Proxi Market – Belgium

Alexis Thuysbaert, the project partner, is a multi-entrepreneur particularly active in the technology sector. He is present and involved in all stages of the project. He studied law, economics and executive management in different languages. Alexis Thuysbaert works as a coach and project guide. Its entrepreneurial side is also apparent through its work in collaboration with the Master in creation of small and medium Enterprises (CPME) at UCL.

In the current context of urbanization, villages are seeing their population decrease and their local businesses disappear. The distances to stock up on food products are increasing. However, some villagers do not have the opportunity or the means to move several times a week to a supermarket. This lack of small shops for daily shopping is therefore felt in remote villages.

Also, local and short circuit products attract and seduce more and more consumers. Nevertheless, supermarkets do not respond enough to these needs for quality food products that respect the environment.

Finally, some of the customers wish to maintain a more privileged relationship with the sellers. Indeed, some consumers expect a welcome and friendly customer service, which is less easy to establish in supermarkets.

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In order to meet these different needs, the project aims to open a local business in an isolated village with a small population. The idea is therefore to propose a limited offer of product that favors the short circuit.

As with all our projects, the first step of the project will be the formation of a multidisciplinary team of excellent and highly motivated students. The students will work on the project in Belgium over the academic year and spend around 6 weeks for the last phase of their project.