Our story
Our story
Since 1970, fishing has been at the heart of the Raquet-Lapeire family's story. From generation to generation, this passion has been passed down between the rivers, the sea and the family's shops on the Mediterranean coast.
Over the years, field experience, observing fish and sharing between anglers have shaped genuine expertise.
Today, this heritage of more than 50 years lives on through the Meriver and ProRiver brands, with the same aim: to create effective products, inspired by nature and by those who live fishing every day.
Our mission
Our mission is to design and offer effective, innovative and accessible fishing products, born from observing the aquatic environment and from field experience.
True to the family heritage that gave rise to Meriver and ProRiver, we develop technical solutions suited to today's anglers, while respecting natural balances.
Each product is designed to improve the fishing experience, pass on authentic know-how and support enthusiasts, from the seashore to the rivers, in their quest for performance and enjoyment.
Our values
Our values are based on authenticity, innovation and respect for the natural environment.
Inherited from a family tradition of anglers, they guide every decision in developing our products. We favour field observation, experimentation and continuous improvement to offer anglers reliable, effective solutions.
At Meriver & ProRiver, the passion for fishing, the sharing of knowledge and the demand for quality are at the heart of everything we do.
Discover our story
more than 50 years of history...
1970
Before Meriver
there was already a story. In 1970, Laurent Raquet-Lapeire's grandparents opened a first family fishing shop in Argelès-sur-Mer. Long before the brand, fishing was already part of daily life, passed down from generation to generation. The great-grandfather already shared a small family groundbait recipe, empirical and simple, born from observing the water and the fish. A recipe never written down, adapted over time, passed on more than told.
1994
Narbonne-plage...
Born from the desire to offer environmentally friendly products
in line with modern trends in
recreational fishing, MERIVER is part of
a family story that began in 1970 and led to 1994. At that time the
Raquet-Lapeire family presented in their Narbonne-plage shop a
small range that Laurent, the son of the family, would later manage.
2009
Development and innovation
Within this family business, he kept a constant watch on this
changing leisure market. Always on the lookout for new products
and innovations, in 2009 he came up with the idea of creating a
unique groundbait that works in freshwater as well as at sea.
2010
Production and brand
The first batch was made in zip-lock bags marked
with a felt-tip pen; it was simply "Homemade!". For the second
season the product needed a name: the logical combination
of "Mer" (sea) and "Rivière" (river) gave MERIVER.
2012
Range expansion
Building on this first experience, the development of the
range has never stopped since, creating specific products
suited to the conditions of use or the type of fish
targeted.
2016
Founding of the company
So, logically, after a market study, then the
setting up of a distribution network and finally the creation of a
high-capacity production unit, the SAS
MERIVER was founded in 2016
It is in Ornaisons, a village nestled in the heart of the Corbières, that
and began, in June 2016, processing and packaging the
ingredients used to make the Meriver recipes.
2018
Creation of the PRORIVER brand *
2024
Factory moved to Narbonne
Founding of Factory France SAS which, following the Covid years, enabled the Meriver, ProRiver, Zivix and Bedo brands...
To keep existing and performing in their fields, along with the determination of Laurent and his partners to keep you dreaming!
Meriver & ProRiver: fishing with energy!
" Fishing is not just a moment of pleasure.
It is a passion that spans generations, made of memories, knowledge and nature.
So live it to the full. "
More than 400 million enthusiasts share the same emotion at the water's edge.
It's your turn to live fishing… and write your own story.