L'histoire de la Maison

The Petrossian Epic

For over a century, Maison Petrossian has embodied the excellence of caviar and exceptional products. Founded in Paris by the Petrossian brothers, it has preserved a unique savoir-faire while reinventing the pleasures of tasting. Today, Petrossian remains the world reference in caviar, a symbol of refinement and French gastronomy.

The beginnings in the Roaring Twenties

Stand at the Grand Palais

The symbol of true luxury

Alwyn Court by Berenice Abbott

The creator of a new era

Armen Petrossian in the boutique

In a few words

Before 1920

From the banks of the Caucasus to the lights of Paris

An exile transformed into a promise: to offer the world the taste of a heritage, enhanced by the French art of living.

In 1920

The audacity of a first boutique

In Paris, Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian turn a bold gamble into a legend.

1930 to 1970

The Golden Age

Petrossian establishes itself as the symbol of gastronomic luxury, gracing the world’s greatest tables.

1979 to 1990

The worldwide rise

From New York to Paris, from London to Brussels, Petrossian spreads its art of caviar

1994 to 2010

The craftsman of rebirth

Armen Petrossian transforms caviar into a substance to be explored, elevated, and reinvented.

Since 2010

A legend in motion

Passed down from generation to generation, Maison Petrossian adapts to the world to make the art of caviar resonate.

To learn more

From the banks of the Caucasus to the lights of Paris

Before their name adorned Parisian storefronts, Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian grew up in the heart of the Caucasus, between Armenian traditions, Russian culture, and an openness to the West. Polyglots and passionate about refinement, they carried with them a heritage of savoir-faire, elegance, and taste.

The upheavals of the early 20th century led them into exile in Paris, where in 1920 they decided to write a new chapter of their story. Thus began the Petrossian adventure, a symbol of art de vivre and excellence.

The address of a first historic boutique

Barely arrived in Paris, Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian dared a visionary gamble: opening, on Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg, an elegant boutique dedicated to a product still mysterious to Parisians. Very quickly, diplomats, writers, and gourmets discovered these black pearls from the Caspian Sea, and the address became a must. By giving their own name to the Maison and adopting a bold emblem, the two brothers asserted their identity and ambition: to make the art of caviar shine in Paris.

The golden age of Petrossian

In the 1930s, the Petrossian brothers revolutionized French gastronomy by opening their own smokehouse and introducing premium smoked salmon to France. Their creations, from caviar to smoked fish, seduced legendary tables such as Le Ritz, Le Maxim’s, Le Lido. During these flamboyant decades, artists, writers, and filmmakers celebrated the Petrossian art: from Cocteau to Piaf, from Visconti to Woody Allen, the black pearls became a cultural and cinematic symbol of luxury. With the arrival of the new generation in the 1960s, the Maison established itself as a world reference in haute gastronomy.

The worldwide expansion

At the end of the 1970s, Petrossian crossed the Atlantic and settled in New York, where its first restaurant, opened in 1984, became an essential address for French refinement. During this period, the Maison became the leading importer of Soviet caviar and spread its name across the great capitals.

But the collapse of the USSR and the sturgeon crisis disrupted the market. Armen Petrossian then took the helm and initiated a major shift: focusing on farmed caviar, ensuring quality and sustainability, while reinventing the Maison’s model.

The renaissance and the art of caviar

In 1994, when Armen Petrossian took over the Maison, the caviar market was in crisis. Visionary, he foresaw the end of wild caviar and established himself as a pioneer of farmed caviar, rigorously selecting the best partner farms. Under his leadership, caviar became an art, and the Maison created iconic innovations: Caviarcube®, Fleur de Caviar®, Papierusse®. Petrossian thus asserted itself as the guardian and creator of an exceptional heritage.

Between heritage and modernity

Since 2010, Alexandre and Mikael Petrossian, Armen’s sons, have led the Maison into a new era. Between Paris and New York, they modernize the company while preserving its soul: digitalization, development of e-commerce, opening of new boutiques worldwide, and creation of inspired brands such as Mantchouk, La Truffe par Petrossian, or La Cave.

Faithful to its commitment, the Maison actively works to preserve sturgeon and support social and environmental projects. Today, Petrossian is no longer just synonymous with caviar, but a living heritage, combining innovation, transmission, and refinement.