Bérénice

What Bérénice does

Bérénice, legally registered as BÉRÉNICE and trading as "Bérénice, pour la ville et le commerce," is a Paris-based urban programming consultancy founded in 1989. The firm specializes in the intersection of commerce and urban planning, providing advisory services for the revitalization of city centers, restructuring of peripheral commercial zones, programming of covered market halls (halles), and definition of mixed-use active ground floors (rez-de-chaussée actifs). Its core methodology combines commercial diagnosis, spatial analysis, regulatory advisory, geomarketing, and concept sourcing, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of urban planners, geographers, and architects.

The firm's technology stack is methodology-driven rather than product-based. It relies on proprietary analytical frameworks augmented by third-party pedestrian traffic data through a partnership with MyTraffic, in-house cartography and GIS capabilities, and regulatory expertise in CDAC-CNAC commercial authorization processes and Elan/Climat-Résilienne impact analyses. Thought leadership is published through books ("Book Bérénice," "Les pépites de la ville active," "Zones de Périphérie") and the 2025 publication "La fresque du commerce."

Bérénice operates a B2G/B2B professional services model targeting French local governments (collectivités, agglomerations), public land establishments (EPF), urban development agencies (SPL, aménageurs), and private commercial operators (promoteurs, foncières). Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees with publicly disclosed per-mission budgets ranging from €7,200 to €120,000 HT, often structured as multi-year mandates. The firm has executed 100+ missions across France plus Madrid, with long-term engagements including Sequano (ZAC des Docks, ongoing since 2012) and Ville d'Arras (4-year redynamization mandate reducing commercial vacancy from 17.5% to 8%).

Name

Bérénice

Legal name

BÉRÉNICE

Website

https://berenice.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bérénice is a Paris-based urban programming consultancy specializing in commercial revitalization, active ground floor development, and peripheral zone restructuring for French local governments, public land establishments, and urban development agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Advisory and consulting fees: Professional services revenue from urban planning studies, commercial programming missions, regulatory advisory, and ongoing AMO (Assistance à Maîtrise d'Ouvrage) mandates for public and private clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bérénice is an urban programming and consulting agency specializing in commercial urbanism, active ground floors (rez-de-chaussée actifs), and economic activities. The firm delivers advisory services including redynamization of city centers, programming of market halls, restructuring of peripheral commercial zones, commercial strategy definition, CDAC (commercial exploitation authorization) support, and mixed-use neighborhood programming for French public and private clients.

Product overview

Bérénice is a consulting agency specializing in urban programming, revitalization, and restructuring of urban and rural living spaces, with a focus on commercial activities and active ground floors. The firm offers advisory services including redynamization of city centers, market hall programming, peripheral restructuring, commercial strategy definition, CDAC (commercial authorization) support, and mixed-use programming. As a programming and revitalization specialist, the agency works across diverse living spaces from metropolises to small towns, and from commercial zones to city center renewal projects. Bérénice does not offer a software product; rather, it provides professional consulting and advisory services in urban commercial planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Redynamization of Centralities

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced city center vacancy from 17.5% to 8% in Arras over 4 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fédération ProcoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBérénice is described as 'cousine' (related/cousin) of Procos, the federation for commerce and urban planning. This relationship provides access to retail brand network and industry intelligence.
• Hub ArchitectescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegular partnership with Hub architects for spatial design of halle projects including Brest Saint-Louis, Bayonne Halles, and Granville Taillais zone restructuring.
• OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm handling master design work for Mérignac Marne et Soleil project; Bérénice collaborated iteratively on structural requirements for commercial programs.
• AREP MenighettiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm partnered with Bérénice for Champigny-sur-Marne gourmet halle project definition and urban programming.
• FCL-Gérer la CitéminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner alongside AREP Menighetti in Champigny-sur-Marne halle project for juridical-financial and operational expertise.
• DuplantierminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm collaborating on Mérignac Marne et Soleil project with Bérénice for structural requirements integration.
• Bliss AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunication agency partner for Bayonne Halles project, handling brand launch and communication support.
• AdéquationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Angoulême commercial land valorization study for center-city revitalization.
• Narval ConseilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership in Perce-Neige mixed programming project for disability-focused venue in Boulogne-Billancourt.
• ManifestominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership in Perce-Neige mixed programming project for disability-focused venue in Boulogne-Billancourt.
• PATRIARCHEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm leading the La Croix Blanche zone restructuring plan guide team, with Bérénice handling commercial analysis.
• INDIGGOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPart of the La Croix Blanche zone restructuring plan guide team with PATRIARCHE and Bérénice.
• FLINT-BASEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTeam partnership for Les Aubiers project in Bordeaux, with Bérénice handling ground floor reactivation and mixed-use analysis.
• Le Sens de la VilleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Mérignac Marne et Soleil project for ground floor schema definition.
• Ville OuverteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Mérignac Marne et Soleil project for ground floor schema definition.
• Ville EnvieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Mérignac Marne et Soleil project for ground floor schema definition.
• AktisminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Grand-Épagny master plan for zone transformation from commercial area to mixed-use neighborhood.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SCET: Caisse des Dépôts subsidiary providing large-scale urban planning, real estate development, and territorial consulting across France — overlaps Bérénice's public-sector urban programming work but at significantly greater scale and scope.
• AREP: Major French architecture, urban planning, and engineering firm (SNCF heritage) delivering master plans, mixed-use programming, and infrastructure projects — partnered with Bérénice on Champigny-sur-Marne, illustrating overlap in commercial programming and mixed-use urban work.

Direct peers

• AID Observatoire: French commercial real estate observatory and consultancy producing market studies, geomarketing analysis, and commercial programming research for retailers, aménageurs, and local governments — closely overlaps Bérénice's commercial urbanism focus.
• Intencité: French urban planning consultancy specialized in commercial dynamism, centralities, and halls/markets programming — directly comparable to Bérénice in mission, methodology, and public-sector client base across France.
• Blezat Consulting: French consultancy supporting urban planning and territorial development through commercial studies, retail strategy, and CDAC support — directly competes with Bérénice for French public-sector commercial programming mandates.
• FCL Gérer la Cité: French consultancy providing commercial urbanism, retail strategy, and programming advisory to local governments and operators — listed as a partner of Bérénice on the Champigny-sur-Marne halle project, indicating direct overlap in offering and client type.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b-r-nice-pour-la-ville-et-le-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bérénice