Featuring 🇧🇪 's boldest, The Entrepreneurs series highlights stories about vision, perseverance and how to make it big in the States.
Today in The Entrepreneurs, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Le Botaniste, Laurent Francois.
“Let’s meet at the carrot!”
Shortly after we hit the send button, Laurent pops up—a tall man with a welcoming smile and ready to roll.
Scrolling through the photos, we agree that posing next to the carrot sounded better than the actual outcome.
“Yes, the light is off. Let me fix it!” As Laurent stacks two wobbly stools on top of each other to reach the culprit light bulb, dramatic scenes start playing in our heads: a fall, broken limbs, a hospital visit…. But Laurent manages to unscrew the light bulb and keeps a cool head—a key feature to have as an entrepreneur.
In 2015, Le Botaniste—a plant-based, organic restaurant developed by Laurent and fellow Belgian entrepreneur Alain Coumont, opened its first location in Ghent. Four months later, a second restaurant opened its doors in New York.
“If you want to grow as a company and expand on a national level, you first need to prove that your concept works locally. That’s why for now, our focus is on NY. And we’re doing great! This year, we’ll be opening two new locations!”
When we ask Laurent about his drive and passion for his company, he couldn’t be more clear:
“Between me and Le Botaniste, it’s a love affair! Serving your customers delicious healthy and affordable food while knowing you also have a positive impact on the environment is a fantastic feeling to have! Of course, we've faced rough moments too, like the pandemic. But even under those difficult circumstances, there was a silver lining: people became more conscious of the importance of a healthy diet. This open-mindedness towards plant-based food led to an influx of new customers.”
As we indulge in Le Botaniste’s signature chili, we smile and say: “This is so good!”
“I know! The moment people try Le Botaniste, they keep coming back, even those who are skeptical about a plant-based diet. I once convinced a die-hard meat lover to taste our chili, and he loved it! Le Botaniste's success is not only centered around the positive impact it has on the environment and people’s health, though. Our teams are just as crucial—turning every lunch or dinner into an unforgettable experience.”
Filip Vanden Bulcke
Embassy of Belgium in the United States of America
#theentrepreneurs #lebotaniste #belgiumintheus
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