In Switzerland, food costs make up an increasingly small portion of household budgets, placing us at the bottom of Europe’s ranking. Yet, major distributors here apply the highest profit margins across the continent. How did our food producers, who nourish us, end up in such a precarious position? It’s time for a change!
Robin des Fermes is dedicated to addressing these injustices, empowering producers to grow their revenue while maintaining independence. Recently, the company launched a crowdinvesting campaign! Discover more in our latest interview with Tanguy Ecoffey, Founder and CEO.
Hello, Tanguy! Tell us what problem your team is solving?
Robin des Fermes simplifies direct sales for producers and makes it easier for consumers to access local products through short supply chains.
What solution have you found to change that?
We connect local producers directly with consumers through a digital platform, simplifying logistics and ensuring fair trade.
What product have you developed to bring this solution to life?
We operate a network of local hubs where producers can easily distribute their products, while our platform manages orders, payments, and customer support.
How does your company generate revenue?
Robin des Fermes generates revenue through a commission on each transaction made via our platform, as well as through subscription fees for our local hubs and additional services provided to producers.
What market do you address and who are your competitors?
We address the Swiss local food market, focusing on consumers who seek fresh, local products directly from producers. Our main competitors include traditional retail chains and other local food platforms, but we differentiate by offering ultra-short circuits with fair pricing for both consumers and producers.
What have you achieved up to date?
To date, we've built a strong network across all of Suisse Romande with 10 active Tanières, connecting local producers directly to consumers. This has been achieved entirely through bootstrapping, without external funding.
What are your future plans?
Our next step is to expand into the Swiss German market, bringing our fair, local food system to a broader audience and continuing our mission to make short food supply chains the norm across Switzerland.
Who is helping you to bring your vision to life?
Our team is composed of passionate individuals, each bringing unique skills to Robin des Fermes. Sonia Horisberger and Pauline Henry are at the heart of our producer relations and customer service, ensuring smooth communication. Fabien Loup, our developer, manages the tech behind our platform. Alexandre Baqueiro leads our fundraising efforts, while Jérôme Clot manages web design and communication. Finally, Céline Dorta is our expert in social media and community engagement. Together, we combine expertise in technology, agriculture, and community building to achieve our mission.
How much are you raising and how are you going to use the funds?
We have already raised CHF 120,000 within the first 24 hours of our community funding campaign, and our goal is to reach CHF 450,000 by November 8th. The funds will be used to scale our operations, expand our Tanière network into German-speaking Switzerland, invest in technology to improve the user experience, and further support our local producers by enhancing logistics and marketing efforts.
What need is satisfied by the Aktionariat solution?
The Aktionariat solution satisfies the need for a simple and accessible way for our "non-tech-friendly" community to invest in Robin des Fermes. It offers an intuitive and quick registration process, allowing our supporters to become shareholders with just a few clicks, without the usual complexities of traditional investing. This makes it easy for anyone, regardless of their tech skills, to join our mission.
Which offer will you introduce in your company?
We have introduced the Market Package in our company, which allows us to tokenize shares and offer them to our community through a simple and secure platform. This solution enables our investors to purchase shares easily and manage their investments digitally, with full transparency and compliance with Swiss regulations. The tokenization process also ensures that our shareholders can trade their shares seamlessly in the future.
Why would you recommend Aktionariat to other Startups and SMEs?
I would recommend Aktionariat to other startups and SMEs because it simplifies the process of raising funds through community engagement, making investment accessible to a wider audience. With their tokenization technology, it allows businesses to offer shares in a secure and transparent way on the blockchain, even for those who are not tech-savvy. This approach not only speeds up the fundraising process but also allows companies to retain control over their vision by engaging their community directly, without needing to rely on traditional venture capital or institutional investors.
Check out the Investor Relations Page and become a partner of Robin des Fermes SA participating in their mission: sustainable and fairly remunerated agriculture.
