Vincent Gendrot, CEO of Ansamble: "We are aware of the social and environmental issues to be addressed in the medium term"

Vincent Gendrot This is an initiative resulting from the French PACTE law introduced to encourage companies to think about profit and sustainable development simultaneously. This purpose gives meaning to the company's activities by uniting teams around a common goal.

VG You have to go back in time and understand the story of Ansamble. The company was founded in 1978, in Vannes, Brittany. From the very outset, its mission has always been to promote local supplies for a healthy and natural diet. 43 years on, the head office is still in Vannes. Ansamble has been able to strengthen its foothold in the territories where it operates on a daily basis, while developing innovative and responsible catering solutions.

We are aware of the social and environmental issues to be addressed in the medium term, and wish to make CSR a real collective project. This is why we reached a new milestone at the end of 2021, by being the first contract catering player to choose to become a benefit corporation. For us, this is the fulfillment of the commitments we have held dear for more than forty years.

Despite the sanitary crisis, I completed this collaborative project, which began in 2019, with the objective to onboard all my teams around the same vision, and make them proud to be part of a company that makes a positive footprint on society. The sanitary crisis has undoubtedly reinforced our desire to step up our transition in favor of the health of our guests and the protection of the planet.

Ansamble has been able to strengthen its foothold in the territories where it operates on a daily basis, while developing innovative and responsible catering solutions.

Vincent Gendrot - CEO of Ansamble

VG Choosing to become a benefit corporation imposes five constraints: include the firm’s purpose in the company’s by-laws, create a purpose committee made up of external members and at least one employee representative, define the committee’s purpose and monitoring indicators, choose an independent third-party body to carry out an audit, and make an official request to the registry of the commercial court to obtain the status of a benefit corporation.

We have defined our purpose as follows: "Together, let’s change Ansamble: it’s time to adopt a new catering business model". In addition, we have implemented a 2021-2024 action plan based on three missions: creating well-thought-out menus, giving priority to people, and promoting the strength of collective action. These missions meet general interest objectives regarding society and the environment. We are also committed to sharing reporting so as to be transparent about our commitments and results. 

We have implemented an action plan based on three missions: creating well-thought-out menus, giving priority to people, and promoting the strength of collective action.

Vincent Gendrot - CEO of Ansamble