Founded in 1946 by Dr. Hotz and acquired by Bernard Mas in 1966, Sothys has come a long way. “Shortly after acquiring the company, my father [Bernard Mas] began considering how to industrialize the business. At the time, production was still carried out using traditional methods in cramped premises in Paris”, recalls Christian Mas, the brand’s Managing Director, who took over the business in 1999 with his brother Frédéric, the Group’s President. In 1974, Sothys opened a factory in the Corrèze region, the family’s ancestral home. This proved to be a decisive turning point, as the brand could expand its markets and start exporting. Today, global sales account for 60% of the Group’s revenue.
In the 1980s, the company opened a second production site in the US and established a platform for Asia in Singapore, which further accelerated this expansion. Yet the brand’s fast global growth has not distanced it from its core values. Its French roots and its control over the entire value chain within France contribute to its appeal in overseas markets.
To kick off its 80th-anniversary celebrations, Sothys brought together its international network at Club Med Cefalù in Sicily, one of the brand’s partner properties. In France, six anniversary events will be held with national partners before the end of the year, reflecting the same spirit.
15,000 partner beauty salons and spas
As it enters its ninth decade, the brand is setting itself new growth targets. A key anniversary highlight will be the launch, on October 19th, of Sothys’ new website, which will feature an online store for the first time. Until now, the brand had a showcase website directing customers to its partners’ e-commerce platforms. Customers will now be able to purchase products directly from the brand’s website and book in-cabin treatments. Sothys expects this new business to generate 10% of its revenue within two years.
Nevertheless, in both France and global markets, Sothys’ core business remains selling to beauty salons. “In the 2010s, the brand moved closer to the spa sector, for example by developing amenities and refillable products specifically for the hospitality industry. At the same time, its professional treatment offering is well suited to this industry’s requirements, as illustrated by the recently redesigned Soin Excellence Secrets de Sothys®”, explains Mas.
Spas account for 15% of the company’s revenue in France, and the goal over the next few years is to achieve the same result internationally.
Global markets, particularly China, are a strategic growth driver for the Corrèze-based brand. “We are currently exploring how to continue expanding our presence, whether through new distributors or new subsidiaries, depending on market opportunities and maturity”, adds the Managing Director.
Meanwhile, the brand, which previously had only one directly operated location, its renowned flagship store at 128 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in central Paris, opened La Suite Sothys in Geneva last February. “We had the opportunity to move into premises that already housed a beauty salon. This location gives us direct insight into the market”, says Mas. Initial feedback is positive, with existing customers developing a strong connection with the brand, and new clients drawn in by its reputation.
From iconic treatments to seasonal ranges
About 150 new formulas are developed every year at Soredec, the Group’s R&D and formulation laboratory in Brive-la-Gaillarde (Corrèze), for its two brands: Sothys and Bernard Cassière. The formulas are then sent to the Group’s production site, SIMAH, also in Corrèze. This organization helps Sothys develop a large number of products each year, including two seasonal ranges.
“These limited-edition skincare and makeup ranges are very popular with beauticians. They give them the opportunity to create regular in-store events that their loyal clients look forward to”, explains Mas. The Fall/Winter 2026 skincare collection will be focused on the indulgent notes of tonka bean and cocoa.
Sothys also has a portfolio of iconic products that have evolved and grown alongside the brand. These include its skincare ampoules, first created in 1946. For many years, they were available exclusively as part of professional treatments, then were made available to consumers two years ago. “They are particularly popular with French and Korean women”, notes the Managing Director. Other flagship products include the Desquacrem cleanser, launched in 1950, and the premium Secrets de Sothys® line, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Its Crème 128 is marking its 10th anniversary with a new porcelain jar designed by Maison Bernardaud. The range’s three other jar-based treatments are now available in refillable versions, while the in-cabin Soin Excellence Secrets de Sothys® treatment has been reimagined. It now features a new active ingredient, peptides derived from organic milk thistle seeds, as well as an exclusive massage technique known as Liftoplastie®. This 90-minute treatment combines innovation and sensoriality, demonstrating Sothys’ ability to adapt its offering in line with changing market expectations.
Finally, Sothys is entering its next decade with strong growth momentum, also reflected in its CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) division: for more than a year, it has been making the Group’s production facilities available to third-party brands. This represents a new strategic growth avenue for the family-owned company, with several promising contracts about to be finalized, Mas confirms.
