From Brussels to Paris: BUDDY BUDDY expands its unique nut butter coffee shop concept

BUDDY BUDDY, the brand known both for its specialty coffee and nut butters, will open its first nut butter coffee shop outside Brussels in early March in the vibrant 10th arrondissement of Paris.

The Parisian café will offer unique and creative drinks such as Matcha Buddy (matcha, peanut butter, oat milk), Praline Mocha (hazelnut butter, oat milk, espresso, dark chocolate), as well as a selection of nut butters-based pastries. The coffee shop offer – 100% plant-based – is a celebration of the nine BUDDY BUDDY nut butters range which will serve to highlight their versatility.

Julien Gaucherot, French co-founder of BUDDY BUDDY, says: “Paris is a natural choice for us, as we have a great love and affinity with the city and already source most of our ingredients in France. We are delighted to share our passion for nut butters and specialty coffee with the Parisian public.”

Our readers will certainly wonder – how will this affect the future of the company and particularly the Brussels side of the business? We asked Matt Samra, one of the founders to share more insights on the new outpost in Paris.

Our business is still based in Brussels. The nut butters are still made by us in our own atelier in Anderlecht.

Matt , co-founder of buddy buddy

Why Paris?
We put years of hard work and sacrifice to make BUDDY BUDDY into something we’re proud of. So we’re stepping into a global city to see if it’s works. It may fail, but we only live once so may as well go for it right? Plus we already have a Parisian following – it’s our second biggest market outside Belgium for webshop and B2B orders. And finally, we want to make the finest nut butters in Europe. Paris is a great place for our nut butters to shine in the limelight.

Who owns BUDDY BUDDY?
BUDDY BUDDY is still 100% Matt and Julien’s. There are no investors involved, we just got a bank loan plus crowd-lending to fund our expansion.

Are you still a local business? Finally, are you forgetting Brussels?
Not at all, we have been looking at expanding the coffee bar concept in Belgium too. But it just hasn’t worked out so far. Our business is still based in Brussels. The nut butters are still made by us in our own atelier in Anderlecht. We are just living temporarily in Paris. Expanding in Paris actually reinforces our Brussels business – creating more security for the business through new growth paths which actually create more BUDDY BUDDY jobs based in Brussels.

BUDDY BUDDY coffee shops are more than just a place to have a specialty coffee – they are a destination for all lovers of organic, artisanal and quality nut butters. BUDDY BUDDY nut butters are made from the finest organic ingredients, mainly French almonds and hazelnuts from a direct partnership with an organic producer in the Lot-et-Garonne.

The company distinguishes itself from other nut butters brands by using only the finest, organic and transparent ingredients and by making each nut butter by hand in its own workshop, from roasting to labelling, thus ensuring total control over the final quality of the product. Buddy Buddy’s commitment to sustainability and quality craftsmanship is evident in all aspects of its business, from its coffee shops to its nut butters.

Check our interview with founders Julien and Matt, to discover the full story behind Buddy Buddy concept in Brussels.