20 years - Histoire - EN

Summary

Three friends, Arnault, Nicolas, and the speaker, had a vision to create a quality fast-food chain, Exquis, using fresh and healthy ingredients. They opened their first restaurant in 2001 after a six-month construction process. Despite initial struggles, they expanded to Wallonia, Italy, and eventually France, with their Paris location proving a hit. Today, Exquis has faced recent challenges but remains committed to the future, learning from past trials to improve and better serve their customers.

Takeaways

• 👨‍🍳 The idea was born from three friends wanting to create quality fast food for busy people.
• 🎨 Initially, the logo was black to give a premium look, but it was changed to include a carrot to symbolize fresh, quality, and healthy products.
• 📍 The first location was found in a busy area next to luxury shops, despite initial skepticism.
• 🏗️ The first restaurant took six months to open and was a labor of love and enthusiasm.
• 🎉 A grand celebration marked the opening, reflecting the excitement and hard work that went into the project.
• 🌟 The ambition was to create a chain of restaurants, not just a single eatery.
• 📈 Expansion began quickly, with negotiations for a second location and eventually spreading to Wallonia, Italy, and France.
• 🌧️ The second location faced initial challenges with bad weather and customer reluctance, but eventually succeeded.
• 🇫🇷 The success in Belgium led to an expansion into France, starting with a location in Paris that was very successful.
• 🔄 Despite recent challenges, the company is committed to the future and has many projects in the pipeline to continue growing and improving.

Q & A

What was the initial ambition of the three friends who created Exquis?

The initial ambition of the three friends was to create their own employment and develop their enterprise, focusing on providing quality food for people who are in a hurry.

How did the logo of Exquis come to be?

Initially, the logo was black to give a premium feel. The leek was initially chosen to replace the carrot, but it was deemed unattractive. Eventually, the carrot was chosen to symbolize fresh, quality, and healthy products.

Where did Exquis find its first location?

The first location was found in Ixelles, next to the 'Clics' on the Chaussée d'Ixelles, which was a developing area at the time.

What challenges did they face during the opening of the first location?

They faced a challenging six-month construction process to open the first Exquis on January 9, 2001.

What was the initial vision for Exquis?

From the beginning, the founders wanted Exquis to be not just a restaurant but a chain of restaurants.

What was the strategy for convincing people to try Exquis during its opening?

They went out in the rain with apples, carrots, and soup samples to attract customers who were initially not coming to the location.

When did Exquis start to expand beyond its first location?

Exquis began to expand after the success of its first location, with further expansion happening in Wallonia, Italy, and eventually France.

What was the significance of opening in Paris on Boulevard des Italiens?

Opening in Paris on Boulevard des Italiens was significant as it was a bustling area that helped Exquis gain further traction and led to additional openings at the airport and other locations.

How did Exquis adapt to the challenges faced during the period of Hugo's departure?

Exquis faced significant challenges during Hugo's departure but managed to persevere and maintain its operations, looking forward to future projects.

What are the future plans for Exquis as mentioned in the script?

Exquis has many projects in the pipeline that will gradually take shape, aiming to better serve their customers where they are.

What is the long-term vision for Exquis as expressed in the transcript?

The long-term vision for Exquis is to continue improving and becoming even better, learning from past experiences to provide better service and quality.