What La Fabuleuse Cantine does

La Fabuleuse Cantine is a French privately-held SAS (Économie Sociale et Solidaire) operator founded in 2017 and headquartered in Saint-Étienne (Cité du Design), running a network of eco-responsible restaurants, an eco-responsible catering service (Traiteur Écoresponsable), and a take-away pasteurized meal product (Le Bocal) sold in consigned glass jars. The company sources surplus organic produce from a curated network of 100+ local producers within an 80km radius, transforming more than 100 tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually. Its central technical asset is the Conserverie de Territoire, a food transformation laboratory in Bussy-Albieux equipped with autoclave pasteurization, water-recycling systems, and a CO2-based cold chain that converts surplus bio production into preserved recipes with a minimum two-month refrigerated shelf life.

The business operates through owned restaurants in Saint-Étienne (200m² interior + 250m² terrace, 100-200 capacity) and Lyon 7 (90m², 50-110 capacity), embedded pre-show dining counters at three Lyon cultural institutions (Auditorium Orchestre National, Théâtre des Célestins, Théâtre l'Île Ô), a franchise territory program for partner-led expansion, and an upcoming flagship Chalet du Parc in Lyon's Tête d'Or park targeted for September 2026 with ENERPHIT Passive House certification and Inovaya grey-water recycling. Revenue is generated across five streams: on-site dining (daily menus €9-21), Sunday brunch buffet (€30/adult), catering and venue privatization (quote-based, 30-160 guests), consigned bocal take-away sales (€6-15), and cultural event programming (concerts, DJ sets, salsa evenings, comedy, bingo brunches, frip' markets). Customer segments include individual consumers, corporate and private event clients, cultural institution patrons, and students/welfare recipients served through the Biocoop-backed Bocal Solidaire program (€4-6). The company is funded primarily through public grants (Fonds Avenir Bio, Bpifrance, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FEADER/LEADER, Saint-Étienne Métropole) and an October 2025 crowdequity campaign on Crowdcube (€10 minimum tickets), with Éric Petrotto serving as Director of Publication.

Name

La Fabuleuse Cantine

Legal name

LA FABULEUSE CANTINE

Website

https://lafabuleusecantine.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Fabuleuse Cantine is a French eco-responsible restaurant operator (founded 2017, Saint-Étienne) running multi-site venues, an anti-waste catering service, a take-away bocal product, and a Conserverie de Territoire transformation laboratory, serving individual consumers, corporate event clients, and cultural institution patrons across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Responsible Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ), Freshly Made Grab-and-Go (Sandwiches, Wraps, Salads) (CRAHAKAA), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

Keywords

• Eco-responsible restaurants
• Anti-food waste catering
• Consigned jar meals
• Local organic cuisine
• Surplus food transformation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-étienne-de-saint-geoirs

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Operations: On-site dining at multiple locations in Saint-Étienne and Lyon 7, serving daily menus, brunches, and à la carte offerings. Revenue from food and beverage sales to individual consumers.
2. Catering/Traiteur Services: Eco-responsible catering for corporate events, private celebrations, seminars, and cultural events. Customized menus for gala dinners, cocktails, buffets, and team building events.
3. Bocal (Take-away Products): Sales of pasteurized prepared meals in consigned glass jars. Vegetarian and meat options priced €6-15. Available in restaurants and partner stores. Lactofermented vegetables and tapas also sold.
4. Franchise Territory Model: Creative franchise model for territorial expansion. Investment-based growth strategy targeting new locations with support for local producer networks and anti-gaspi operations.
5. Event Privatization: Private venue rentals for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, and team building. Revenue from venue hire combined with catering packages. Spaces accommodate 30-160 guests depending on configuration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Fabuleuse Cantine operates eco-responsible restaurants, an eco-responsible catering (traiteur) service, and take-away pasteurized meals in consigned glass jars, all built around an anti-waste model that transforms surplus organic produce from 100+ local producers into seasonal menus. The company runs restaurant locations in Saint-Étienne and Lyon 7 with cultural programming, a Conserverie de Territoire food transformation laboratory, private event venue rental, cooking workshops, and the social Bocal Solidaire program offering subsidized meals.

