*The incident took place in a supermarket in New Jersey. The tweet is by Michael Perino

[elleng]

@ProfessorPerino*

“At the supermarket today, I found a small, elderly woman standing in front of a high shelf holding @BonneMamanUS preserves. She was having trouble finding the flavor she wanted because the jars were set back on the shelf.
She couldn’t read the labels. She could barely reach them. I offered to help.
After I handed her the raspberry preserves, she thanked me, paused, and then asked, “Do you know why I buy this brand?”
I laughed and replied, “Because it tastes good?”
“Yes, it tastes good.” She paused again. “I am a Holocaust survivor.”
This was not the conversation I expected on a Sunday grocery run. “During the war, the family that owns the company hid my family in Paris. So now I always buy it. And whenever I go to the store, my grandkids remind me, ‘Bubbe, don’t forget to buy the jelly.’”
I told her that that was the best reason I ever heard to buy any company’s product. And then we both smiled behind our masks and went our separate ways.”
*****************************
Someone else on Twitter looked into the story and indeed, the town that Andros Company, the makers of Bonne Maman, comes from, hid and saved Jewish families in WW2. It was called Biars sur Cere, which then had about 800 villagers.
From an article, “You have to understand what it was like then. There were posters on the walls, from the Nazis and from the collaborators, and they said that if you are found to help a Jew, a freemason, a communist, a socialist, or a pervert, you will be shot on sight.” Despite the great danger in which helping them put the villagers in, still they kept the children safe.”
A good reason to buy Bonne Maman products. And a poignant reminder that when we look out for each other it can change lives, and that there are good and selfless people in the world.
Vive Bonne Maman! 🇫🇷
❤️DB

[Blue Owl]

1. Wow, now that's a backstory!

[AZ8theist]

28. THANK GOD..

Margorie Taylor Greene KNOWS the holocaust is a myth....

[Scrivener7]

2. I think I'll never buy anything else now!

[rambler_american]

67. I've used this brand of jams, jellies and marmalade for years

because I think it's the best. Now I'll buy it because of this story. Happy coincidence.

[Karadeniz]

3. I haven't noticed this label in Texas, but will sure look!!!!!

[cloudbase]

10. HEB carries it. n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

36. I have bought it at Central Market and I believe Albertson's also carries it

It is really good too

[FalloutShelter]

4. Never heard of this brand but I will look for it now.

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[elleng]

5. I see it whenever in the Peanut Butter department;

will pick some up next time.

[spooky3]

6. Their preserves are delicious. Now I have a great excuse to buy them! Nt

[Dave in VA]

7. We have this product in our local Harris Teeter

but if you can't find it, here is a link:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bonne+maman&crid=3C8USEXNG1W59&sprefix=bonne+ma%2Caps%2C170&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_8

Great tasting product!

[elleng]

8. Thanks. It's @ Giant (in MD,) near peanut butter (and Nutella.)

[Dave in VA]

9. Yeah, that's where it is located at

Harris Teeter, too.

Also, if you have a Christmas Tree Shop/This and That store, they usually have it in stock.

[Lochloosa]

12. 4 jars on the way. I think I will sign up for a recurring order.

[Jerryatric]

33. Thanks for that link. I would have said we don't have that brand in stores

here, but now that I see a picture, I know we do. I just didn't know that's what those jars were. Now I will be sure to buy them every time instead of once in a while.

[Lars39]

11. Kroger has it!

[dawg day]

13. It's good jam too.

And that's a nice reward for you helping the lady.

[MLAA]

14. Wow, it's my favorite strawberry jam. Though husband likes a different one.

After I tell him the story, it’s Bonnie Maman forever!

[MLAA]

15. Wow, it's my favorite strawberry jam. Though husband likes a different one.

After I tell him the story, it’s Bonnie Maman forever! Before I hit post, I just read your post to my husband and he’s all in on Bonne Maman from here on out!

[Ligyron]

23. Their Strawberry is the best!

It will taste even better now.

[MLAA]

26. Exactly! 🙂

[Solly Mack]

16. K&R

Nice story.

