They will have to fight again, and the sum is substantial. Facing cash flow difficulties, Après-M, a solidarity fast-food restaurant inaugurated after months of social struggle in December 2022 on the site of a former McDonald’s in the northern districts of Marseille acquired by the city, launched a call for donations of 300,000 euros. A month after its launch with the holding of an evening of free concerts bringing together some former rap glories performing voluntarily (Faf Larage, 3rd eye, etc.), the prize pool shows just over 3,000 euros in pledges.
The restaurant, whose genesis dates back to solidarity actions and food distributions during the first confinement caused by the Covid-19 crisis, specifies that this sum would “rebalance the cash flow and continue to develop [leurs] activities “. To date, the company with associative status ensures the weekly distribution of 700 food packages, in addition to its conventional fast-food activity for which certain burgers have been developed in collaboration with Gérald Passedat, three-star chef at Petit Nice. It is also starting to increase the number of cultural events. A “comedy club”, in partnership with the Théâtre du Gymnase – Bernardines, took place on October 20, a film debate evening was organized at the Alhambra the previous Wednesday… “Our objective is to fight against all precariousness, including cultural ones,” says Lila, volunteer in charge of communications. Solidarity actions that were to be made possible by the revenue generated by the restaurant.
The region will not intervene
But now, clearly, the equation is not right and the association finds itself confronted with a difficult economic reality. “We opened with very little cash flow, unlike our ‘competitors’, and are counting on a subsidy from the institution which helps businesses in the social and solidarity economy,” continues the volunteer. A file was submitted about a year ago to the region, which indicates on its website that it devotes all of its interventions in the social and solidarity economy (ESS) sector, which brings together nearly 11,800 companies. in Paca, a total budget of nearly 16 million euros per year.
But this help will not come, learned 20 minutes on the Place Jules Guesde side: “two years ago, the Marseille town hall announced that it would save Apres-M, with a large-scale project which provided perspective. Without any consultation with the region, and without ever consulting us. Two years later, the same Apres-M needs 300,000 euros to save the project. Of course, the Region is not competent to come and save a project with which it has never been associated, and will therefore not pay any subsidy.”
Between the lines, we therefore read that the Après-M could be a sort of victim of political rivalry, or even of the now famous “local chicayas”, opposing a left-wing town hall embodied by Benoît Payan (DVG) to a right-wing region , chaired by Renaud Muselier (Renaissance). Therefore, it is appropriate to question the future of the 32 employees of the unique fast-food restaurant which also operates with a handful of workers on work-integration contracts, and around thirty volunteers providing support functions (communication, accounting, events). …). “We have always fought to preserve this place,” assures Lila. But we don’t understand why we don’t have the support of those who could help us.” When requested, the town hall, which rents the premises to the association, was unable today to answer our questions about possible assistance.
More projects
The fact remains that the company is currently undergoing significant investments, therefore made with low cash flow. In particular automatic ordering and payment terminals like those found in fast-food chains. However, we want to be reassuring, for the moment, about the sustainability of the project. “The money we need must allow us to make investments, such as a cannery project to process donated fruits and vegetables that are too damaged to be distributed in packages.”
But among the volunteers, a hint of fatigue and bitterness seems to be emerging: “Today, we are taking a break from the work we do to the detriment of our personal lives,” explains Lila, who regrets that the fast- food “has not yet been able to begin to fight on an equal footing with the other actors in a cruel and competitive economic environment”. This would require some new money.