Problem addressed

In France, 9.3 million people live below the poverty line, or 14.7% of the French population; 31.3% of students are in a situation of monetary poverty as are 7.6% of retirees; one in five children under 18 lives in a poor family and 33.6% of people living in a single-parent family are in need, a proportion 2.4 times higher than in the entire population. population [INSEE report, 2019].

Food insecurity in France is a worrying reality that affects a growing number of people. Nearly 60% of beneficiaries use food aid systems once or twice a week, an increase of 6% compared to 2020, indicates a study carried out by the CSA Institute for Food Banks. In addition, more than a third of the people, with varied profiles, hosted in food aid structures have been there for less than six months. This situation has serious consequences for the health and well-being of those affected. Lack of access to a healthy, balanced diet can lead to nutritional problems, deficiencies of essential nutrients and diet-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, food insecurity has an impact on the daily lives of individuals, who must face difficult choices, such as sacrificing other essential needs in order to eat adequately. Food insecurity is not limited to people who are unemployed or living below the poverty line. Many low-income workers, students and the elderly also face difficulties accessing adequate food.

It is to fight against food insecurity in France that the ANDES association was created in 2000 and joined the SOS Group in 2019. ANDES is one of the main French food aid networks created working to ensure that food is a right for all and a gateway to the sustainable integration of people in precarious situations.

Innovative solution

The strength of the ANDES network lies in the richness and diversity of the structures that compose it. Each solidarity grocery store adapts to its territory and the needs of its beneficiary customers. ANDES' support system has already made it possible to create solidarity grocery stores in areas where ANDES was not present before 2020 (for example in the Vosges), or not very present (the Grand-Est region). , Haute-Marne). Even in regions where ANDES solidarity grocery stores were already well established, the various projects made it possible to cover insufficiently provided areas, particularly with regard to very significant needs (Pas-de-Calais). The support system, although evolving with a constant concern for improvement, has proven itself since the launch of the call for applications in July 2020. In fact, 595 applications were received for 263 structures selected. and accompanied. 147 of these structures were created as solidarity grocery stores with the support of the ANDES creative teams and joined the network. 116 structures are still being supported. ANDES has thus developed unique know-how in project support, a real differentiating marker in the food aid sector. This approach nevertheless remains to be consolidated and then amplified.

Methodology for spreading the ANDES support system:

ANDES wishes to make its expertise available free of charge to 60 project leaders. ANDES identifies and selects project leaders and supports them technically in opening solidarity grocery stores. This support is provided by a dedicated team of 4 employees working within mainland France. This support takes place as follows:

• Definition of the project: strategic and operational objectives of the grocery store, determination of target audiences, place and role of the solidarity grocery store in its territory, sizing of the project

• Formalization of operating methods: access circuit, opening times, material and human resources, sources of supply, activities and workshops;

• Design of the forecast budget: advice on the search for financing avenues, determination of key expenditure and revenue items, construction of forecast investment and operating budgets for the grocery store

• Launch of the grocery store: connection with the ANDES network management team, training (hygiene, self-esteem, balanced diet), membership in the network, authorization for food aid and support for food management. solidarity grocery store.

Key results and benefits

In order to respond to the growing number of requests for the creation of solidarity grocery stores, ANDES has designed a unique support model in order to spread this system in areas where there is a strong need for food aid.

Quantitative objectives expected following the spin-off strategy of the ANDES support model

ANDES' spin-off strategy is to support the creation of 60 new grocery stores, including 54 new fixed solidarity grocery stores, or an average of 18 new solidarity grocery stores per year for 3 years. To truly scale up the support model, ANDES is committed to spreading as much as possible across all 13 metropolitan administrative regions according to the project leaders. ANDES is also committed to supporting the creation of 6 mobile solidarity grocery stores in order to target rural areas or white areas lacking in food aid solutions. Mobile solidarity grocery stores are growing rapidly within the network (more than forty to date) and are particularly suited to small towns, rural and remote areas where social exclusion can be linked to:

· Lack of mobility;

· A distance from public, medical and cultural structures;

· A desertification of local shops.

However, mobile grocery stores require a larger initial investment than fixed grocery stores, particularly for the definition of the routes, the municipalities involved, but also for the acquisition of the vehicle (converted truck). Despite their itinerant organization, these solidarity grocery stores manage to organize themselves to ensure social support for beneficiaries and the organization of activities, according to often original and innovative models.

Our quantitative objectives during the duration of the project will be as follows:

- 60 solidarity grocery stores including 54 fixed and 6 traveling solidarity grocery stores;

- 2.25 jobs created on average per solidarity grocery store opened on average according to the impact study carried out by ANDES in 2021

- 400 beneficiaries on average per solidarity grocery store, i.e. 24,000 beneficiaries annually over the entire project

- Spread the ANDES support system to 60 project leaders

-180 tools created: 60 communication kits; 60 monitoring sheets, 60 guides for creating solidarity grocery stores

Beyond the quantitative objectives, the spread of the support system for solidarity grocery stores on the national territory will thus pursue several objectives (corresponding to impacts demonstrated by ANDES as part of the impact study it carried out in 2021:

·Fight against food insecurity while contributing to improving the supply of food aid on French territory, by supporting the creation of solidarity grocery stores in areas with few or insufficient food aid solutions (white zones, QPV , peri-urban or rural areas, isolated areas, etc.);

· Improve the supply of quality and diversified foodstuffs offered to populations in precarious situations;

·Allow people in precarious situations to be actors in the evolution of their situation and their eating practices by freely choosing their products in grocery stores, by strengthening their power to act and their self-esteem, and by allowing you to benefit from personalized social support and workshops around different themes, including food and eating well;

·Strengthen social bonds, improve access to rights and information for beneficiaries, and strengthen their capacity to overcome their financial difficulties.

·Promotion of the social and solidarity economy among new project leaders as well as local stakeholders in the territories, thus showing that a solidarity grocery store has an economic model based on principles of solidarity, cooperation, and taking into account social and environmental issues

The development of mobile solidarity grocery stores also pursues specific objectives:

·Break the social isolation of populations in difficulty, the “invisibles”, recreate social bonds and remove obstacles to mobility by adopting a “go-to” approach;

·Prevent the phenomenon of renunciation of social rights and make food aid schemes more widely known;

·Recreate links between the municipalities which host itinerant solidarity grocery stores and which act as prescribing structures and/or which finance the operation of these grocery stores.