[dhol82]

17. It's still a beautiful story, however:

https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/the-internet-believes-the-founders-of-bonne-maman-jam-saved-jews-during-the-holocaust/article_32eb2ac4-99ae-57a9-9740-424751295538.html

[elleng]

21. I'll take Santa Clause, tho I don't believe in 'him.'

*Could the self-identified bubbe in the grocery store be confused about where and by whom she was sheltered as a child more than 75 years ago? Could the Gervoson or Chapoulart families have hidden Jews from Nazis and never gotten credit for it? Could Perino have asked a few more questions before posting his story to Twitter?

Yes, yes and, well, yes. But for some who appreciated the story, the facts may not matter.

“Please don’t make me fact check the Bonne Maman story,” Jennifer Mendelsohn, a journalist who is widely known for her genealogy sleuthing online, tweeted on Wednesday morning. “Can’t it be like Santa Claus?”'

[Phoenix61]

18. I used to get their marmalade for my mom. nt

[electric_blue68]

19. Wow! What an amazing story. I will look for them! 👍

[PurgedVoter]

20. All Flavors are great, now I feel better about buying so much of it.

The black cherry on Vegemite on buttered raisin bread is amazing. I get it at HEB

[BobTheSubgenius]

22. If those are available, that's what I'm buying from now on!

I won't ever get my wife to stop making jams and jellies with the fruit we grow, but I'll still buy Good Mother.

[lame54]

24. AND it taste good

[Mr.Bill]

25. By sheer coincidence I just bought some of that last week.

Rasberry preserves, and they are excellent. I usually buy Smuckers, but per ounce these were less.

[Martin68]

27. That's a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[mbusby]

29. We have been buying it...

...for quite a while. Did not know about the rescue during the war.

[sarchasm]

30. Their Blackberry Preserves is to die for ...

... and a staple in my pantry going on 40 years.

[onetexan]

41. Thats my hubby's fav preserves in that exact flavor as well

Its widely available here &delicious in every flavor. Whether story is true or not, it has roots in the town that saved holocaust Jews. That is enough motivation for me to keep buying the brand.👍

[Grins]

31. It's a hoax! Google it.

Jerusalem Post outed it as a hoax months ago.

[onenote]

32. Is this the Jerusalem Post article?

Where does it say it's a hoax?

https://www.jpost.com/omg/is-bonne-maman-an-anti-nazi-jam-the-internet-wants-to-think-so-659344

[Marcuse]

40. Founded in 1971

Bonne Maman, founded in 1971 by members of the Gervoson family, is based in Biars-sur-Cère, a town in southern France. Neither the town nor any of its inhabitants are listed on the registry of “righteous gentiles” — non-Jews who rescued Jews from the Holocaust — that is maintained by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum.

[NullTuples]

34. Summary from February news story w/ link to original Tweet(s)

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/fl-jj-bonne-maman-anti-nazi-jam-20210218-xavk23s4d5b7xcxp62ang3qjtu-story.html

[live love laugh]

35. It's delicious. Now I will buy even more. nt

[Bristlecone]

37. I buy this brand all the time. Had no idea. They make great lemon curd also

Which is perfect for baby Dutch pancakes.

Now I will surely not buy anything else.

[JudyM]

38. They have a new line of smaller jars called "INTENSE" - by far the best apricot jam I've ever had.

My mom bakes fine pastries and once she tasted it she ordered 3 cases when it went on sale! I like it with plain Greek yogurt. It’s more fruit and less sugar, so semi-healthy sweet treat.

Gotta love it when quality products and ethics align. Interesting, thanks for posting this, elleng!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

39. Wow this jelly is in the wegmans

And the giant near me.

I will always from now on have a jar in my fridge.

And I will repeat this story to people too.
Best reason to buy this preserves. And yeah thier jelly is really good too. My fave is blackberry .

[left-of-center2012]

42. I just checked & the store I get delivery from has it

So I added a couple jars to my list.
I will also share that story with friends and family and suggest they buy it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

43. The fact the story is little known is a sign of the purity of the altruism the villagers' actions

And yes it is good jam. If my primary brand of a particular flavour (one brand for each or couple of flavours) is not available, I always check the Bonne Maman jams. They are not my first choice due to cost. I remember particularly liking cherry but didn't treat myself to theirs often.

