Jean Bouteille

What Jean Bouteille does

Jean Bouteille, operated by SAS R CUBE NORD and headquartered at the Lille river port, is a French zero-waste company founded in 2014 that builds the infrastructure for bulk liquid retail. Its core offering combines proprietary dispensing hardware (Fontaine Easy for free-flowing liquids, Fontaine Gravity for thick products such as sauces and jams, the Mini-Station and award-winning Oublong beer fountains) with a reusable glass-bottle consignment system and a unique Bag-in-Box upcycling program that converts multi-material pouches into dispenser and accessory components. The portfolio spans six product universes — kitchen (oils, vinegars, sauces, jams), bathroom (shower gels, shampoos), laundry (cleaning liquids), cellar (wines), alambic (spirits), and counter (beer) — supplied in BIB format to partner stores.

Name

Jean Bouteille

Legal name

SAS R CUBE NORD

Website

https://jeanbouteille.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Jean Bouteille provides proprietary bulk liquid dispensing hardware, reusable consigned bottles, and an organic product range in BIB format to over 1,000 zero-waste retail and HORECA partners across France, complemented by a Bulk for Brands service for major CPG companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bulk dispensing equipment sales and rental: Jean Bouteille sells and rents bulk liquid dispensing equipment (fountains, Mini-Stations, growler stations) to retail stores. Equipment revenue includes fontaines (Easy, Gravity), accessories, and consigned kegs. The company also sells second-life/used equipment as part of their sustainability commitment.
2. Bulk liquid product sales (BIB format): Jean Bouteille sells bulk liquid products (oils, vinegars, sauces, jams, syrups, alcoholic beverages, household cleaning products, personal care) in Bag-in-Box format to partner stores. Products are certified organic and sourced from French artisanal producers.
3. Bulk for Brands service: Jean Bouteille provides an advisory and distribution service helping established brands (e.g., Oé, Ecover, L'Occitane, Mustela, Le Peigne Vert) enter the bulk channel, including product testing, regulatory compliance, fountain configuration, and go-to-market support.
4. Reusable container sales (consigned bottles): Jean Bouteille sells reusable glass containers (Jean Bouteille branded bottles, growlers) to consumers at partner stores and via online channels. Containers are designed for infinite reuse and consignment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Jean Bouteille designs, manufactures and distributes proprietary bulk liquid dispensing fountains (EASY, Gravity, Mini-Station, Oublong) and supplies organic liquid products in Bag-in-Box format to retail stores, bars and breweries across France. The offering combines dispensing equipment, certified-organic bulk liquids spanning kitchen, bathroom, laundry, cellar and bar categories, consigned reusable glass bottles, and the Bulk for Brands advisory service that helps consumer brands enter the bulk channel.

