La Boite a Champignons
La Boîte à Champignons, operated by Kroptek since 2021, cultivates oyster mushrooms on recycled coffee grounds in Île-de-France, selling DIY cultivation kits, fresh produce, and circular-economy RSE collection services to consumers, restaurants, and enterprises.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersMontreuil, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What La Boite a Champignons does
La Boîte à Champignons is a French urban-agriculture company that cultivates oyster mushrooms (pleurotes) on a substrate made from recycled coffee grounds collected from Île-de-France businesses, supplemented with wood chips, hemp, and flax pellets. Founded by Grégoire Bleu in 2012 and operated under Kroptek SASU since 2021, the company runs a circular-economy model that diverts coffee waste from incineration, transforms it into substrate for mushroom cultivation, sells the resulting fresh produce to professional kitchens, and returns spent substrate to local farmers (maraîchers de la Plaine de Versailles) as organic fertilizer. Its flagship Saint-Nom-la-Bretéche site spans 1,500 m² and is capable of producing up to one tonne of oyster mushrooms per week while recycling approximately 200 tonnes of coffee grounds annually.
The product portfolio spans consumer-facing DIY and ready-to-grow mushroom boxes (grey, yellow, pink, and Lion's Mane varieties), children's cultivation kits, Maxi Sac cultivation bags yielding up to 2 kg of mushrooms, and a standalone mycelium refill line. The premium B2B fresh-mushroom brand "Pleurotes Monte Cristo" is sold to restaurants and distributors and is recognized by the Collège Culinaire de France with endorsement from Michelin-starred chefs. On the services side, the company runs a B2B coffee-ground collection and valorization subscription for enterprises seeking AGEC-law compliance and RSE reporting, plus corporate team-building workshops and culinary experiences.
Revenue is generated across four streams: one-time e-commerce kit sales (own storefront, Nature et Découvertes retail, Amazon marketplace), recurring B2B coffee-ground collection subscriptions with RSE reporting tools, direct fresh-mushroom sales to chefs and distributors, and professional-services team-building workshops. Distribution is multi-channel, combining direct e-commerce, physical retail, marketplace, regional B2B field sales to Île-de-France enterprises, and trade-show presence. Customer segments include individual urban consumers, large enterprises and institutions (50+ partners including L'Oréal, Société Générale, Vinci, Suez, and AXA), professional chefs and restaurants, and food distributors.
La Boite a Champignons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Boite a Champignons
- Legal name
- KROPTEK
- Website
- https://laboiteachampignons.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- La Boîte à Champignons, operated by Kroptek since 2021, cultivates oyster mushrooms on recycled coffee grounds in Île-de-France, selling DIY cultivation kits, fresh produce, and circular-economy RSE collection services to consumers, restaurants, and enterprises.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
La Boite a Champignons industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Agriculture / Specialty Mushroom Cultivation
- NAICS
- Mushroom Production (111411)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mushroom & Fungi Production (Indoor/Protected) (AFAGAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mushroom Farming (Button, Oyster, Shiitake) (AFAGADAJ)
Keywords
Where La Boite a Champignons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreuil
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
La Boite a Champignons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Mushroom Cultivation Kits (DIY): Sale of ready-to-grow and do-it-yourself mushroom boxes to individual consumers through e-commerce. Kits include substrate blocks and mycelium for cultivating oyster mushrooms at home using recycled coffee grounds
- B2B Coffee Ground Collection Services: Enterprise subscription service collecting coffee grounds from companies in Ile-de-France, providing RSE (corporate social responsibility) indicators, monthly reporting tools, and helping businesses comply with AGEC anti-waste law requirements
- Fresh Mushroom Sales: Fresh oyster mushrooms (Monte Cristo brand) sold to professional chefs and restaurant distributors in the Paris region
- Corporate Team Building & Workshops: On-site and workshop experiences including DIY mushroom box assembly, cooking workshops with planchas, and fresh mushroom delivery for corporate events
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Delivery |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
La Boite a Champignons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Boîte à Champignons cultivates oyster mushrooms on recycled coffee grounds collected from Île-de-France businesses, then sells those mushrooms to restaurants under the Monte Cristo brand and DIY/ready-to-grow mushroom cultivation kits to consumers. The company also provides B2B coffee ground collection and valorization services that help enterprises meet RSE (corporate social responsibility) and AGEC anti-waste law obligations, complemented by corporate team-building workshops.
