Since November 27, 2024, Kilogram.lu, the first zero-waste drive in Luxembourg (find our article on the shop here), has been taken over by Anne Harles, the owner of the organic food store chain Alavita. We met this female entrepreneur focused on the future.
Created in 2022 by Stéphanie Lamberty, Kilogram.lu is a 100% online platform for selling bulk food and cosmetic products, made accessible and easy thanks to a deposit jar system and logistics designed to minimize ecological impact while highlighting local producers.
A zero-waste project closely followed by Anne Harles
At the time of Kilogram’s launch, Anne Harles was Stéphanie’s mentor, providing her expertise in commerce and sustainable food.
“I was able to follow the birth of Kilogram, and I admire what she managed to create with her knowledge of digital and IT,” explains Anne, who adds, with a smile, that she also fell in love with the Kilogram jars, which will of course remain unchanged in the future.
When Stéphanie approached Anne about taking over the Kilogram project, the timing was right. “I had been wanting to open an e-shop and develop bulk sales for some time. Kilogram fits perfectly with my consumption philosophy and what I want to offer our customers.”
A new, human-scale project that made sense for Anne. “My baby is Alavita, and I don’t want to neglect it for bigger projects. Kilogram fits well with our current work. We also had the space to welcome it (in their warehouse in Hamm, editor’s note).”
A new employee, Lisa, is fully dedicated to the Kilogram project and oversees its development, particularly the B2B aspect that Anne wants to expand. “It’s a fantastic project, with a lot of room for growth, and it’s very motivating,” Lisa tells us.
A logical addition complementing Alavita’s offer
Specialized in dry grocery products, Kilogram is an ideal complement to Alavita’s offering, which is well-known for its fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables. “With Kilogram, we can reach a broader clientele, particularly by meeting the needs of families.”
The cherry on top: some Alavita customers who were already shopping at Kilogram can now do their Kilogram-Alavita shopping in one place. “E-shop orders are delivered to homes or can be picked up at any Alavita store.”
Raising awareness and expanding the Kilogram.lu range
In the coming months, Anne hopes to expand the range of products available on the e-shop. “We will use our sourcing knowledge to benefit this project and create an atypical e-shop with mostly niche, artisanal, and organic products.”
The entrepreneur’s stated ambition is also to soon offer Alavita’s fresh products on the e-shop.
Anne is also aware that the road to establishing Kilogram in the food landscape and changing consumer habits will be long. “Switching to zero-waste needs to be done in stages. It’s a lengthy process, but I know that little by little, this Kilogram project will also benefit us at Alavita and our way of consuming.”