Product overview

La Fabuleuse Cantine operates a network of eco-responsible restaurants and catering services centered on anti-food-waste principles. The core offering consists of multi-location restaurants in Saint-Étienne and Lyon serving daily menus crafted from surplus organic produce from over 100 local producers. Key products include: (1) Le Bocal - pasteurized meals in reusable glass jars for takeaway; (2) Traiteur Écoresponsable - custom catering for events; (3) Conserverie de Territoire - food transformation laboratory; and (4) Privatisation de Lieux - private event venue rental. Additional services include cooking workshops, cultural partner counters at Lyon theaters, and the social initiative Le Bocal Solidaire. The company is expanding with the Chalet du Parc venue (opening September 2026). Signature offerings include the SuperWaste Burger and seasonal brunch experiences (Brunch Ta Frip' combining dining with second-hand markets).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Bocal: Range of pasteurized bio meals in reusable glass jars, available for takeaway. Products include vegetarian and meat dishes, desserts, and lacto-fermented vegetables priced between 6€ and 15€.
• SuperWaste Burger
• Le Bocal Solidaire
• Traiteur Écoresponsable

Products and services

• Eco-Responsible Restaurants (Saint-Étienne and Lyon 7) Multi-location eco-responsible restaurants in Saint-Étienne (Cité du Design) and Lyon 7 (Hévéa - Cité Etic) offering seasonal daily menus, à la carte dishes, brunches, bar service, and evening cultural programming, with menus crafted from unsold organic produce and local producer surplus.
• Traiteur Écoresponsable (Eco-Responsible Catering) Eco-responsible catering service across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes transforming surplus organic produce into creative dishes for corporate events, weddings, seminars, and private celebrations with customized menus (galas, cocktails, buffets, team building).
• Conserverie de Territoire (Food Transformation Laboratory) Territorial preservation laboratory in Bussy-Albieux that converts surplus organic agricultural production within an 80km radius into pasteurized seasonal dishes, featuring CO2-based cold chain and autoclave water recycling systems.
• Le Bocal (Take-Away Jar Meals) Range of pasteurized meals in reusable consigned glass jars (€2 deposit refundable on return), with vegetarian options at €12 and meat options at €15; lactofermented vegetables and tapas also available. Sold at restaurants and partner stores with a minimum two-month refrigerated shelf life.
• Privatisation de Lieux (Private Venue Rental) Private event venue rental at Saint-Étienne (250m², up to 150 guests) and Lyon 7 (90m², up to 100 guests) for corporate events, weddings, seminars, birthdays, afterworks, family gatherings, and team building activities.
• Cours de Cuisine Écoresponsables (Anti-Waste Cooking Workshops) Anti-waste cooking workshops teaching participants to maximize ingredient use, offered as team-building activities (€65/adult, €35/child) or public sessions featuring seasonal and creative recipes, including sessions with Chef Florine.
• Le Bocal Solidaire (Solidarity Jar Meal Program) Social solidarity program in partnership with Biocoop's endowment fund offering vegetarian meals at €4 and meat meals at €6 in consigned jars for students, job seekers, and those receiving social welfare benefits.
• Brunch Service (Saturday Plate Brunch and Sunday Buffet) Weekly brunch service featuring Saturday plate-based brunch and Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet with local, organic, seasonal products made in-house, priced at €30 per adult and €15 per child under 12.
• Comptoirs Culturels (Cultural Venue Partner Counters) Counter dining partnerships at Lyon cultural venues (Auditorium Orchestre National de Lyon, Théâtre des Célestins, Théâtre l'Île Ô) offering seasonal dishes in consigned jars before performances, plus foodtruck deployment on place des Célestins in warmer months.
• Creative Franchise / Territory Expansion Program Investment-based creative franchise model for territorial expansion inviting local partners to open new La Fabuleuse Cantine locations, with support for local producer networks and anti-gaspi operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transforms 100+ tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually from surplus production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InovayacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2025Partnership for grey water treatment and recovery systems in new Chalet du Parc facility opening September 2026. Inovaya provides sustainable water treatment solutions enabling circular water approach in hospitality.
• Biocoop (Fonds de dotation Biocoop)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for Bocal Solidaire program providing affordable meals (€4 vegetarian, €6 meat bocals) to students, minimum wage recipients, and job seekers. Biocoop's endowment fund supports social accessibility of sustainable food.
• Le Grain d'ElleboreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganic bakery partner supplying bread to La Fabuleuse Cantine. Located at 9 rue Jules Ledin, Saint-Étienne. Partnership includes bread crust recycling program where bakery scraps are processed using La Fabuleuse Cantine's equipment.
• Au TerroirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducer-owned cooperative store (12 associated producers) at 8 Rue Jules Ledin, Saint-Étienne. Open Tuesday and Friday mornings. Unsold produce redistributed to associations including La Fabuleuse Cantine for anti-gaspi transformation.
• Christian Têtedoie (Chef)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelin-starred chef collaboration to reimagine SuperWaste signature burger. Vegetarian version features bun Superwaste, ketchup de betterave & piment fumé, steak de betterave lacto fermenté, Picodon de chèvre. Carné version with veal head steak and Saint nectaire fermier.
• YouseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm leading renovation project for Chalet du Parc de la Tête d'Or (opening September 2026). Targeting ENERPHIT Passive House certification for sustainable building renovation.
• LFA (Looking for Architecture)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm collaborating on Chalet du Parc renovation project targeting ENERPHIT Passive House certification for sustainable building performance.
• eEgénieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm involved in Chalet du Parc sustainable renovation project with energy performance objectives for ENERPHIT Passive House certification.
• Auditorium Orchestre National de LyonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership providing counter dining service for concertgoers. Seasonal recipes served in consigned bocals before performances at Lyon 3 venue.
• Théâtre des CélestinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership with Lyon 2 theater. Pre-show counter dining with seasonal recipes in consigned jars. Foodtruck deployed on place des Célestins during warmer months (starting May 7 annually).
• Théâtre l'Île ÔminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership with Lyon 7 theater providing counter dining service before performances.
• Piou Piou MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSecond-hand clothing market partner for frip' events. Organizes XXL flea markets with vintage clothing, accessories, tattoos, and dental glitter at La Fabuleuse Cantine Saint-Étienne during special events and anniversaries.
• Modestie La FripminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSecond-hand clothing partner for Brunch Ta Frip' monthly events. Vintage and circular fashion stalls set up during brunch services, combining sustainable dining with circular fashion.
• Le Goût du SauvageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWild plant education and foraging partner. Leads guided nature walks and tastings around forgotten wild edibles, complementing La Fabuleuse Cantine's local and seasonal cuisine philosophy.
• SuperWasteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-food waste partnership platform. La Fabuleuse Cantine is a partner restaurant featuring SuperWaste burger (made with recycled flour buns) and participates in anti-gaspi initiatives.
• Bryce WaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDJ and vinyl-only music partner providing DJ sets for afterwork and evening events at La Fabuleuse Cantine, creating festive atmosphere for cultural programming.
• Local Producers Network (100+ partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of local producers, market gardeners, livestock farmers, and wine producers supplying surplus agricultural production within 80km radius. Products transformed at Conserverie de Territoire into preserved meals. Includes Nicolas Clair (squash), Le Grain d'Ellebore (bread), La Griotte (cheese), and 98 other partners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo: Global French-origin food services and facilities management company operating contract catering, on-site restaurants, and event services. Comparable on the multi-site foodservice and event/catering model, but at global incumbent scale without La Fabuleuse Cantine's anti-waste differentiation.
• Elior Group: Major French institutional catering and food services group with operations across contract catering, concessions, and restaurant services. Comparable on the catering/traiteur and multi-format foodservice model, but at vastly larger scale and without La Fabuleuse Cantine's anti-gaspi focus.
• Compass Group: Global contract foodservice and support services major with significant presence in France. Comparable on contract catering, multi-site restaurant operations, and event services, but operates as a broad incumbent rather than an anti-gaspi specialist.
• Le Pain Quotidien: French-origin bakery-café chain with a sustainability/organic positioning and all-day dining format. Comparable on the French-origin, organic-leaning, all-day casual dining model, though focused on bakery/café rather than full restaurant service.

