So.bio
So.bio is a French organic grocery retailer operating a franchise network of ~77 stores (~550 m² each) carrying ~11,000 organic SKUs across food, beauty, and wellness, supported by a local-producer sourcing network and the Entre NOUS loyalty program for health-conscious and zero-waste consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersCanéjan, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What So.bio does
So.bio SAS is a French specialized organic grocery retailer founded in 2005 and headquartered in Canéjan near Bordeaux, operating a franchise network of approximately 77 stores across metropolitan France under the dual So.bio and Bio c' Bon brands. Each store averages roughly 550 m² and carries approximately 11,000 SKUs spanning fresh produce, dry grocery, beverages, traditional deli, wine cellar, household, cosmetics, hygiene, and wellness categories. The company differentiates through a dedicated nationwide "sourceurs" team that cultivates direct relationships with local producers within 100 km of each store, an accessible pricing strategy anchored by two private-label ranges ("Je suis le meilleur prix" with 100+ best-price references and "So.bio Sélection" with 80+ year-round locked-price SKUs), and a bulk/zero-waste assortment exceeding 100 references.
The business model is franchise-led: revenue accrues from retail sales across the network, recurring franchise fees, and ancillary channels including home delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo partnerships and anti-waste baskets via Too Good To Go. Customer engagement is driven by the "Entre NOUS" loyalty program, relaunched in October 2023 with 12-month point validity, tiered status (Initié/Expert/Ambassadeur), double points on local/bulk/zero-waste purchases, and a cagnotte redeemable as discount or donated to the Terre de Liens charity partner. Customer segments are individual French consumers — health-conscious shoppers, zero-waste advocates, and wellness/dietary-specific buyers — with no disclosed B2B or enterprise channel. The technology stack is conventional: a Sylius-based CMS/website, standard Google and social media analytics, and loyalty program integration; no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or third-party e-commerce marketplace is described. Distribution is national via the franchise network and selected home-delivery aggregators; the company does not operate its own e-commerce checkout.
So.bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- So.bio
- Legal name
- So.bio SAS
- Website
- https://sobio.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- So.bio is a French organic grocery retailer operating a franchise network of ~77 stores (~550 m² each) carrying ~11,000 organic SKUs across food, beauty, and wellness, supported by a local-producer sourcing network and the Entre NOUS loyalty program for health-conscious and zero-waste consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
So.bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Grocery Retail
- NAICS
- Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (445110), Specialty Food Retailers (4452)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Natural/Organic Supermarkets & Chains (CRAHAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly) (CRAHAEAE), Natural & Organic Foods Distribution (CRAOABAH), Organic Specialty Diet Foods Wholesale (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergen-Free) (AFAIAJAI)
Keywords
Where So.bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Canéjan
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices17 records
Markets served
So.bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail store sales: Revenue is generated through in-store retail sales of organic products across approximately 11,000 SKUs including fresh produce, dry goods, beverages, beauty, health, and household items. Stores are operated under a franchise model.
- Franchise fees: So.bio generates revenue by franchising its brand and store format to franchisees who open and operate So.bio stores. The franchise model is the primary growth vehicle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Everyday low price on 100+ 'Meilleur Prix' flagged products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | So.bio Sélection: 80+ locked-price references |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
So.bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
So.bio is a French franchise retail chain operating organic grocery supermarkets of approximately 550 m² in the periphery of major cities, stocking nearly 11,000 certified organic SKUs across fresh produce, dry grocery, deli/counters, wine cellar, household, cosmetics, and wellness. The company supplements in-store retail with two private-label value ranges (Je suis le meilleur prix and So.bio Sélection), a bulk and zero-waste assortment, the Entre NOUS loyalty program, and last-mile delivery through Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Too Good To Go.
