Aux P’titsoignons is already running at full capacity with its team of seven people. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard
Based in the Gévaudan Economic Activity Zone (ZAE), with their four employees, managers Pierre Gibelin, Benoît Castared and Sébastien Gerbal already offer a cafeteria at lunchtime, while waiting for the launch of other activities planned for March 2025.
That’s what we commonly call a flying start. The brand new cafeteria called Aux P’tits Oignons, which opened its doors on Monday, January 13 in the Gévaudan Economic Activity Zone (ZAE) in Marvejols, has been a hit for its first week of business.
“We fed 700 people while only being open for lunch,” estimate Sébastien Gerbal and Benoît Castared, two of the company’s three partners, along with Pierre Gibelin. Just this lunchtime (Friday, January 17), we had 203 covers. There was a queue outside, right up to the steps. We made calf's head. We put a post on social media. It worked well.” So no observation round. The owners and their four employees got straight to the point.
“Everything is homemade”
How to explain this immediate success ? “We are locals. We are quite well-known in Marvejols, confides Benoît Castared. In the dining room, at lunchtime, I knew maybe half the customers. There is also a lack of catering in Marvejols. At first, we thought we would have mostly administrative staff and workers. In the end, we had everything, including a lot of families.”
The attractive prices also have a lot to do with it: €12.50 for two dishes and €14.50 for three. “We always offer five or six starters to choose from, as well as desserts,” explains Sébastien Gerbal. “There are always at least two dishes. Everything is homemade, with fresh produce.” According to the managers, the initial feedback has been positive. A good omen for the future.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000In the premises of the former Lupus Electro company
The Aux P’tits Oignons team has set up shop in the premises of the former Lupus Electro company, in the Gévaudan Economic Activity Zone (ZAE) in Marvejols. The three managers bought the building "à a price of love"à Francis Maliges, head of the company of the same name and uncle of one of the partners. The interior has been tastefully furnished. Particular attention has been paid to soundproofing. A special floor has been laid, as well as acoustic tiles on the ceiling.
From a joke to the realization of the project
Aux P’tits Oignons will soon be more than a cafeteria. Starting in March, it will also prepare meals for collective catering (nursing homes, schools, colleges, high schools, holiday centers, etc.) and deliver them to the home for the elderly. “We are three former colleagues from Clos du nid, the partners continue. We managed the central kitchen. We said to ourselves: “Why not do what we've been doing for fifteen years, but for us.”“ The idea came from a joke by Benoît Castared in June 2023. A year and a half later, the three friends launched.
Their goal: to break with the bad image that sticks to the skin of meal delivery and collective catering. “We make family cooking, which everyone likes,” insists Sébastien Gerbal. Benoît Castared agrees: “We know that we can feed our children, our parents or our grandparents. We want quality.”
Zero waste objective
The new company also intends to make life easier for its future customers. “Our business has made a leap forward in terms of regulations, continues Benoît Castared. We offer our services to anyone who wants to relieve themselves of the burden of collective catering. It is often said that there is a world of difference between a restaurant kitchen and a community kitchen. And that is truly the case. They are two completely different professions.”
Concerned with moving towards zero food waste, the partners will be able to rely on their cafeteria for their unsold items. “We were inspired by what was being done elsewhere,” affirms Sébastien Gerbal. For example, if we have 350 meals delivered, and we only sell 312, we will be able to offer the remaining 38 to the cafeteria. In any case, all our dishes come out of the same kitchen.”
Aux P’tits Oignons, 1 rue des Chazelles, in Marvejols. Cafeteria open Monday to Friday, from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. No reservations required. Contact: 04 66 47 05 67; contact@apo48.fr; www.apo48.fr I subscribe to read the rest