Product overview

Jean Bouteille is a company specializing in zero-waste bulk liquid distribution systems and products. The core offering consists of distribution equipment (EASY, Gravity, Mini-Station, Oublong dispensers) combined with a range of 6 product universes (Kitchen, Bathroom, Laundry, Cellar, Alambic, and Counter) available in bulk format. The product portfolio includes culinary items (oils, vinegars, sauces, jams), beverages (syrups, spirits), personal care (shower gels, shampoos, liquid soaps), and cleaning products. The company operates through multiple channels: direct store partnerships with over 1,000 partner locations, the WeBulk marketplace platform co-created with Ultérïa, and the Bulk for Brands service helping other companies enter bulk distribution. A reusable bottle consignment system and Bag in Box packaging with upcycling program support the zero-waste mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bulk Liquid Dispensers (EASY, Gravity, Mini-Station) Proprietary bulk liquid dispensing fountains: EASY (low-tech solution for free-flowing liquids), Gravity (for thick products like sauces and jams), and Mini-Station (compact bulk beer dispenser for bars and breweries).
• Oublong Beer Pressure Dispenser Bulk beer pressure dispenser that enables draft beer sales with reusable Jean Bouteille bottles and a consignment system for zero-waste beer consumption.
• Bulk Cooking Products (Oils, Vinegars, Sauces, Jams) Organic culinary liquids in Bag-in-Box format including olive oils, vinegars, sauces (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise) and jams (strawberry, apricot, blueberry) for bulk retail sale.
• Bulk Beverages (Syrups, Spirits, Bio Wines) Bulk beverage range including syrups, spirits and organic wines (e.g., Oé brand bio wines) available in Bag-in-Box format for zero-waste consumption.
• Bulk Laundry and Household Products Laundry and household care range including washing liquid, dishwashing liquid and other cleaning products available in bulk Bag-in-Box format.
• Bulk Bathroom Products (Shower Gels, Shampoos, Liquid Soaps) Personal care products including shower gels, shampoos and liquid soaps available in bulk Bag-in-Box format for zero-waste bathroom use.
• Reusable Consigned Glass Bottles Reusable and consigned Jean Bouteille glass bottles sold at partner stores for consumers to fill with bulk products; designed for infinite reuse under the consignment model.
• Growlers Reusable bottles designed for draft beer takeaway from bars and breweries, compatible with the Mini-Station and Oublong dispensing systems.
• Bag-in-Box (BIB) Packaging Bulk liquid packaging format with oxygen barrier properties, paired with a proprietary upcycling program that collects and transforms used pouches into components for dispensers and accessories, closing the zero-waste loop.
• Bulk for Brands Service Advisory and distribution service helping established consumer brands (e.g., Oé, Ecover, L'Occitane, Mustela, Le Peigne Vert) enter the bulk channel, covering product testing, regulatory compliance, fountain configuration and go-to-market support.
• Store Support and Setup Services Expert assistance for setting up bulk liquid projects in retail stores, including equipment recommendations, store layout optimization, regulatory guidance and ongoing support.
• WeBulk Marketplace B2B bulk-only marketplace co-founded with Ultérêa, connecting bulk grocery stores with organic and zero-waste producers and offering combined ordering across multiple suppliers with a €480 free-delivery threshold.
• Labels and Regulatory Documentation Product labels including consumer labels (food and non-food), fountain ILV (information sur la vente) labels, and printer/regulation documentation for bulk compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single-use plastic reduction: reusable glass bottle reuse reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 79% compared to recycling the same bottles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• Aventure BiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Aventure Bio joined the Tous au Vrac initiative in its third edition (2022) alongside MiiMOSA, Réseau Vrac, and Jean Bouteille. They contribute to supporting and promoting the bulk retail entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Vrac n'cominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Vrac n'co joined the Tous au Vrac 2022 edition as a new partner, bringing additional support to the crowdfunding initiative for bulk retail entrepreneurs.
• Oé (Oé for Good)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Jean Bouteille partnered with Oé, an organic and pesticide-free wine brand committed to consignment, to launch a new range of bio wines available in bulk through Jean Bouteille's distribution system. This partnership expanded Jean Bouteille's beverage category to include premium organic wines delivered in reusable bottles, addressing consumer demand for eco-friendly wine options.
• EcovermajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Jean Bouteille's Bulk for Brands service accompanied Ecover, a household cleaning product brand, in making their products available in bulk. This brought Ecover's cleaning products into the zero-waste retail channel through Jean Bouteille's dispensing infrastructure, expanding the range of household care products available in bulk.
• L'Occitane en ProvencemajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Jean Bouteille's Bulk for Brands service supported L'Occitane en Provence in deploying bulk cosmetic products in their own boutiques. Corinne Fugier Garrel, Director of Innovation at L'Occitane, led the initiative to introduce zero-waste bulk cosmetics using Jean Bouteille's dispensing solutions.
• MustelamajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Jean Bouteille's Bulk for Brands service partnered with Mustela, a baby and maternity skincare brand owned by Laboratoires Expanscience, to deploy bulk cosmetic products in pharmacy channels — a novel distribution environment for Mustela requiring new product formats and dispensing solutions.
• PetrelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Petrel participated in the Hub Vrac experimentation alongside WeBulk, Réseau Vrac, and approximately 10 bulk grocery stores in Paris. The project aims to develop a zero-waste supply chain using reusable containers for bulk delivery, reducing upstream packaging waste.
• Roots Store (Brussels)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Roots Store is a partner bulk grocery store in Brussels, co-founded by Aurélien Amaz. Jean Bouteille provides liquid bulk dispensing solutions and product supply for their range, including Gravity fountain-installed sauces and wines. Aurélien Amaz authored a book on opening a bio, local, bulk store featuring an interview with Gerard Bellet, founder of Jean Bouteille.
• WeBulk (co-founded with Ultérïa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020WeBulk is a B2B marketplace dedicated to the bulk retail sector, co-founded by Jean Bouteille and Sébastien Becker of Ultérïa in 2020. The platform connects bulk retailers with organic and zero-waste producers, enabling combined ordering across multiple suppliers with a €480 free-delivery threshold and unified delivery. As of September 2021, it served over 380 bulk grocery stores with 3,000 product references. Jean Bouteille's products are prominently featured on the platform at the same pricing as their own ordering portal.
• MiiMOSAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020MiiMOSA is France's leading crowdfunding platform for ecological and solidarity projects. Jean Bouteille partners with MiiMOSA on the annual Tous au Vrac call for projects, which supports aspiring bulk retail entrepreneurs with crowdfunding campaigns, coaching, and prize packages. The 2021 edition mobilized 4,772 contributors and raised €347,332 for 94 projects.
• L'IntendancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019L'Intendance is an online plastic-free bulk grocery delivery service founded in 2019 by Meryem and Noélie, with a team of 10 people. They offer Jean Bouteille's oils, household products, shower gels, shampoos, and spirits, delivered in consigned glass bottles via their bicycle logistics partner Olvo, reaching over 3,000 customers in France.
• Olvo (bicycle logistics)minorOthers · 1 January 2019Olvo is the bicycle-based delivery partner for L'Intendance's online bulk grocery orders. They handle last-mile delivery of bulk products in consigned glass containers and retrieve empty containers on the next delivery cycle, enabling the closed-loop consignment system.
• Réseau VraccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Jean Bouteille is a long-standing partner of Réseau Vrac, the French national association for the bulk sector. They collaborate on industry events (Salon du Vrac, Mois du Vrac), participate in working groups on shelf-life standards and regulatory compliance, and co-organize the Tous au Vrac crowdfunding initiative. Réseau Vrac represents the bulk sector and supports Jean Bouteille's mission to democratize zero-waste liquid consumption.
• J'aime mes dentsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014J'aime mes dents has been a partner in the Tous au Vrac initiative since its first edition, supporting bulk retail entrepreneurs alongside Jean Bouteille and MiiMOSA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Day by Day: France's leading bulk grocery franchise, operating a growing network of zero-waste stores. Like Jean Bouteille, Day by Day is at the center of the French vrac retail ecosystem, partnering with bulk suppliers and serving eco-conscious consumers.
• Ultérêa: French bulk product supplier and co-founder (with Jean Bouteille) of the WeBulk marketplace. Directly comparable as a bulk-sector specialist operating in the same product categories and distribution channels.

