Making high-quality food products accessible to as many people as possible, while supporting those who produce them

To bring together the efforts of alternative, activist, and environmental networks in Saint-Étienne to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and equitable long-term model across the region

A coalition of businesses, associations, cooperatives, and citizens in the Saint-Étienne region who have decided to join forces to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and equitable long-term model across the region. As such, we are a regional hub for economic cooperation.

What we do

Strengthen alliances between residents, organizations contributing to the ecological and social transition, and institutions.

Expanding opportunities by encouraging and highlighting avenues for engagement in local public and community life.

Sharing the knowledge, expertise, skills, and resources of residents and local organizations working toward this transition.

Ensuring the sustainability of local structures and fostering the smooth emergence of new actors

TOWARD ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD FOR ALL: FOOD SOLIDARITY COLLECTIVE

Several organizations in the fields of food, solidarity, and health in Saint-Étienne have come together to establish a food solidarity system. The goal: to make quality food accessible to as many people as possible, particularly those with modest incomes, while supporting those who produce and distribute it.

This collective seeks to move beyond food aid, the primary response to food insecurity today, which unfortunately affects an increasing number of people (health crisis, inflation, etc.). Several initiatives are underway to build a food solidarity system where everyone can participate in mutual aid without stigma, giving everyone access to the food of their choice, and fairly compensating those who feed us.

- VRAC -
The project to establish a VRAC—Toward a Common Purchasing Network—in all priority neighborhoods of the city of Saint-Étienne was initiated by the Collective and is now led by Juliette Godet.
In practical terms, VRAC is a catalog of 50 quality products sold at subsidized cost: a (new) food offering that is cheaper but of high quality in these neighborhoods. Thus, every month in Beaubrun, more than 40 households can choose and eat good products without feeling like they are relying on charity.
A VRAC was established in 2021 in the Beaubrun-Tarentaize
neighborhoods. A second VRAC opened in 2022 in the Cotonne-Montférré neighborhoods.