Bonsigne opens in Old Lille, for local aperitifs and zero waste

By Hervine Mahaud
Published on 12 Dec 20 at 20:26

–

We may love the aperitifs with friends, we must admit that it creates a lot of waste. Bags of all-fat chips, single-use plastic jars or even empty bottles to put in the trash. But’Bonsigne grocery store, which opened Thursday December 10, 2020 in the Old Lille, avoids this ordeal.

In this small neighborhood shop, everything is recorded : some beer bottles to the jars container appetizer cookies and spreadable. In addition to the aspect zero waste, the grocery store offers mainly local products.

The meeting of 2 Lille brands

At the origin of the concept, there is the meeting of two Lille brands: La Biche and Le Renard, the bar-shop on the rue de Gand, and La Consignerie, an online grocery store of local products.

“La Biche has the experience of the place, and La Consignerie of the logistics”, explain Candice and Franck. “During the first confinement, we made draft beers to take away, and consigned. We loved doing that and we said to ourselves why by creating a concept of consigned grocery store dedicated to aperitifs ”, explains Candice, co-manager of the Lille bar.

–

With her associates, she takes the time to check if her idea does not already exist in Lille. “We came across La Consignerie which had launched at the start of the year. “And by talking to the founders Pierre and Franck, the managers of La Biche realize that the two concepts are” complementary “. All that was needed was the local to implement the idea.

The quartet unearthed him at 15 rue des Bouchers, the place previously occupied by an art gallery. After a month of intense work, Bonsigne opened its doors on December 10. The room is not very large, but sufficient to present all the products available. And, when the sanitary situation allows it again, it will be possible to sit at the back of the shop to have a drink and eat some crackers.

–

Beer, but also wine and cider

At Bonsigne, we therefore find everything you need for a perfect aperitif, with more than 50% local products. Here, nothing is loose, everything is already pre-filled. The deposit costs 2 euros, a sum that is recovered when the container is returned, or which is not payable if you wish to take back another product.

As for drinks, more than 25 references of draft beers are available, with names that we appreciate well in the area (Brasserie Cambier, Tandem, Brique House…).

–

But there will also be Belgian and Parisian beers. They are available in 75 cl format. “We even offer a 2-liter beer! It will change every month, ”confide Candice and Franck. For the holidays, naturally a Christmas beer has been bottled. For those who would like to change beer, Bonsigne also makes wine, cider, spirits, juices, as well as kombucha and kefir.

Lots of good things to nibble on

For the snacking part, jars filled with appetizer cookies, crackers, pretzels are on the shelves. There are even products from Happy Drêche, which transforms the residue from brewing beer into aperitif cookies. There are also cashews. It is certainly not local, but “it comes from an organic and fair trade cooperative”.

–

Bonsigne also offers “fresh” jars, with hummus from Michel, vegetable cheeses, and Greek specialties from Olympios. “The goal is to call on local merchants and restaurateurs and that will change regularly. Moreover, from January this partnership with restaurant owners will intensify. “We will offer take-away meals in jars for lunch. And we’ll start with Handshake Coffee, ”says Candice.