Les Marmites Volantes

What Les Marmites Volantes does

Les Marmites Volantes operates as Les Bouffesquetaires SARL, a Paris-based ESUS-certified social-utility catering company founded in 2011. The business runs three restaurants — in the Jaurès area of Paris's 19th arrondissement, in Montreuil, and embedded within the École des Arts Décoratifs — alongside a corporate meal-delivery service and a school catering operation serving 2,000+ meals daily to approximately 20 schools across Paris and the first couronne, with over 60% organic ingredients.

The operating platform is built around a circular-economy logistics loop rather than proprietary software technology. Reusable stainless-steel marmites are delivered to corporate clients for four-plus-person formulas and to schools, then collected after each service and returned to industrial washing partner Reconcil, with the company reporting 10 tonnes of packaging avoided in 2021. Distribution is performed by an in-house electric cargo-bike fleet supplemented by the Cargonautes cyclo-logistics cooperative. A dedicated production laboratory in Saint-Denis, led by Chef Ronan, handles school catering at scale (reportedly 70,000 meals annually), while pedagogical workshops and training for public authorities are delivered through partner SCIC Nourrir l'avenir. Pricing is €12.50–€22 per person for restaurant dine-in/take-away and €15–€18.50 HT per person for corporate delivery formulas, with optional add-ons for breakfast and cheese courses.

Revenue is generated across four streams — walk-in restaurant sales, corporate Marmites à Partager contracts (sales-led direct outreach, no third-party resellers), multi-year B2G school catering contracts, and bespoke event catering — with named enterprise clients including BNP Paribas and Enercoop and municipal clients including Mairie d'Aubervilliers. The company funded its scaling phase in 2021 through a €730,000 SoWeFund crowdfunding round from approximately 250 impact investors including Fondation Carasso, explicitly earmarked for scaling school meals six-fold, opening three new restaurants, and recruiting HR and finance leadership. Operations achieved first positive net income in 2017, and over 90% of employees hold permanent (CDI) contracts under a stated policy that payroll is not used as an adjustment variable.

Name

Les Marmites Volantes

Legal name

Les Bouffesquetaires SARL

Website

https://marmitesvolantes.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Marmites Volantes is a Paris-based ESUS-certified sustainable catering company operating three restaurants, zero-waste corporate meal delivery via electric cargo bikes, and organic school catering serving 2,000+ meals daily across 20 schools in Île-de-France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Responsible Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (72232), Food Service Contractors (72231)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Central Kitchen & Commissary Operations (Batch Cooking, Satellite Serving) (EDAEAEAG), Concessions, Pop-Ups & Temporary Foodservice for Events (THAHAKAL), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable catering services
• School meal delivery
• Zero-waste restaurant
• Corporate meal delivery
• Eco-responsible catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Restaurant dine-in and takeaway: Walk-in customers at the Jaurès restaurant. Customers order from a short daily-changing menu. Income from individual meal purchases.
2. Corporate meal delivery: Weekly delivery of shared hot meals ('marmites') to businesses for teams of 4 or more. Includes vegetarian and meat options, with optional desserts, drinks, and reusable cutlery kits.
3. School catering: Daily production and delivery of 2000+ meals to approximately 20 schools in Paris and first couronne. Includes pedagogical workshops on food and nutrition.
4. Catering and events: Custom catering for events including cold buffets, cocktail receptions, brunch cruises, and seasonal pop-up locations (Paris Plages, Jardin 21).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Les Marmites Volantes is a Paris-based sustainable catering company operating three integrated service lines: (1) corporate meal delivery — hot shared meals in reusable stainless steel containers (marmites) delivered by electric cargo bike to Paris-area offices for teams of four or more; (2) restaurant service — dine-in and takeaway at three locations (Jaurès, Montreuil, École des Arts Décoratifs) serving seasonal market cuisine; and (3) school catering — production and delivery of over 2,000 meals per day to approximately 20 schools in Paris and first couronne, with 60%+ organic ingredients and accompanying pedagogical workshops.