Product overview
So.bio is a French organic grocery retail chain operating physical stores averaging 550 m2 across France, offering approximately 11,000 organic products spanning food, beverages, deli, wine, household, cosmetics, and wellness categories. The company's product ecosystem combines its core retail offering with the Entre NOUS loyalty program (featuring point accumulation, tiered status, and flexible wallet redemption), two private label brands (budget-focused 'Je suis le meilleur prix' with 100+ locked-price references and 'So.bio Sélection' with 80+ everyday items), a bulk and zero-waste product range (100+ references), home delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo partnerships, and the Too Good To Go anti-waste initiative. The company emphasizes local sourcing through a network of producers within 100km of each store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Entre NOUS: Loyalty program offering generous rewards, with points accumulated on purchases and converted to spending credits or donations to Terre de Liens association.
- So.bio Sélection
Products and services
- So.bio Retail Stores Franchise-operated brick-and-mortar organic supermarkets of approximately 550 m² in the periphery of large French cities, stocking nearly 11,000 organic SKUs across fresh produce, dry grocery, deli/counters, wine cellar, household, cosmetics, and wellness, supported by in-store advisors including naturopaths.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2nd place in the 'Magasins Bio' category of the Meilleures Enseignes ranking
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use So.bio
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
So.bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
So.bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Too Good To GocoreToo Good To Go is a partnership through which So.bio stores offer 'anti-gaspi' baskets of short-dated but still edible products at discounted prices. This addresses food waste reduction while generating incremental revenue and attracting budget-conscious customers. The partnership aligns with So.bio's zero-waste commitment.
- Uber EatscoreUber Eats provides last-mile home delivery service for So.bio stores, enabling customers who cannot or prefer not to visit physical stores to purchase So.bio organic products. Available at select stores.
- DeliveroocoreDeliveroo provides last-mile home delivery service for So.bio stores, complementing the Uber Eats partnership and expanding delivery coverage to more consumers.
- Terre de LienscoreTerre de Liens is So.bio's loyalty program charity partner. Customers can donate all or part of their monetary cagnotte (accumulated loyalty value) to Terre de Liens, which supports organic farming and land preservation. So.bio aggregates and transfers donations monthly. This partnership reinforces So.bio's commitment to supporting organic agriculture beyond store operations.
- Nature & CieminorNature & Cie is a family-owned PME (30 collaborators) founded in 2005 in Vallet, Loire-Atlantique, specializing in organic and gluten-free products. Products include cereals, breads, biscuits, pasta, flours, and a frozen range. The partnership features French flours (98%), fair-trade chocolate and sugar, and zero palm oil. Nature & Cie is highlighted as a 'supplier pépite' (top supplier) partner in So.bio's editorial content.
- Louise ÉmoiminorLouise Émoi is an artisanal soap maker based in the Tarn, Occitanie. The company was founded when mother Véronique created soaps to treat her daughter Louise's sensitive skin. Products are made using cold saponification, organic ingredients, and short supply chains. Featured as a 'supplier pépite' partner supplying cosmetics and solid hygiene products to So.bio stores, particularly in Occitanie.
- BelledonneminorBelledonne is a Savoyan artisan bakery established in 1991, working exclusively with organic ingredients and fair-trade sourcing where possible. Specializing in natural leavened breads and the 'Grandes Tranches' sliced bread range. Featured as a 'supplier pépite' partner with promotional features (15% discount in May). Products include Lin & Sunflower, Lin & Pumpkin, and Demi-Complet sliced breads.
- LökkiminorLökki is a microbrewery/artisanal beverage company founded in 2015 by Nina and Sébastian, specializing in live, unpasteurized organic kombuchas, kéfirs, and ginger beers. Products are low in sugar due to natural fermentation. Featured as a supplier in PACA region stores. Range includes kombuchas (Hibiscus-Rose, Ginger-Tulsi, Spirulina-Mint, Strawberry-Sacred Basil, Turmeric-Lime) and kéfirs.