Product overview
La Boîte à Champignons is a circular economy-focused AgTech company offering mushroom cultivation products for home, professional, and educational use. The core portfolio consists of ready-to-grow (Prête à Cultiver) and DIY (À Faire Soi-Même) mushroom boxes in sizes for 2-4 people, plus dedicated children's kits. The product line extends to Maxi Sac cultivation bags yielding up to 2kg of mushrooms, Lion's Mane (Crinière de Lion) variants, and standalone mycelium packets. The company's premium sub-brand, Pleurotes Monte Cristo, represents commercial-scale oyster mushroom production for restaurants and distributors. Complementary services include professional coffee ground collection and valorization for enterprises (supporting RSE/AGEC compliance) and corporate team-building workshops. The DIY boxes are distributed through laboiteachampignons.com, Nature & Découvertes, Amazon, and retail salons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Monte Cristo: The brand name for fresh pleurotus mushrooms cultivated on coffee grounds, sold to restaurants and distributors.
Products and services
- Ready-to-Grow Mushroom Box (Boîte Prête à Cultiver) Pre-inoculated mushroom growing kit ready for home cultivation. Users open the box, water it daily, and harvest oyster mushrooms within weeks. Available in sizes for 2 or 4 people; aimed at individual consumers and families looking for an easy entry into home mushroom cultivation.
- DIY Mushroom Box (Boîte à Faire Soi-Même) DIY mushroom cultivation kit for hands-on users who collect and pasteurize their own coffee grounds before mixing with the included mycelium to grow oyster mushrooms at home. Includes a code for free mycelium shipment. Available in sizes for 2 or 4 people; targeted at sustainability-minded urban consumers and educators.
- Children's Mushroom Box (Boîte à Champignons pour Enfants) Mushroom growing kit adapted for children to learn about mushroom cultivation and the circular economy through hands-on experience. Designed for families and educational buyers.
- Maxi Sac (Large Cultivation Bag) Large-format mushroom cultivation bag yielding up to 2kg of oyster mushrooms, using the same ready-to-grow principle as the smaller mushroom boxes. For home consumers wanting higher-volume harvests.
- Mycelium Packets (Sachets Mycelium) Pleurotus mycelium inoculum sold as a refill or standalone order via a unique code, available in grey, yellow, pink varieties and Lion's Mane. Used to inoculate new substrate after a first harvest.
- Pleurotes Monte Cristo (Fresh Oyster Mushrooms) Premium fresh oyster mushrooms cultivated on recycled coffee grounds in Île-de-France, available in grey, yellow, and pink varieties. Sold directly to professional chefs, restaurants, and food distributors, with recognition by Michelin-starred chefs including Yamashita Asafumi.
- Lion's Mane Mushroom Box (Boîte Crinière de Lion) Mushroom box for cultivating Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) at home, available in DIY format for 2 people. Includes step-by-step instructions in multiple languages (French, English, Spanish, German, Italian).
- Mushroom Compost (Compost de Champignons) Organic fertilizer made from spent mushroom substrate after harvest, rich in mycelium and nutrients. Used by local farmers (maraîchers) and gardeners for soil enrichment and plant cultivation.
- Coffee Ground Collection and Valorization Service Professional B2B service collecting and recycling coffee grounds from businesses in Île-de-France (minimum 500 kg per collection), supporting RSE commitments and AGEC anti-waste law compliance. Includes awareness sessions and monthly internal engagement tools for client enterprises. Customers include L'Oréal, Société Générale, Vinci, Suez, and AXA.
- Corporate Team-Building Workshops (Ateliers Team-Building RSE) On-site corporate team-building workshops including DIY mushroom box assembly, cooking classes, and plancha culinary sessions. Designed to animate internal RSE initiatives and engage employees; sold to enterprises in Île-de-France.
Quantifiable outcome
- 250+ tonnes of coffee grounds diverted from incineration annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use La Boite a Champignons
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
La Boite a Champignons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
La Boite a Champignons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LobodisminorPartnership signed November 2016 with responsible coffee roaster Lobodis as part of their 'Act&Respect' initiative supporting circular economy and innovation. Lobodis supports local economic circularity and sustainable practices.
- KroptekcoreParent company Kroptek acquired La Boîte à Champignons activities since 2021, continuing the circular economy mission. Kroptek brings expertise in controlled environment projects and LED grow lighting technology to expand operations and develop new products and cultivation techniques.
- Wesh GrowminorNewest partner in the Kroptek network spanning from New Brunswick (Canada) to Paris. Wesh Grow joins other farms in the transatlantic network for shared knowledge and market expansion.
- UpCycleminorEnterprise mother company providing B2B coffee collection solutions and connecting La Boîte à Champignons with companies seeking RSE services and biodéchet management.
