Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas

What Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas does

Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas is a French corporate catering company founded in 2016 by Pierre Cornet Vernet and headquartered in Clichy, Île-de-France, serving business clients in Paris, greater Île-de-France, and Normandy. The company sells reusable meal trays (Plateaux-Repas) in two proprietary formats — the three-tier Trilogie designed by Nathalie Rives and the three-compartment Square — both built from a proprietary 94% plant-based material (potato peels, corn cobs) manufactured in France and engineered for 500+ reuse cycles, with full delivery-and-pickup cold-chain service via insulated bags and, since 2023, refrigerated cargo trikes.

The offering extends beyond individual trays to buffets, finger food, cocktails, breakfasts, beverages, and a same-day "Dernière minute" service in Paris and Hauts-de-Seine, with pricing per tray typically between €23.90 and €42.90 HT plus a flat €24.50 HT delivery/pickup fee. Go-to-market is direct-to-enterprise via a B2B website, phone sales (01 84 25 14 00), email, and a reseller partnership with Erisay traiteur for Normandy coverage. The customer base is enterprise-oriented, with publicly named logos including LVMH, BNP Paribas, OpenClassrooms, and Ledger.

The business model is transactional and per-event rather than subscription-based, with revenue derived from one-time tray, beverage, and event-catering sales, supplemented by an "ESAT-eligible" option that routes a portion of operations through ESAT l'Envol (creating 11 FTE positions for people with disabilities and generating Agefiph tax deductions for corporate clients). The company holds the LUCIE 26000 ESG certification, employs 17 people, and remains privately held with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas

Legal name

Le Cercle

Website

https://lecercle.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas is a French corporate catering company, founded in 2016 and based in Clichy, that delivers reusable zero-waste meal trays and event catering (buffets, cocktails, breakfasts) to enterprises across Île-de-France and Normandy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Catering

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Drop-Off Catering & Boxed Meals (HSACAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Corporate meal trays
• Zero-waste catering
• Reusable food containers
• Business event catering
• Eco-friendly traiteur

Headquarters

HQ city

Clichy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Meal Tray Sales (Plateaux Repas): Individual and group meal trays sold to corporate clients for business lunches, meetings, seminars, and events. Each tray includes starter, main course, dessert, and bread. Available in Trilogie (elegant 3-tier) or Square (practical 3-compartment) formats. Minimum order of 2 trays for standard orders.
2. Beverages: Supplementary beverage sales including soft drinks (water, sodas, juices), wines (red, white, rosé), and champagne. Beverages delivered with meal trays and bottles collected for recycling after service.
3. Last-Minute Orders: Same-day meal tray orders available in Paris and Hauts-de-Seine (92) until 11 AM. Fixed menu options: Vegetarian, Chicken, or Fish at 28-30€ HT. Minimum 3 trays, non-cancellable.
4. Cocktail Services: Cocktail event catering with elegant finger food pieces, drinks service, and setup/cleanup. Requested 72 hours in advance with response within 1 hour.
5. ESAT Inclusive Employment: Special ESAT-eligible meal trays that generate Agefiph tax units (UB) deductible for employers. Factured directly by ESAT l'Envol. Slightly higher pricing due to partnership costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Le Cercle provides reusable, zero-waste corporate meal trays and event catering services (buffets, finger food, cocktails, breakfasts) for businesses in the Île-de-France and Normandy regions of France. Each meal tray is delivered in proprietary 94% plant-based reusable containers (Trilogie or Square formats) that can be used over 500 times, then collected, washed, and returned. Services include standard meal trays, same-day last-minute delivery in Paris and Hauts-de-Seine, and bespoke event catering with optional ESAT-inclusive employment pricing.

