Organic food is hot: Brussels-based organic food market The Barn is expanding beyond the city borders for the first time, to open a market in Antwerp. On top of that, there will also be a third Brussels Barn before the end of the year.
Together with local farmers
Each The Barn market collaborates closely with a local organic farmer, who occupies a surface smaller than two hectares: “We want to prove that Belgian organic and small-scale farmers can be competitive, provided they are supported by someone like The Barn, who shares their values”, founders Quentin Labrique and Julien De Brouwer say. The two store openings also mean that the number of employees will almost double to 100.
The chain’s first organic market opened in 2017 and measured 500 sqm, on which the founders wanted to provide organic food products in bulk and at competitive prices, made possible by a close cooperation with local producers. The second Barn (“Bio, Accessible, Respectful and New”) was slightly smaller at 450 sqm and opened early this year.
