Food-C

Food.C is a public-sector strategy and coordination platform for Charleroi Métropole, focused on accelerating the transition toward a food system that is more local, sustainable, healthy, and accessible to everyone. It is presented as a territorial initiative led by public organizations, with a role of federating local, provincial, and regional stakeholders around concrete, structuring projects for the area. The initiative serves a broad ecosystem: producers, processors, distributors, public kitchens, entrepreneurs, training providers, researchers, and citizens. Rather than operating as a commercial food company, Food.C acts as a catalyst for relocalizing food activities, strengthening short supply chains, and building the support structures needed for new food-related projects to emerge and grow. Its positioning combines economic development, public health, climate and biodiversity protection, and social accessibility. The strategy is designed for Charleroi Métropole and Wallonia, with an emphasis on creating durable value for the territory and its inhabitants. Key Offerings Territorial food strategy and coordination : Food.C coordinates a shared roadmap for the transition to a healthier, more local, durable, and accessible food system across Charleroi Métropole. It brings together public and private actors around common priorities and structured projects. Producer support and project accompaniment : The platform helps food entrepreneurs and producers refine their ideas, define a strategy, build a business model, and identify land, premises, or financing needs. It also connects them with Charleroi Entreprendre and other support organizations. Local food discovery and promotion : Food.C provides a directory of local producers and points of sale so residents can find nearby products more easily. It also shares news, events, and initiatives that promote local food consumption. Training and launch support : The site aggregates training opportunities and guidance for people who want to enter the food sector, including production, transformation, logistics, and consumption-related pathways. Project and funding information : Food.C highlights calls for projects and other opportunities linked to the food transition, helping stakeholders identify relevant support and financing channels. Core Values Local sourcing : Food.C promotes relocalizing food production, processing, and distribution so more value stays within the territory and consumers can access nearby products. Health and accessibility : The strategy explicitly aims to make food healthier and accessible to all, linking food choices with public health and social inclusion. Sustainability and climate action : Food.C frames the food transition as part of the response to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the need for more durable production models. Collaboration and federation : A central value of the initiative is to bring together public bodies, producers, support organizations, and researchers around shared projects and governance. Support for entrepreneurship : Food.C emphasizes accompaniment, training, and financing to help new and existing actors develop viable food businesses and initiatives. Unique Aspects Public territorial platform : Food.C is not a single company but a public coordination strategy for Charleroi Métropole, backed by public institutions and designed to structure the local food ecosystem. Strong governance and funding framework : The strategy is supported by the Walloon Region through the “Relocalisons l’alimentation en Wallonie” call for projects, with a formal monitoring structure including COMAC and a territorial follow-up committee. Connection to major infrastructure projects : Food.C is tied to concrete territorial projects such as a central collective kitchen planned to produce more than 25,000 meals per day, as well as logistics hubs, transformation facilities, and shared entrepreneurial spaces. Integration with local food networks : The initiative works alongside related actors and projects such as the Ceinture Alimentaire Charleroi Métropole, Circulacoop, CADI, and the Maison de l’Alimentation Durable, helping align efforts across the territory. Broad territorial reach : Its scope covers Charleroi Métropole and its 30 communes, with an ambition to serve the area’s 600,000 inhabitants through coordinated food-system development.