- Local producers networkcoreSo.bio works with a network of local producers (farmers, market gardeners, beekeepers, cheese makers, brewers, wine makers, artisan bakers) located within 100km of each store. Products include eggs, honey, cheese, vegetables, meat, wine, and bread. So.bio employs dedicated 'sourceurs' (sourcers) who cover the entire French territory to establish and maintain these direct producer relationships. This is a foundational element of So.bio's sourcing strategy and value proposition.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
So.bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Biocoop: France's largest network of organic retail cooperatives with ~700+ stores. Direct competitor to So.bio in the French organic supermarket category with similar local-producer sourcing philosophy and broader geographic coverage.
- Les Nouveaux Robinson: French organic supermarket chain primarily serving the Île-de-France and northern regions. Direct overlap with So.bio on organic assortment, bulk/zero-waste, and franchise-style expansion in peri-urban locations.
- La Vie Claire: Independent French organic supermarket chain (~150 stores) operating franchise and owned-store models. Closely comparable to So.bio in store format, assortment breadth, and franchise-led expansion strategy.
- L'Eau Vive: Mid-sized French organic retail chain with a footprint across southeast France. Comparable to So.bio in category (organic supermarkets), positioning (local and zero-waste), and target customer (health-conscious daily shoppers).
- Naturalia: French organic retail chain (owned by Casino Group) with ~200 stores concentrated in urban areas. Competes head-to-head with So.bio in the same organic specialty category, differentiated by an urban convenience-store footprint versus So.bio's peri-urban supers.
Emerging players
- La Fourche: Online-first French organic grocery retailer offering subscription pricing and home delivery. Competes with So.bio on organic basket share without physical store capex, representing the digital-native threat vector.
- Grand Panier Bio: Emerging French organic retail chain focused on smaller-format neighborhood stores. Comparable to So.bio in category but with a different unit-economics model (smaller stores, urban density) and earlier growth stage.
Others
- Too Good To Go: Anti-food-waste marketplace and So.bio's existing distribution partner. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler (waste-reduction basket channel) and as a signal of where organic retail partnerships are moving.
Broad incumbents
- Intermarché Bio: Organic store-in-store and dedicated organic format by Les Mousquetaires (Intermarché group). Indirect competitor to So.bio via organic assortment at lower price points within a much broader grocery footprint.
- Carrefour Bio: Organic store concept launched by Carrefour, the largest French grocer. Competes with So.bio via dedicated organic stores and a broad organic assortment inside hypermarkets, leveraging scale to undercut specialist pricing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
So.bio social profiles
Digital presenceSo.bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
So.bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
So.bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
So.bio 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 So.bio
What does So.bio do?
So.bio is a French franchise retail chain operating organic grocery supermarkets of approximately 550 m² in the periphery of major cities, stocking nearly 11,000 certified organic SKUs across fresh produce, dry grocery, deli/counters, wine cellar, household, cosmetics, and wellness. The company supplements in-store retail with two private-label value ranges (Je suis le meilleur prix and So.bio Sélection), a bulk and zero-waste assortment, the Entre NOUS loyalty program, and last-mile delivery through Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Too Good To Go.
Is So.bio a public or private company?
So.bio is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was So.bio founded?
So.bio was founded in 2005. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is So.bio based?
So.bio is headquartered in Canéjan, France, in the Europe region.
How does So.bio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail store sales are the primary driver. The others are franchise fees.
Who are So.bio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Biocoop, Les Nouveaux Robinson, La Vie Claire, L'Eau Vive and Naturalia. Emerging players are La Fourche and Grand Panier Bio. Too Good To Go is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Intermarché Bio and Carrefour Bio.
Does So.bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for So.bio.
What industry is So.bio in?
So.bio's product category is Organic Grocery Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAEAA, Natural/Organic Supermarkets & Chains, with a secondary code of CRAHAEAE, Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly). Its NAICS code is 445110 and its SIC code is 5411.