Product overview

Les Marmites Volantes operates as a unified sustainable restaurant and catering enterprise offering three interconnected service lines: (1) Formules Marmites — zero-waste hot meal delivery in reusable stainless steel containers by electric cargo bike for office meals; (2) Restaurant services — dine-in and take-away restaurants in Paris (Jaurès, Montreuil, and École des Arts Décoratifs) serving seasonal market cuisine; and (3) Restauration Scolaire — sustainable school catering delivering 2000+ daily meals to Paris-area schools with 60%+ organic ingredients. The company also provides add-on services including custom catering (Prestation Traiteur), pedagogical workshops for children, and professional training for collective catering authorities. All offerings share a common platform of zero-waste reusable containers, sustainable sourcing, and cargo bike logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formules Marmites (Corporate Meal Delivery) Hot shared meals delivered by electric cargo bike to workplaces in Paris and the first couronne, served in reusable stainless steel containers (marmites) that are collected after service. Vegetarian and meat options are available, with optional desserts, drinks, and reusable cutlery kits. Minimum order is 4 portions. Target customers are companies and teams seeking zero-waste, locally-sourced catering.
• Restaurant Service (Jaurès, Montreuil, École des Arts Décoratifs) Dine-in, terrace, and take-away restaurant service at three Paris-area locations (Jaurès in Paris 19e, Montreuil, and École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris 5e), open Monday-Friday 12h-14h. The menu features seasonal market cuisine with both vegetarian and meat-based dishes made from fresh, organic, and seasonal produce. Pricing is per plate or per formule (e.g., vegetarian plate €12.50, meat plate €14; formules €17–€22). All three restaurants hold the Ecotable label.
• Restauration Scolaire (Sustainable School Catering) Daily production and delivery of school meals to approximately 20 schools in Paris and the first couronne (over 2,000 meals per day; ~70,000 meals per year). Features 60%+ organic ingredients, reusable stainless steel containers, and 100% electric cargo bike delivery. Includes pedagogical workshops for children. Contracts are negotiated with municipalities and schools.
• Prestation Traiteur (Custom Catering and Events) Custom catering for corporate and cultural events, including cold standing buffets (e.g., 4-element buffet at €15 HT/person), cocktail receptions priced per catalog, brunch cruises on Canal de l'Ourcq (in partnership with Seine-Saint-Denis Tourisme), and seasonal pop-up restaurants such as Paris Plages and Jardin 21. Follows the same zero-waste and sustainable sourcing approach as the core business.
• Ateliers Pédagogiques (Educational Workshops) Educational workshops for school children bundled with the school catering service, covering food tasting, spice discovery, balanced meal planning, and legume cultivation. Designed to raise awareness about sustainable eating among pupils.
• Formations aux Collectivités (Training for Public Authorities) Training programs for public authorities on introducing organic products, vegetarian options, and sustainable practices in collective catering, delivered in partnership with SCIC Nourrir l'avenir. Aimed at municipal and public catering decision-makers.
• Vente à Emporter (Takeaway Service) Take-away service offered at the restaurant locations, using returnable/compostable containers provided by partner Reconcil to enable zero-waste food service for individual customers.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Antropia ESSEC Scale UpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner6-month acceleration program helping define and implement scaling strategy. Key support for growth planning.
• PIE (Dispositif Local d'Accompagnement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReinforces economic model of ESS employers to create and consolidate employment. Assisted with BNP loan.
• Réseau EntreprendreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward winners in 2019, receiving ongoing support and coaching from the network.
• EcotablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabeling organization for eco-responsible restaurants. All Marmites Volantes restaurants are Ecotable certified. Active in community events and food education.
• CargonautescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCyclo-logistics cooperative of bike couriers. Takes over deliveries when company riders cannot handle volume (long routes, oversized loads). Historic partner since 2015.
• SCIC Nourrir l'avenirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner for public collectors. Marmites Volantes offers formation programs through this partner on introducing organic products and vegetarian options in collective catering.
• ETICminorOthersCreates and manages shared offices for social enterprises. Montreuil location is in Mundo M building managed by ETIC since 2015.
• EnercoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen energy pioneer. Supplies electricity to 2 restaurants. Historic customer for meal deliveries. Enercoop's headquarters is near the Jaurès restaurant.
• Seine-Saint-Denis TourismeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric partner since 2017. Collaboration on brunch cruises on Canal de l'Ourcq during Été du Canal.
• La VilletteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural venue in 19th arrondissement. Partner for events including Villette Sonique, company dinners, and open-air cinema summers.
• Académie du ClimatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate intelligence collective space where daily meals are delivered to the café.
• Les CanauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouse of solidarity economics. Serves as resource center, events venue, customer, and prescriber to their network.
• Les Petites RivièresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-constructs solutions for ESS transition with government, corporations, and organizations. Provided events and support for company development.
• Big BloomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized a 4-day solidarity hackathon with 30 employees from BNP Paribas, ENGIE, Enedis and others to help develop new offerings.
• Montessori 21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of solidarity alternative schools where parents pay by income. Several schools selected Marmites Volantes for cafeteria service.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alancienne: Paris-region agroecological catering company. Specifically named alongside Les Marmites Volantes in agroecology press coverage, shares the same farmer-direct sourcing, organic, and short-circuit positioning in catering.
• Le Réfectoire: Paris-based eco-responsible canteen serving seasonal, organic, largely vegetarian lunch menus in a sit-down restaurant format. Closest direct analogue to Les Marmites Volantes' Jaurès / Montreuil restaurants in target customer, sourcing philosophy, and price point.
• La Petite Cantine: Network of neighborhood "cantines" in French cities serving sustainable, short-circuit meals in a convivial setting. Comparable to Marmites Volantes on community-driven restaurant format, ESS-style governance, and focus on shared, sit-down eco-responsible dining.
• Une Autre Cantine: French sustainable school-catering specialist offering organic, vegetarian-forward meals to schools and collectivités. Directly comparable to Les Marmites Volantes' Restauration Scolaire line on customer type (municipalities/schools) and organic / pedagogical offering.

Broad incumbents

• API Restauration: Long-standing French institutional caterer with deep penetration in school and corporate cafeterias. A realistic incumbent competitor when Les Marmites Volantes bids for new municipal school contracts in Île-de-France.
• Sodexo: Global institutional food-services giant with strong presence in French school and corporate catering (Sodexo Schools, Sodexo Live!). Operates at vastly larger scale than Marmites Volantes, but increasingly launching sustainable / organic sub-offers that compete for the same CSR-driven contracts.
• Elior Group: Major listed French contract-catering group serving schools, corporates, and healthcare. Direct competitor for the school catering (concession) side of Marmites Volantes' business and an active entrant in the organic / responsible catering sub-segment.
• Compass Group (Scolarest): Global contract-catering leader; its Scolarest brand is a significant French school-meals operator. Direct overlap with Marmites Volantes on the Restauration Scolaire customer base and contract mechanics, but at materially larger scale and with broader menu capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lesmarmitesvolantes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-marmites-volantes
• Instagraminstagram.com/lesmarmitesvolantes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Les Marmites Volantes