Product overview

Le Cercle is a premium corporate catering company operating as a single unified offering with multiple product lines centered around reusable meal trays and event catering services. The core products include Plateaux repas (available in Trilogie and Square formats) which are reusable meal trays made from 94% plant-based materials, supplemented by Buffets, Finger Food, Cocktails, Petits déjeuners, and Boissons. Same-day "Dernière minute" service provides urgent delivery options. The company distinguishes itself through its eco-responsible approach using only reusable containers (500+ uses), partnerships with local producers within 100km, and social inclusion through ESAT l'Envol collaboration. All products are designed to be consumed cold, with dietary accommodations available (vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, without pork).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plateaux repas Trilogie Premium reusable individual meal tray composed of three stackable plates (starter, main course, dessert) covered by a cloche and held together by a leather strap. Made from 94% plant-based materials (potato peels, corn cobs) manufactured in France; reusable more than 500 times. Designed for corporate business lunches, client meetings, and team meals.
• Plateaux repas Square Modern reusable individual meal tray with three compartments (starter, main course, dessert) in a contemporary three-compartment tray design. Same capacity and price as the Trilogie format. Aimed at corporate clients preferring a practical, contemporary presentation.
• Buffets Elegant and savory buffets prepared with fresh, seasonal products for corporate open houses, product launches, and other corporate events. Minimum 8 persons.
• Finger Food Assorted mini sandwiches, small bowls of salad, and sweet treats presented in elegant cubes for informal meetings and breaks during work sessions or seminars.
• Cocktails Cocktail catering for corporate events featuring elegant savory and sweet finger food pieces enjoyed standing, accompanied by beverage selection and full setup/cleanup. Requested 72 hours in advance with response within 1 hour.
• Petits déjeuners (Breakfasts) Breakfast catering for corporate morning meetings or early arrivals, including pastries, fruits, juices, and beverages.
• Dernière minute (Same-day last-minute meal trays) Same-day order meal trays for urgent corporate needs with three fixed menu options: Vegetarian (28€ HT), Chicken, and Fish (30€ HT). Orders accepted until 11 AM with delivery in Paris and Hauts-de-Seine (92). Minimum 3 trays, non-cancellable.
• Boissons (Beverages) Beverage selection including soft drinks (water, sodas, juices, JOMO iced teas) and alcoholic options (wines from 12€ HT, champagne, Château Talbot). Delivered with meal trays; empty bottles collected for recycling.
• Devis Traiteur (Custom catering quote service) Custom catering quote service allowing companies to request personalized quotes for events, specifying number of guests and budget per person. Responses provided within 2 hours.
• Livraison en Normandie (Regional Normandy delivery) Regional meal tray delivery service in Normandy through partnership with Erisay traiteur, covering Rouen, Louviers, Evreux, Vernon, and Mantes-la-Jolie. Maintains Le Cercle quality standards under the Le Cercle brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% reduction in CO2 emissions per meal tray vs disposable alternatives
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, minor and flagship.

• ESAT l'EnvolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with ESAT l'Envol (Association Delos Apei 78) for inclusive employment of people with disabilities. The ESAT handles pre-conditioning and washing of reusable containers, with expanded to culinary laboratory roles. Partnership created 11 full-time equivalent positions for people with disabilities. Customers can select ESAT option for Agefiph tax deductions.
• Erisay TraiteurregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partnership for meal tray delivery in Normandy cities including Rouen, Louviers, Evreux, Vernon, and Mantes-la-Jolie. Allows Le Cercle to extend service beyond Île-de-France while maintaining brand quality standards.
• Association Delos Apei 78minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of ESAT l'Envol, founded 50 years ago as independent parents' association. Recognized actor in social and solidarity economy (ESS). Serves 186 people with disabilities across 85% of professional sectors through 250+ business partnerships.
• Tomy GoussetflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCelebrated French chef of Cambodian origin with prestigious accolades. Contributes seasonal recipes to Le Cercle menu, bringing high gastronomy to corporate catering. Defends vision of gastronomy based on product sincerity, environmental responsibility, and sharing.
• Nathalie RivesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner who created the Trilogie container in 2016, which became a cult design piece. Also designed the Square and Cube containers expanding the reusable container family.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Frichti: Paris-based premium meal delivery service for both consumers and businesses. Comparable in Parisian urban density, premium positioning, and last-mile logistics, though focused on individual B2C/B2B meals rather than reusable-container corporate catering.
• Book Your Table: French online platform aggregating and distributing corporate catering and event offerings across multiple caterers. Could serve as either a competitive channel or a distribution partner for Le Cercle's offerings in Paris.

Direct peers

• Maison Lenôtre: Premium French catering brand (now part of Sodexo) offering corporate meals, cocktail receptions, and event catering. Comparable in premium positioning, French culinary heritage, and serving similar enterprise clientele.
• Potel et Chabot: Historic French luxury caterer specializing in premium corporate events, cocktail receptions, and gala dinners for enterprises and institutions. Directly comparable to Le Cercle in serving high-end B2B catering occasions in Paris, though with a broader event format and without the reusable-tray specialization.
• Erisay Traiteur: Regional Normandy caterer and Le Cercle's distribution partner for Rouen, Louviers, Evreux, Vernon, and Mantes-la-Jolie. Operates in the same corporate catering space and serves as Le Cercle's extension into Normandy.
• Saint Clair Le Traiteur: Premium French event caterer with strong Paris and Normandy presence, offering corporate meals, receptions, and bespoke event services. Comparable target market (French enterprise clients) and geographic overlap with Le Cercle.
• Traiteur de Paris: Paris-based premium corporate caterer providing plateaux-repas, buffets, and event catering to businesses. The closest direct comparator to Le Cercle's core individual meal-tray offering for offices in Île-de-France.

Broad incumbents

• Elior Group: Major French-listed contract catering group serving enterprises, schools, and healthcare. A broad incumbent that increasingly offers sustainability-oriented offerings and could directly compete for the same enterprise RFPs as Le Cercle at much larger scale.
• Compass Group: World's largest contract foodservice and support services company, with growing sustainability programs. Competes for the same enterprise catering contracts as Le Cercle, leveraging multinational scale and procurement leverage.
• Sodexo: Global French-origin food services and facilities management leader. Already owns Maison Lenôtre and offers premium corporate catering solutions globally — a direct competitive threat at the enterprise procurement level despite not specializing in reusable trays.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-cercle-plateaux-repas
• Instagraminstagram.com/lecercle_traiteur

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Le Cercle - Plateaux-Repas