What La Chorba does

La Chorba is a Paris-based humanitarian nonprofit association, founded in January 1998 under French law of 1901, that addresses food insecurity and social exclusion among vulnerable populations in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Its service portfolio comprises five core programs: daily hot meal distributions serving approximately 850 people each evening 365 days a year at the Porte de la Villette site (co-located with Restaurants du Coeur and L'Un Est L'Autre), bi-weekly food parcels for 668 referred families (~2,000 individuals), the Art&Food breakfast program across multiple cultural venues in partnership with Fondation Armée du Salut (150 people daily), weekly Monday-evening street outreach patrols covering five routes (reaching ~200 people, with one route staffed by École Polytechnique students since 2004), and a home delivery service for 30 isolated households. The association also runs employment integration programs — Premières Heures contracts and a Chantier d'Insertion with 14 CDDI positions in collective catering — that train insertion employees in HACCP food safety, French language (FLES), and SST/CACES certifications.

La Chorba's operating model is built on a small permanent team of 18 employees and a workforce of 30+ insertion employees in professional reintegration contracts, scaled by a base of more than 3,000 volunteers coordinated through a bespoke volunteer scheduling platform (didou.lachorba.fr) developed in-house by a volunteer. Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight: the public website runs on WordPress, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no proprietary software products, and no commercial technology offering. The organization holds no patents or trademarks and has no mobile application.

The revenue model is non-commercial and entirely donation-funded. Income streams include individual donations (eligible for 75% tax deduction up to €1,000 and 66% above), philanthropic grants from approximately ten corporate and family foundations (Fondation Carrefour, AXA Atout Coeur, Accor Solidarity, Schroders, Moneta Asset Management, Petits Frères des Pauvres, Médiaperformances, La Banque de France, La Voix de l'enfant), public subsidies from Ville de Paris (DSOL), DREETS, DRIHL, Région Île-de-France, ADEME, France Relance, and the European Union (FSE+), in-kind food recovery from a network of retailers and wholesale partners (Monoprix, Auchan, Carrefour, Metro France, Eric Kayser bakeries, Bio'c'bon, Banque Alimentaire, Andes, Le Chainon Manquant, ReVivre), and corporate volunteering days. All services to beneficiaries are unconditional and free of charge, and the association has no parent company, subsidiaries, or venture backing. Governance is led by Director Khater Yenbou.

Name

La Chorba

Legal name

Association La Chorba

Website

https://lachorba.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Chorba is a Paris-based nonprofit humanitarian association founded in 1998 that fights food insecurity and social exclusion through daily hot meals, food parcels, street outreach, cultural-venue breakfasts, and employment integration programs for vulnerable populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Food Aid Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Food Assistance & Nutrition Response (BPADADAE), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Food aid services
• Humanitarian assistance
• Social inclusion programs
• Food waste recovery
• Employment integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Financial donations from individuals, either one-time or recurring monthly. La Chorba is recognized as an organization of general interest, allowing donors to deduct 75% of gifts up to €1,000 and 66% above that threshold.
2. Foundation and Philanthropic Grants: Support from foundations and philanthropic funds including Axa Atout Coeur, Moneta Asset Management, Schroders, Fondation Carrefour, Accor Solidarity, Médiaperformances, and Les Petits Frères des Pauvres.
3. Government Grants and Subsidies: Funding from public institutions including DSOL (Ville de Paris), DREETS, DRIHL, Région Île-de-France, La Voix de l'enfant, France Relance, and the European Union (FSE+).
4. In-Kind Food Donations: Recovery of unsold food from commercial partners (bakeries, supermarkets, markets) which are redistributed as meals and food parcels, reducing direct food procurement costs.
5. Corporate Volunteering and Team Building: Companies engage teams in solidarity days, providing volunteer labor in exchange for a charitable partnership with La Chorba.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

La Chorba is a Paris-based nonprofit humanitarian association that provides free hot meals, food parcels, breakfast programs, and street outreach to people experiencing food insecurity in the Île-de-France region. Beyond emergency food aid, it runs an employment-integration program and a sustainable-food / food-recovery initiative aimed at long-term social reintegration.

