š„š² Baguette Ć Bicyclette: the Lyon gem that delivers you more than croissants
Once upon a time, in the peaceful (well, almost) streets of Lyon, there was a small business that had figured out something fundamental: happiness starts with a good breakfastā¦ delivered by bike.
Thatās how, several years ago, I discovered Baguette Ć Bicyclette, back in their early days, when their speciality was waking us up with love and local pastries right at our door.
Yes, back then youād order a coffee + croissant + smile, and just like that, the doorbell rang at 8:00 sharp.
Pure-butter Lyon happiness.
But things have changed. And so has Baguette Ć Bicyclette.
Today, theyāve made a 100% B2B turn.
š½ļø From morning deliveries to corporate events
No more deliveries to individuals, make way for the pros: Baguette Ć Bicyclette now focuses exclusively on deliveries for businesses. And itās frankly a smart move.
š Seminar breakfasts
š Brunches to boost team mornings
š Tasty, 100% local lunches for meetings or meal trays
š Gourmet buffets for corporate events
Their concept stays true to their DNA: you order local, you eat local, you support local artisans.
And itās still delivered by bicycle, with a smile thrown in.
Positive impact + incredible taste = a winning combo for your next event.
š² Commitment beyond the plate: Caroline & Les BoĆ®tes Ć VĆ©lo
What if I told you Caroline doesnāt just deliver happiness? She also pedals to shake things up.
Caroline is also president of the association Les BoĆ®tes Ć VĆ©lo Lyon (formerly Lyon and France), a national network campaigning for the recognition and growth of bike-based entrepreneurs.
š Delivery, services, crafts, food, techā¦ more and more professionals are choosing the bike as their work tool, and Caroline is one of its most active ambassadors.
ā A meeting over coffee (and a LinkedIn post)
As life is well made (or LinkedIn still works miracles), I met Caroline, the founder, thanks to one of her posts about entrepreneurship and meeting people.
Caroline is raw energy with a well-kneaded vision: local, sustainable and joyful.
We talked B2B, logistics, events andā¦ entrepreneurship.
š§ 10 questions I asked her
Caroline, what was the spark that made you want to deliver croissants by bike?
I had ā¬500: either I gambled it at the casino or I started a business; I chose to start my company.
Why did you choose to switch from B2C to 100% B2B?
Mainly for profitability, and because in B2B demand is more precise, whereas individuals donāt always know what they want.
What were the biggest struggles in this transition?
We lost revenue and had to reinvent ourselves very quickly, with few resources, in a very competitive market.
How do you see the future of bike delivery and services in France?
Delivery services havenāt peaked yet. Many truck professionals still donāt accept the idea that they wonāt be able to get everywhere in city centers anymore, as they move towards being 100% pedestrian. We need to raise the standards of the profession. With us, the delivery riders are employees; thereās no precariousness.
What role does the association Les BoĆ®tes Ć VĆ©lo play in all this?
The association promotes bike-based jobs. Many jobs need to be rethought. ā100% bikeā can be scary, but you can switch to the bike while keeping the car or the e-scooter as complements. We shouldnāt pit cyclists against drivers.
What obstacles do bike entrepreneurs still face?
In Lyon, there are hardly any: accessibility is ideal. For businesses, theft isnāt a major problem. On the other hand, itās hard to find qualified staff to ride cargo bikes (Les BoĆ®tes Ć VĆ©lo offers training), and vehicle maintenance costs remain high.
Whatās your favorite dish or product in Baguette Ć Bicycletteās current offer?
My favorite is the coconut rocher cake.
Whatās been your most WTF moment since you started your business?
A week before closing, we didnāt have enough money to finalize the fundraising; it was theoretically impossible.
What advice would you give an entrepreneur who wants to work locally and by bike?
Iād advise them to really work on their network.
And just between us: what do you have for breakfast? š
I have a pain au chocolat, a black coffee and a glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
ā¤ļø Why do I love Baguette Ć Bicyclette?
Because itās local, genuine and meaningful.
A business that managed to pivot without losing its soul, and that champions the city, artisans and short supply chains.
And above all, a company that cares about the planet as much as your stomach.
So if you want your next team event to leave a lasting impression (and a lasting taste), think of them.
And while your colleagues enjoy a dream brunch, SafeKeeper takes care of keeping their bikes š². That brings us full circle, doesnāt it?