I will keep this story in mind and increase my purchases of Bonne Maman.

[elleng]

55. Thanks.

Peace

[Ferrets are Cool]

44. My office sure is dusty this morning. I have something in both eyes

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.

[llashram]

45. if I can find it

I will buy it...my co-op should be able to order a jar.

[Jilly_in_VA]

46. I love Bonne Maman!

All the flavors. They have cool jars too, that are pretty and good for saving leftovers.

[Unwind Your Mind]

47. I was just thinking that about the jars

Also nice for rooting plants on windowsills

[seta1950]

48. Oui

Vive BONNE MAMAN

[lucca18]

49. We buy their preserves all the time!

What a beautiful and profound story.💕

[Joinfortmill]

51. Thank God people had courage and saved lives. God bless them.

[lark]

52. Beautiful story.

We need to hear more about human goodness these days when we see so many mean spirited people around.

I will indeed look for Bonne Maman jellies. I've never seen this at either of the 2 stores we shop at, but then again I never looked for it either. Will do that with my next trip.


Thank you!

[demigoddess]

53. putting it on my list!

[Hekate]

54. It does taste good, and Trader Joe's carries it. Lovely backstory, too.

[thucythucy]

56. Bookmarking this so I can look for this brand

or ask for it the next time I go shopping.

[malaise]

57. Beautiful

Thanks

[Larissa]

58. I hope that the store moves the Bonne Maman products to a lower shelf

I've put it on my shopping list.

[Tikki]

59. My area COSTCO and VONS carries the BonneMaman Jams...

We have a big jar of a blended flavor in the frig as I type.

Tikki

[dlk]

60. I knew there was a reason I love Bonne Maman

Their preserves are wonderful! And with this story, even more reason to buy their products.

[OverBurn]

61. Pure awesomeness. The story. I've never ate the jam, I will though.

[MontanaMama]

62. I see Bonne Maman

is carried at Target and our local Albertson's. Bonne Maman = Good Mom.

[11 Bravo]

63. What a wonderful story!

I will look for their product next time I go grocery shopping.

K&R

[KY_EnviroGuy]

64. Pretty far-fetched, folks.

See: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bonne-maman-holocaust-shelter/

snips.....

When this story first went viral, some readers pointed out that the Bonne Maman brand was created in 1971 and therefore the story must be false. Others pointed out that the manufacturing company Andros, which owns the Bonne Maman brand, was only founded in 1959, supposedly showing once again that this story couldn’t be true.

While it’s true that Bonne Maman did not exist in any official capacity until after World War II, the founders of Andros, Jean Gervoson and Pierre Chapoulart, can trace the history of their business back to the French village of Biars-sur-Cère during the second World War.

and....

We can’t say for certain if these families were personally involved with aiding Jewish people who were seeking refuge during the Holocaust. We have been unable to find any articles, interviews, or company statements touting this historic act. (The French outlet Capital noted in 2009 that “[in 40 years] Jean Gervoson had never granted the slightest interview.) When we reached out to Bonne Maman, they told us that the company does not comment on personal matters.

A spokesperson said: “Bonne Maman is privately owned by Andros, a family-owned French company located in Biars-sur-Cere, France. The family prefers to maintain privacy and does not comment on inquiries about personal matters.”

The founders of Bonne Maman can trace the roots of their business back to this small village in France. As Biars-sur-Cère had a population of less than 800 people during World War II, and as this family owned and operated its business during this time, the claim seems at least possible.

Dan Evon
Published 17 February 2021

Link to Andros North America: https://androsna.com/

Who We Are

Andros is a family owned and privately run company, headquartered in the southwest countryside of France, known as a global leader in fruit processing, frozen desserts, dairy and confectionery. Andros currently owns and operates more than 30 factories worldwide including a US fruit processing factory in Mt. Jackson, Virginia.

KY

[Sherman A1]

65. The story didn't pass the smell test for me

when I saw it on Facebook a week or so ago. It just got a hide then and I moved on.

[Mersky]

66. Just saw that on Snopes. I really wanted this to be true.

Time to tighten up my standards.

[madaboutharry]

68. They have extra large jars at Costco at a great price.

They have strawberry in the Costco near me.