The anti-waste and solidarity pastry shop open on October 16, 2020 -
Clara Le Nagard / 20 Minutes
The Workshop collects unsold food and transforms them into pastry.
The original concept was born from a partnership with the Carrefour hypermarket.
Disabled people work in the store.
Muffins, tarts, crumbles… When entering the anti-waste and solidarity pastry shop at the Beaulieu gallery, on the Ile de Nantes, one cannot help but have mouth watering.
But behind those mouth-watering cakes, it's hard to imagine crooked fruit or stale bread that no one wanted.
Yet this is the bet that has taken L'Atelier which opened this Friday until December 31st.
All products are made from unsold food, offered by the Carrefour brand located just opposite.
“Every morning we go looking for unsold bread, fruit and vegetables from the hypermarket.
In the back of the shop, the girls are busy sorting out what is too damaged and what can be saved.
Then we transform all that into pastry ”, explains Katia Tardy, marketing and sales manager.
Nearly 30 to 100% of unsold food in bakeries
L'Atelier's creations are made from recycled bread flour to which fruits and vegetables taken from the shelves are added.
The percentage of unsold ingredients incorporated varies “from 30% to 100%” depending on the product, says Katia.
“Smoothies, for example, are made 100% with 'ugly' fruit.
For pastries in the window, it goes from 30% to 60%.
»Desserts that require a specific laboratory, such as pies or crumbles, are designed by Carrefour, in partnership with the supermarket.
Atelier crumbles, tarts and muffins - Clara Le Nagard / 20 Minutes
But not everything is cooked out of sight.
Waffles and smoothies, for example, are made in-store, in front of customers, to show concretely that you can go from ugly, withered fruit to a delicious vitamin drink.
“It's quick, simple and accessible to everyone,” enthuses Katia Tardy.
To be able to change mentalities and practices
Raising the general public's awareness of the fight against waste, through gourmet and generous recipes: this is the main mission of the anti-waste shop.
“We want people to understand that they can indulge themselves when products are made with ingredients they are ready to throw away,” says Katia.
Two months ago, the latter decided to contact partners to have her own store.
“Our approach already existed but it was not very exposed.
Our products were sold in bulk grocery stores like Biocoop but we wanted to have our own store to be visible.
Katia and her team got the keys two weeks ago.
The location was made in partnership with the gallery which accompanies the process.
“We had to quickly come up with recipes and try them out.
We tested everything, we gained three kilos in two months, ”adds the instigator of the project, laughing.
Speaking out about disability in a tasty and friendly way
If the pastry shop seeks to fight against food waste, it also wishes to promote the integration of people with disabilities into society.
Thus, the manufacture of pastries as well as the sale in shops are made by people with disabilities.
“Several local disability structures took part in the adventure to train seven people for the boutique part and ten for kitchen production,” says Katia.
We want people to understand the daily lives of these people, how they work… The team members have all learned the basics of sign language and we will translate all our cards into Braille ”.
Planned to be ephemeral, the pastry shop should theoretically close its doors on December 31.
“Our goal is for the store to last,” explains Katia.
We will ensure that it becomes a real installed concept.
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