Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alexandre Ponthier, founder, and CEO of Alex & Alex, located in Paris, France.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Alex & Alex offers the delivery of fresh and seasonal fruit to offices for employees in their convivial spaces. We provide a solution for well-being in offices, simple, flexible, and inexpensive for companies by providing seasonal fruit baskets on their premises. Employees can then take advantage of free fruit made available to them by their employer.

Tell us about yourself

I co-founded the company with my business partner five years ago. At the time, I was a financial engineer in a consulting company, and I wanted to undertake it. So I started this activity, and I quickly realized the market's potential for well-being in offices.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We are the only company in our sector that is implemented both in France and Canada. Moreover, in the office fruit delivery sector, we are the only ones (at least to my knowledge) that offer an alternative for individuals in delivery across the region. Indeed our fleet of vehicles allows us to radiate throughout the region and to address our offer to all French and Canadian residents.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

During the confinement, our activity ceased within two days. At the time, we had +1000 client companies, and all the companies started working from home and therefore suspended their subscription. We then decided to offer the transfer of their subscription to hospitals to help healthcare staff, but above all, we made a pivot towards individuals by offering home delivery of fruit and vegetables during confinement, where we carried out more than 12 000 orders during the 1st confinement.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do it with passion or don't.
  2. Find a solution to a problem.
  3. Having an idea is good; executing it is essential.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Courage to all entrepreneurs in this difficult time, resilience is an entrepreneur's best weapon. It is in these periods of crisis that we are most tested and that we leave our comfort zone. This allows, in some cases, to discover a new business to rebound.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.alexetalex.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexetalex.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexetAlex
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alex-&-alex/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.