish and crustaceans can sell out very quickly during the season!

So, these shrimp, cooked or raw?

Shrimp, yes, but especially langoustines, lobsters, crabs, brown crabs, spider crabs … Products that aren't always easy to handle, especially if you live far from the ocean. To enjoy yourself during your vacation without stressing about how to properly cook shellfish, it's best to trust Viviers de Sion. For several years, they have expertly developed their skills in cooking shellfish, offering you top-quality, easy-to-eat dishes that won't turn your vacation rental kitchen upside down! Let the professionals handle it!

The Viviers de Sion fish farms are open year-round, 6 days a week, and every day during the season. Here is a list of the delicacies you can discover on the stalls, in the aquariums and tanks: