When caring for vulnerable people brings companies together

Founded in 2017 in Rennes, the social enterprise Café Joyeux, which employs people with mental or cognitive disabilities, is now present in Paris and Bordeaux. Since 2018, a range of eponymous coffee beans, capsules and ground coffee has seen the light of day, and through its marketing supports the activity of café-restaurants.

What is it about your approach that appeals to the thousand or so companies that support you?

Finally, What unites us all is the desire to offer work to excluded and vulnerable people. Everyone agrees! Companies don't come and ask us to set up a Café Joyeux at the foot of their building to market their image. All our "happy team members" have permanent contracts, proof that with us, commitment is for the long term. What we're seeing is that these companies are helping us out of conviction.

How do you think companies will develop their commitment to CSR?

I have the feeling that we haven't seen anything yet. France needs to get to grips with this issue, because it could well become the world champion of integration. Many have started with the environmental dimension, but that's only part of the story. If we care about the earth, we also care about people. Very soon, the CSR departments will be saying to themselves: "with all the efforts we've made to reduce our carbon footprint, insulate our offices, etc., we're going to have to do something about the environment", it's time to take care of people ".

Does your action have an impact beyond the walls of those who drink your coffee?

In Rennes, one of our cheerful team members comes to work every day half an hour early to take the time to say hello to all the shopkeepers on the street. It surprised some people at first, but it's a necessary ritual for him, which reassures him. This summer, he took a few days off, and some shopkeepers contacted us because they were worried about him. I'm convinced that vulnerable people, as soon as they are given a little space, bring people together and unite them!

As you continue to develop, what would you like to say to the property industry?

The message is simple: when a landowner gives us access to his property as part of a partnership, it costs a lot of money to host us. But in the medium term, there's so much to be gained! Without the help of Groupama Immobilier, we couldn't be present on the Champs-Élysées, without the help of Gecina we couldn't be opposite the Olympia. This type of partnership is essential for us, and comes alongside other 'classic' property transactions with private landlords who, of course, don't have the opportunity to offer us this type of partnership. There are HQE labels, low-carbon labels... why not a "Happy" label, to highlight the role of a building in the inclusion of all?

Yann Bucaille-Lanrezac, Founder of Café Joyeux