- La Ferme du Bec HellouinminorMicro-farm delivering spent mushroom substrate for permaculture use, embodying the circular economy principles between urban mushroom cultivation and agricultural fertility.
- PoulehouseminorPartnership with ethical egg producer whose hens live full natural lives. Collaborated on recipes combining Monte Cristo mushrooms with Poulehouse eggs, both products emphasizing animal welfare and sustainability.
- Les CommisminorWeekly meal kit service featuring recipes by Chef Owen, partnering to supply fresh ingredients and create recipes around seasonal produce and sustainable cooking.
- L'Atelier des ChefsminorCulinary workshop provider offering cooking classes and demonstrations, featuring recipes with La Boîte à Champignons products for team building and professional training.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
La Boite a Champignons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mycopolitan: US-based urban mushroom farm producing fresh specialty mushrooms for restaurants and grocery via controlled-environment cultivation. Direct comparable in B2B specialty mushroom supply to chefs with overlapping go-to-market.
- Back to the Roots: US-based company selling DIY mushroom grow kits and other at-home food growing kits via retail and DTC channels. Direct peer in the DIY home cultivation category with similar educational content positioning and consumer focus.
- Smallhold: US-based urban mushroom farming company operating controlled-environment farms and selling fresh specialty mushrooms plus DIY grow kits via DTC and wholesale. Closely comparable business model combining indoor CEA cultivation with multi-channel distribution to restaurants and consumers.
- GroCycle: Mushroom cultivation kit and education company offering DIY grow kits, online courses, and urban mushroom farming resources. Direct peer in mushroom-kit DTC with overlapping educational content strategy and home-grower customer base.
- Toopi Organics: French company valorizing coffee grounds into agricultural biostimulants and fertilizers. Operates in the same circular coffee-ground economy in France, competing for the same enterprise waste stream and RSE budgets.
- Fungi Perfecti: Pioneer in mushroom cultivation supplies and mycology products including DIY grow kits, mycelium, and supplements. Long-standing peer in the mushroom cultivation products category with overlap in consumer grow kit offerings.
Emerging players
- Agricool: French urban agriculture startup using container farms to grow strawberries in city centers. Competes for the same urban agriculture and controlled-environment agriculture narrative in France, targeting local sustainable food production.
- Les Alchimistes: French circular economy company collecting urban food waste from businesses and transforming it into compost and agricultural products. Direct comparable circular economy business model targeting enterprise RSE buyers in France.
- Cycloponics: French urban agriculture company operating underground mushroom and microgreens farms beneath Paris. Direct geographic competitor in urban mushroom farming within the same metropolitan area.
Broad incumbents
- Monaghan Mushrooms: One of the world's largest mushroom producers with vertically integrated farming operations across Europe and North America. Broad incumbent in the mushroom category whose scale economics could compress specialty growers' pricing over time.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
La Boite a Champignons social profiles
Digital presenceLa Boite a Champignons compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
La Boite a Champignons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Boite a Champignons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
La Boite a Champignons subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
La Boite a Champignons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Boite a Champignons M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Boite a Champignons
What does La Boite a Champignons do?
La Boîte à Champignons cultivates oyster mushrooms on recycled coffee grounds collected from Île-de-France businesses, then sells those mushrooms to restaurants under the Monte Cristo brand and DIY/ready-to-grow mushroom cultivation kits to consumers. The company also provides B2B coffee ground collection and valorization services that help enterprises meet RSE (corporate social responsibility) and AGEC anti-waste law obligations, complemented by corporate team-building workshops.
Is La Boite a Champignons a public or private company?
La Boite a Champignons is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was La Boite a Champignons founded?
La Boite a Champignons was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is La Boite a Champignons based?
La Boite a Champignons is headquartered in Montreuil, France, in the Europe region.
How does La Boite a Champignons make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Mushroom Cultivation Kits (DIY) is the primary driver. The others are B2B Coffee Ground Collection Services, fresh Mushroom Sales and corporate Team Building & Workshops.
Who are La Boite a Champignons's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mycopolitan, Back to the Roots, Smallhold, GroCycle, Toopi Organics and Fungi Perfecti. Emerging players are Agricool, Les Alchimistes and Cycloponics. Monaghan Mushrooms is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does La Boite a Champignons have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Boite a Champignons.
What industry is La Boite a Champignons in?
La Boite a Champignons's product category is Urban Agriculture / Specialty Mushroom Cultivation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAK, Mushroom & Fungi Production (Indoor/Protected), with a secondary code of AFAGADAJ, Mushroom Farming (Button, Oyster, Shiitake). Its NAICS code is 111411 and its SIC code is 2090.