The city has some industrial tradition inherited from the 19th century, but the old industries disappeared after the Second World War (mills, farms peat, lime kiln, textiles, distilleries for "brandy and sugar beet"). The mills that were destroyed during the Second World War were not rebuilt, they were demolished and transformed into housing. The Sugar beet distillery ceased its activities following the Liberation and its buildings were sold in 1960. The brandy distillery became a wine merchant which sold its last bottle in 1989. As for the dairy complex (cheese, butter and casein), it became important in the 1960s and 1970s and became one of the leading centres of dairy production in Aunis. At the same time: ""in 1958, there were more than 15 larger cooperative dairy factories in the départment, with more than 30,000 hl of milk treated per year"". In this period of rapid development, the dairy factory at "Aigrefeuille" joined the powerful regional dairy union UCLA, but faced increasing competition and European restrictions on the PAC dairy quotas in France. The dairy factory was completely rebuilt and modernised in 1958 yet had to cease all activities in 1981 in favour of that at "Surgères" which became the main centre of all dairy production in the Central West of France. While the city is not home to large factories nevertheless industrial zones have been established. There is an industrial area of 56 hectares of land and 90,000 m2 of buildings containing thirty-five establishments and twenty depots. The Handling and Transit Company (SETT) from La Rochelle occupies a warehouse of 22,500 m2 where it stocks barley and wheat". Since the early 1970s, a new industrial area of 35 hectares has been established in the south of the town near the railway line. There are businesses specializing in: recreational boating industry, wood processing, metalworking, plastics, concrete products. "Aigrefeuille Aunis" houses the headquarters of the world leading manufacturer of cruising catamarans: "Fountaine Pajot". Fountaine Pajot  has been established since 1976 in the "Fief-Girard" industrial zone and is now the largest employer in town with about 250 staff. Since 1983 the company has delivered 1,668 catamarans of 21 different models". Other industrial plants of note include:  "Aigrefeuille d'Aunis" has had an agricultural market to serve the "Aunis" plain since the Middle Ages when the town had a covered market with fairs and open markets.