Product overview

La Chorba is a humanitarian association founded in 1998 that operates as a unified set of food assistance and social integration services in Paris. The organization functions as a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a modular platform: its core offerings include Repas Chauds (daily hot meal distribution at La Villette, serving ~850 people/evening), Colis Alimentaires (bi-weekly food parcels for 668 families), Art & Food (cultural venue breakfasts with partners), Maraudes (weekly street outreach reaching 200 people), and Insertion par l'emploi (employment integration through Premières Heures and Chantier d'Insertion dispositifs). The programs are unified by the organization's mission against hunger and food waste, with sustainable sourcing (Alimentation Durable) cross-cutting all food-related services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hot Meal Distribution (Repas Chauds) Daily hot-meal service distributing cooked meals to food-insecure individuals in Paris, with the La Villette site serving approximately 850 people per evening. The program uses head cooks and volunteers and is positioned as a dignity-focused alternative to dry-goods-only food aid.
• Food Parcels (Colis Alimentaires) Distribution of food parcels to families experiencing food insecurity across the Île-de-France region via partner distribution points and a home-delivery option; reaches approximately 668 families.
• Home Delivery of Food Parcels (Colis à Domicile) Home-delivery service bringing food parcels directly to beneficiaries who cannot physically reach the standard distribution points in Paris.
• Street Outreach / Maraudes Weekly street-outreach rounds (maraudes) that deliver food and direct support to people sleeping rough or living in extreme precarity across Paris.
• Art&Food Cultural Breakfast Program Cultural breakfast program (Petits Déjeuners Art&Food) that pairs free breakfast with a cultural or artistic experience, addressing both nutritional and social-inclusion needs of beneficiaries.
• Employment Insertion Program (Insertion par l'emploi) Professional-integration program that supports beneficiaries — including ~30 insertion employees — with counseling, training, and pathways back into sustainable employment, run by a dedicated Conseillère d'Insertion Professionnelle.
• Sustainable Food / Food Recovery (Alimentation Durable) Sustainable-food pillar of La Chorba that recovers surplus food from partners and channels it into the meal and parcel programs, combining environmental impact reduction with food-aid supply.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500,000 meals served in 2024 — a historic level
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Banques Alimentaires de Paris et d'Île-de-FrancecoreOthersHistorical partner redistributing surplus food from European Union aid programs to La Chorba. A cornerstone of the food supply chain enabling meal distributions.
• FSE+ (Fonds Social Européen Plus)coreOthersEuropean Union funding body providing financial support for food aid programs. Primary public funder for food recovery and redistribution activities.
• DSOL (Direction de la Solidarité et de la Lutte contre les Inégalités) – Ville de PariscoreOthersMunicipal directorate of the City of Paris providing operational and financial support for meal distributions and the overall association functioning.
• DRIHL (Direction Régionale et Interdépartementale de l'Hébergement et du Logement)majorOthersRegional/interdepartmental directorate supporting housing and inclusion actions, co-funder of La Chorba's operations.
• Région Île-de-FrancemajorOthersÎle-de-France regional council provides funding support for the association's food aid and insertion programs.
• DREETSmajorOthersRegional directorate for economy, employment, and social solidarity providing support for insertion programs.
• Fondation Armée du SalutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner of the Art&Food breakfast program running across cultural venues in Paris. La Chorba provides food distribution; the foundation provides venue access and co-funding.
• Le Chainon ManquantmajorOthersFood waste recovery organization that redirects surplus food to La Chorba for redistribution to people in need.
• CojeanminorOthersRestaurant chain that hires employees completing insertion contracts at La Chorba, supporting professional reintegration.
• France Travail (Pôle Emploi)majorOthersFrench public employment service providing job seeker referrals and co-supporting insertion program participants.
• École PolytechniquemajorOthersSince 2004, École Polytechnique student teams operate one of the five outreach patrol routes each Monday, contributing volunteer manpower and institutional credibility.
• Boulangeries Eric KayserminorOthersBakery chain donating unsold bread and baked goods to La Chorba for meal distributions.
• Monoprix ( Fondation et magasins)minorOthersSupermarket chain donating surplus food through its foundation and store operations to La Chorba.
• Magasins AuchanminorOthersRetail chain donating unsold inventory to support La Chorba's food redistribution activities.
• Magasins CarrefourminorOthersRetail chain providing food surplus donations to La Chorba's distribution network.
• Metro FranceminorOthersWholesale food distributor providing surplus products to support La Chorba's meal preparation.
• Ecole de boulangerie et de pâtisserie de ParisminorOthersParis bakery and pastry school that supports La Chorba through food donations and culinary expertise.
• EMMAÜS SolidaritéminorOthersHomelessness and social inclusion organization providing referrals and insertion support to shared beneficiaries.
• Refugee FoodminorOthersAssociation supporting refugees through food-related professional integration. Partners with La Chorba for meal preparation at distributions.