Others

• Réseau Vrac: French national association for the bulk sector. Not a competitor but the closest ecosystem-level peer: Jean Bouteille co-organizes Salon du Vrac, Mois du Vrac, and Tous au Vrac with Réseau Vrac, shaping industry standards together.
• MiiMOSA: France's leading crowdfunding platform for ecological and agricultural projects, and a long-standing Jean Bouteille partner on the Tous au Vrac initiative. Adjacent ecosystem player enabling bulk retail entrepreneurship.

Broad incumbents

• Biocoop: France's largest organic retail cooperative. Many Biocoop stores carry bulk liquid sections and are potential Jean Bouteille customers; comparable as a broad incumbent in the French organic/zero-waste retail channel.
• TerraCycle / Loop: Global reuse platform (Loop) that partners with major CPG brands to enable reusable packaging at retail. Comparable to Jean Bouteille as a reusable-packaging infrastructure provider serving consumer brands.
• Naturalia: Urban-focused French organic retail chain (part of Casino Group). Operates bulk sections in stores and represents a comparable organic retail channel for Jean Bouteille's bulk liquid products.
• La Vie Claire: Major French organic retail chain with several hundred stores. Operates bulk sections and is a relevant broad incumbent comparable to Jean Bouteille's partner store profile.

Regional players

• Original Unverpackt: German zero-waste retail pioneer. Comparable as a bulk retail operator focused on package-free shopping; relevant for understanding cross-border zero-waste retail dynamics.
• Alnatura: Germany's leading organic retail chain with extensive bulk sections. Comparable in business model (organic retail with bulk) and a potential European expansion benchmark for Jean Bouteille.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JeanBouteille
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAnp8rMS-yVuD1FQuFsHoBw
• Facebookfacebook.com/jeanbouteille
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refill-cameleongroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/jeanbouteille

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Jean Bouteille