Margnat is the name of a river which throws itself into Allier, on the right bank. The river of Margnat receives the brook which sprays Billom, administrative canton. Margnat in concern of the generations which we know (before the French Revolution) was wine shopkeepers before becoming also wine growers. François Margnat born towards 1780 was already trader in wine (and banker) in Auvergne where he had his store in Chenat close to Clermont Ferrand. But we know by a notarial act in hand of the family, that he bought his store of Lyon in 1822 to do the trade of wine in a scale very different from the one  exercised in Auvergne.

The Margnat family was expropriated of this store in 1985. Cyprien Margnat, wines trader in Lyons sent towards 1885 his son Edouard, out of the Business school from Lyon, to Marseille, to create there the first branch office. Marseilles, front door of the East and far East and also front door of the Mediterranean area.