• Andes ( Agence Nationale des Dépenses des Étudiants)minorOthersOrganization involved in food waste recovery, providing surplus food to La Chorba's redistribution network.
• Bio'c'bonminorOthersOrganic grocery chain donating surplus organic products to La Chorba.
• ReVivreminorOthersFood recovery organization redirecting surplus food to La Chorba.
• Optim'emploiminorOthersInsertion employment service provider supporting La Chorba's professional integration programs.
• Mission localeminorOthersPublic service guiding young people (16–25) into employment, co-referring insertion candidates with La Chorba.
• CASP (Centre d'Action Sociale Protestant)minorOthersProtestant social action center referring vulnerable individuals and supporting insertion pathways.
• ADEME (Agence de la Transition Écologique)majorOthersFrench environment and energy agency supporting La Chorba's food waste reduction and sustainable food programs through funding and expertise.
• Théâtre du ChâteletminorOthersCultural venue hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
• Musée CarnavaletminorOthersCultural venue hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions on Friday mornings.
• Bourse de Commerce – Fondation PinaultminorOthersCultural institution hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions as part of the program.
• Lafayette AnticipationsminorOthersCultural venue hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions as part of the program.
• MPAA / Maison des Pratiques Artistiques Amateurs (Canopée)minorOthersCultural venue hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions on Wednesday mornings.
• Médiathèque (Canopée)minorOthersCultural venue hosting Art&Food breakfast distributions on Thursday mornings.
• Gaîté LyriqueminorOthersDigital culture center that first hosted Art&Food breakfast distributions during winter 2021.
• UniformationminorOthersJoint association for professional training and insertion, co-supporting insertion employees at La Chorba.
• FLES de ParisminorOthersLanguage training organization providing French language courses for insertion employees at La Chorba.
• Utopia 56minorOthersAssociation providing social support at meal distribution sites, co-running orientations with La Chorba.
• ErnestminorOthersAssociation preparing and serving meals at Hôtel de Ville distributions, partnering with La Chorba during winter.
• Restaurants du CoeurcoreOthersMajor French food aid charity sharing the La Villette distribution site with La Chorba and L'Un Est L'Autre.
• L'Un Est L'AutrecoreOthersAssociation sharing the La Villette distribution site, providing dinner service on Thursday evenings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Secours Populaire Français: Major French nonprofit providing food aid, clothing, and social support to vulnerable populations across France. Operates food distribution and social inclusion programs targeting similar beneficiary profiles to La Chorba.
• Utopia 56: French association supporting homeless and refugee populations through outreach and distribution sites. Listed as a La Chorba partner providing on-site social support at meal distributions — directly comparable in target population and street-level humanitarian services.
• ANDES (Association Nationale de Développement des Épiceries Solidaires): French network of solidarity grocery stores and food waste recovery programs. Listed as a current partner of La Chorba and operates an overlapping mission of rescuing surplus food and channeling it to vulnerable populations.
• Samusocial de Paris: Paris municipal-funded organization providing emergency outreach ('maraudes') to homeless individuals, including hot meals, beverages, and hygiene support — directly comparable to La Chorba's Maraudes program in both mission and operating model.
• Emmaüs Solidarité: Paris-based social inclusion organization operating emergency shelters, food programs, and outreach services for people experiencing homelessness and precarity in the Île-de-France region — directly comparable beneficiary base and operating geography.
• Banque Alimentaire de Paris et d'Île-de-France: Food bank redistributing donated and recovered food to charitable partners including La Chorba. Functions as a core upstream supplier in the same Paris food-aid ecosystem and operates a directly comparable food recovery/redistribution mission.
• Restaurants du Coeur (Les Restos du Coeur): France's largest food aid charity, operating free meal distributions and food parcel programs nationwide. Co-located with La Chorba at the La Villette distribution site and shares a similar beneficiary base of people experiencing food insecurity in France.

Broad incumbents

• Croix-Rouge Française (French Red Cross): The French branch of the International Red Cross, providing humanitarian aid including food distribution, emergency relief, and social support across France. A larger incumbent in the same humanitarian space with broader geographic reach.
• Médecins du Monde: International humanitarian organization with significant operations in France addressing health and social exclusion among vulnerable populations. A broader incumbent with overlapping humanitarian mission and similar engagement with marginalized communities in Paris.

Emerging players

• Fondation Abbé Pierre: Major French foundation focused on housing insecurity and homelessness — an adjacent peer targeting overlapping vulnerable populations in France with emphasis on housing rather than direct food aid.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lachorbaparis
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaChorbaAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lachorba
• Instagraminstagram.com/lachorbaparis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 La Chorba