Direct peers

• Big Mamma: French-founded restaurant group operating trendy, high-volume trattorias and all-day dining venues across France and Europe. Comparable on all-day dining operations, French multi-location scale-up, and experiential hospitality, but without La Fabuleuse Cantine's anti-waste / local-producer angle.

Emerging players

• Phenix: French anti-waste platform redistributing unsold food from retailers and restaurants. Shares the surplus-recovery mission with La Fabuleuse Cantine but takes a tech-enabled B2B angle rather than operating its own restaurants and conserverie.
• Too Good To Go: Pan-European anti-food-waste marketplace connecting consumers with surplus meals from restaurants and retailers. Comparable to La Fabuleuse Cantine on the anti-gaspi theme, but operates as a marketplace/app rather than a brick-and-mortar restaurant and conserverie.

Others

• SuperWaste: French anti-food-waste burger/culinary brand explicitly partnered with La Fabuleuse Cantine (SuperWaste Burger collaboration). Comparable on anti-gaspi culinary branding in France, though primarily a brand/culinary platform rather than a restaurant operator.
• Biocoop: France's leading organic and local-food retail cooperative and Bocal Solidaire partner of La Fabuleuse Cantine. Comparable on the organic/sustainability positioning and French consumer base, though it operates retail rather than restaurants.
• La Ruche qui dit Oui: French short-supply-chain network linking local producers directly with consumers via community 'hives'. Comparable on the local-producer short-circuit model and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes footprint, but operates a distribution platform rather than restaurants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fabcantine.ste
• Instagraminstagram.com/fabcantine.ste/?hl=fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lafabuleusecantine

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 La Fabuleuse Cantine