 Sugar beet, another crop which was very new for the region prospered in the late 19th century in "Aunis", and especially in the "Canton of Aigrefeuille d'Aunis".Thus the city was able to successfully convert its viticulture economy by developing an agro-food industry with the cooperative dairy and the industrial distillery of sugar beet, while maintaining its cognac distillery, has acquired a high profile in the region.According to demographic data from INSEE, the population peak came in 1876 with 1,881 inhabitants.