In Bar-sur-Aube, the producer store Ça m'botte focuses on the direct link with its customers, on its numerous events and on the richness of its range of products. It also benefits from the proximity of Haute-Marne. Half of its customers come from there. Including some of the partners of the SAS.
“But why come see us all the way to Bar-sur-Aube? “. The question, asked by the director of the Ça m'botte store, had all its legitimacy, it's true. Except that, first and foremost, Bar-sur-Aube is only located a few kilometers from the Haut-Marne border; and two, some of the store’s associates are… also from Haut-Marne. This director is Magali Sanchez. A Haut-Marnaise, organic market gardener in Arc-en-Barrois. The stage is set. It really appeals to me, so it speaks to the Haut-Marnais.
Located in the industrial zone of Bar-sur-Aube, in the Servipôle premises, next to Leclerc Drive, the 150 m2 store opened its doors on June 1, 2022. A long-standing project, initiated by the community of municipalities from Bar-sur-Aube (CCRB) but delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “It took a long time to germinate, but what pride today! At the time, there was nothing of this type in Chaumont and the community of municipalities, looking for producers to bring their project to fruition, approached us. We were needed and I went for it. The icing on the cake was that we had complete carte blanche for the layout of the store,” says Magali Sanchez.
“Humanly, It’s a crazy adventure”
The market gardener does not regret her choice. The team is made up of six other partners, including the president, Pierre Cuvier. And guess what, several of them are from Haut-Marnais, notably Adrien Richard, poultry producer in Courcelles-sur-Aujon, and Samuel Aubry, pork producer in Maranville. This team is completed by Jean-Christophe Martin (dairy products in Champ-sur-Barse), Flora Neff (market gardener in Urville) and Matthieu Viardet (beef producer in Villemoyenne), as well as a versatile employee, Messaline Batonnier.
“From a human perspective, it’s a crazy adventure,” assures Magali Sanchez, who relishes having found complete freedom and “cohesion with the other associates in this project, still as strong after two and a half years.” Messaline Batonnier confirms: “Here, everyone gets involved. Everyone serves, everyone sweeps up. I have seven bosses, but this has never been a problem for me. We all understand each other.” A “family” which strives to build links with its customers, “like in a market”, in particular by regularly organizing events. “It’s essential,” says Magali Sanchez.
“Nothing better than a producer who comes to talk to customers about his products”
“There is nothing better than a producer who comes to talk directly to customers about his products. It's true. In addition, we offer recipes for cooking with the products we sell,” adds Flora Neff, associated market gardener, based in Urville. Seasonal products, as much as possible, insists Magali Sanchez, “because it’s also our role to explain that we don’t eat strawberries or tomatoes in winter.”
- If the store cannot yet speak of “success, given the drop in purchasing power”, Magali Sanchez nevertheless assures that Ça m'botte is on the right track. “We deliberately kept things small and reasonable. Today there are 115 producers in consignment-sale, including some in purchase-sale. It’s much more than we imagined and it allows us to constantly change the traffic on the shelves.” Butchery, cheese, dried vegetables, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, hygiene products, eggs, honey, compotes, cakes… The range is varied.
It grew rich from the sale of trout from Veuxhaulles and bread from Villy-en-Trodes. The team should, without betraying any secrets, work to develop its already existing catering section, thanks to the skills of Messaline Batonnier, a professional cook who already regularly concocts salads and assortments of raw vegetables from the products on sale. “We would like to offer small menus, like boxes, soon. We move forward at our own pace,” rejoices Magali Sanchez. For her, as for all producers, this store represents an important showcase. Unity is their strength.
Delphine Catalifaud
