Democratize organic and bulk on board a mobile grocery store: this is the challenge that Brigitte Nuchelmans set herself in the midst of a health crisis. By creating Epi de Bri, this Bondynoise tows her nearly 180 kg trailer every week to meet the inhabitants.
It all starts with a personal experience: when arriving in Bondy, Brigitte Nuchelmans realizes that her favorite organic stores are not quite nearby. She also notices that her town is crossed by a railway and a national road, which literally cut the city and make it difficult to access local shops.
Professional retraining in the midst of covid
At 38, she was then in the midst of thinking about a professional retraining, after having spent many years in the field of culture and music. “I didn’t want a fixed place, precisely to avoid people having to push the door of an organic store, which is not necessarily easy for everyone.” Inspired by traveling grocers from Lille, Brigitte Nuchelmans therefore chose the cargo bike to embark on the adventure. She also joins the Ile-de-France association of bike boxes to receive some practical advice.
Democratize the bulk
“When I got fully involved in the project, I asked myself: what more could I bring? I said to myself that beyond selling my products, I had to offer people support in their transition to healthier consumption. So, Brigitte carefully chooses her crossing points. From the Place de la Gare in the south of the city via the priority district of Sablière or that of Bondy Nord, “L’Epi de Bri” puts his crutch everywhere and even offers a home delivery service.
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Vegetables, fruit, bread, creamery, cereals or pasta in bulk, and even organic cosmetics and textiles: Brigitte’s grocery store has been considerably full over the past year. Every week, the Bondyn grocer tows nearly 180 kilos in her trailer. Not everything is made in Ile de France, but Brigitte favors short circuits as much as possible, and relies on an organic store in Saint-Ouen which works with Ile-de-France market gardeners. During confinement, she also began her rounds by delivering poultry and cheese from local producers.
Go further in pedagogy
Even in the case of off-peak or rainy weeks, Brigitte Nuchelmans makes it a point of honor to do her weekly rounds. “No matter what, I come with the products I have in stock, to preserve the link and show that I’m still here.” Beyond selling its products, the grocer wants to create a link. “People approach the bike because it intrigues them, it’s often the opportunity to start a discussion, to discover unknown products. And the next time they come back, because they have had time to think and want to try things out”she says.
In front of the central pharmacy of Bondy Nord, Brigitte is hardly installed that already the curious ones approach. “There is nothing here, the local supermarket has been closed for months”, observes a local resident, “I think it’s important that she’s there to show people that you can eat better.” A few minutes later, two women buy some beans for a dish to cook in the evening for Ramadan. “See you next week then!” they exclaim as they leave. Enthusiastic, Brigitte explains: “Either they are people who pass by by chance, or they are people who see me from their window from the buildings. And then one day they’re going to come down and see what I come up with.”
Recently, the Epi de Bri was approached by the social landlord ICF Habitat La Sablière. The objective: to bring Brigitte’s mobile grocery store into the heart of the priority district in the south of the city, two hours a week on Fridays. A dozen families will benefit from two months of support with a dietician to change their eating habits. They will also be entitled to a financial boost to shop at Brigitte. “Behind this initiative there is a public health issue: for me it is important to show that we can eat well by making simple choices.”
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