“Here we buy products, not packaging”: at La belle épicerie, gourmets approach a paradise of good taste

Stéphanie Charreyron, originally from Gers but living in Millau for thirty years, cultivates a passion for good food. MIDI LIBRE – F.MAYET

Opened in the city center of Millau since November, the boutique of Stéphanie and David Charreyron showcases hundreds of exceptional products (savory, sweet) expertly selected. A real gourmet cavern!

The elegant storefront suggests the best. Once you cross the threshold of La belle épicerie, on Place de l’Arpajonie, a stone’s throw from the Millau Town Hall, you enter a space entirely dedicated to good things. “We’ve had this idea in mind for several years now.” Stéphanie Charreyron and her husband David have indeed had some good reasons for this. “David has been a salesperson for thirty years for a company based in Gers that offers delicatessen packages. In fact, it is my father and brother's company.”

A base on which the couple, keen to have a “more sedentary” daily life decided over a year ago to build their entrepreneurial project. “The trigger came in connection with a need for professional change for me.” The search for premises – “quite quickly in the end” – preceded development work and then discussions with suppliers. “My brother kindly lent me his address book…” smiles Stéphanie. “We nevertheless went to look for other products.”

Divine pâtés and great chocolates

On the shelves, there are dozens of Fleuron de Lomagne products, the family business from Gers (divine pâtés and foie gras, among others) alongside, for example, chocolates from the Isère-based Bonnat (bars made with cocoa beans of guaranteed geographical origin, from the Ivory Coast to Ceylon via Madagascar). With the end-of-year holiday season in mind, La belle épicerie also offers seasonal products. “At the moment we offer fresh foie gras for example, semi-cooked foie gras, smoked trout and salmon, panettones… in large quantities! As well as chocolates, sweets and gingerbread. Jams too.”

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“The idea is to please”

“We offer both what you need for a festive meal and gourmet gifts. It works very well in the form of baskets composed of mustard, spices, jams, flavored salts, vinegars, teas…” Stéphanie insists, in passing, on the financial aspect:“We offer baskets at unbeatable prices, starting at €20. And the first prices for products here are €2.50. The goal is not to only offer elitist things. Even if we have caviar, champagne and vintage Armagnacs. But the idea is to please. Here we buy products, not packaging.”

“People come back because they enjoyed themselves”

The grocer admits it frankly:“I'm a foodie and it's much easier to sell an excellent chocolate or an exceptional smoked trout than a company profile!” (laughs). “And when people come back because they enjoyed themselves.” Including a fairly large wine and spirits section. “These are not our flagship products even if we have a nice range, in particular wines from the South West, Madiran, Tariquet, Pacherenc… a bit of Bordeaux. We also have Burgundies and local wines, like Terrasses du Larzac and Daumas Gassac.”

A few arranged rums, ports and the amazing Birlou – “an apple chestnut cream to make a kir” – complete the choice. “In total we have 52 suppliers direct from producers, 80% of whom are from Occitanie.” Impossible not to give in to the sin of gluttony.

La belle épicerie, place de l'Arpajonie in Millau. Open from Tuesday to Sunday morning, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Contact: 05 65 58 71 20. Facebook and Instagram: labelleepicerie-millau