L’Atelier des Bouchers in Millau, the example of a successful takeover

Grégory Combes, Nicolas Fabre et Sylvain Bez, les trois associés de l'Atelier des Bouchers. AD

Inaugurated in September 2023, the Atelier des Bouchers benefited from the support of the Chamber of Trades and regional aid for business takeovers.

In July 2023, Nicolas Fabre, 36 years old, Grégory Combes, 25 years old and Sylvain Bez, 45 years old, joined forces to create the Atelier des Bouchers at 1, avenue Charles- de-Gaulle in Millau and take over the La Boria butcher's shop, a South Aveyron company which sources only quality meats from local producers in the department.

Yesterday, the shock trio received a visit from the Region in the person of Emmanuelle Gazel, who came to the scene to highlight this "beautiful story" around this project which benefited from financial support from Occitanie, pilot in terms of creation, transmission and&nbsp ;business takeover.

We offer a maximum of homemade charcuterie, a maximum of catering dishes also homemade while also developing the maturation aspect in order to meet all expectations and expand our  customers, taking care to offer the best quality products. We know its origin, we know our breeders….

Because it is indeed a recovery that we are talking about here. "Mathieu Gineste from Ferme d'Ambias had bought this butcher's shop. He hired Sylvain and me. Taken by various other things, he told us that he was planning to stop and offered to sell it to us, rewind Nicolas Fabre.&amp ;nbsp;We talked together, we thought about the project for a long time before launching. We bought in June 2023, took advantage of the summer to renovate the place before opening on September 1st when Grégory joined us."&nbsp ;

Good and local

Why three ? "We made this choice to be able to do everything, from A to Z… Cold meats, working with carcasses etc.&amp ;quot;,he confirms again. Invested and passionate butchers, also keen to source locally. As close as possible to the resource. "To also better remunerate producers while reducing the footprint as much as possible carbon", welcomes the Region which in such circumstances joins forces with the Chambers of Trades which provide valuable support here. 

"Despite all the possible support, entrepreneurship, accounting, management… all of this is ultimately learned on the heap, rightly procrastinates the president of the Chamber of Trades and Agriculture of Aveyron, Pierre Azemar. Personally, it took me three years as a business manager before I knew how to decode a balance sheet. Everything can be learned, but what is extraordinary here is to see three people who met in this store before buying it back… And to see that everything it takes." 

Helped by the Region to the tune of €24,000, the Atelier des Bouchers is the very example of a successful transmission. An important issue in Occitania where "30% of business leaders are over 55 years old and will be required to pass on their business in the years to come" , confirms regional advisor Emmanuelle Gazel. In fact, nearly 35,000 non-employee managers of SMEs will reach retirement age in the coming years. Without buyers, 81,000 jobs could disappear in Occitanie. 

Regional funding in Aveyron

Between 2017 and 2023, the Occitanie region has granted 8,185 aids in Aveyron (subsidies and repayable advances) for a total amount of 156.4 million euros. The Millau Grands Causses com'com has benefited from its development. as for à it received 815 aids for a total amount of 11.9 million euros. Over this same period, the devices have the creation, transfer and takeover of businesses represent in Aveyron 129 aids for 4.2 million euros.