When did the Food Banks start getting involved in sailing?
In April 2025, we participated in the double-handed transat Concarneau – Saint-Barth’. It all started with a meeting of hearts, with Pier Paolo (Dean), who is a skipper from Rennes. Two years ago, we carried out an operation in Brittany to find one million liters of milk. A merchant had offered him a branded sail “One million liters of milk” for local races. Then, little by little, he told us about his offshore racing projects. He had funding for his boat, which is privately owned. Pier Paolo wanted to race for an ideal, which we support every day by distributing food to the less fortunate. He made the boat available to us. We like the team spirit.
Do the Food Banks financially invest in this project?
No, not at all! The boat is privately owned, and the funding comes from local merchants, all Bretons. They are well known but do not wish to be exposed: only the Food Banks are highlighted.
How much does a project like this cost?
The skipper is a student, with no salary. The preparer is also a young student. So they are at a minimum. Without counting the boat, a race like this must cost around 60,000 euros, I believe.
What do the Food Banks gain from being present at the Solitaire?
We were looking to be more visible. The funds allocated to food aid are no longer enough since COVID. We need to appeal more and more to merchants, individuals, and companies for donations. The world of sports is accessible and makes us visible. Being present in the villages (starts and finishes, in France) is very unusual for us, we are more often in supermarkets. We see that there is a sense of sympathy. We give people a little bookmark, with a QR code for donations. We also meet donor companies on this occasion. They appreciate that we create a connection at such an event.
Have you already seen an impact on donation volume thanks to the Solitaire du Figaro?
The goal is not to collect at the village, it is difficult. Thanks to the bookmark we distribute, people can donate later, quietly, when they get home. So we will measure the effects in a few days, a few weeks.
Could your involvement in sailing last?
Yes, but more generally in the sports world. Food Banks have been partners of the Rugby World Cup, we are a small partner of the Tour de France. Going further in sailing? The Solitaire du Figaro is the right scale. The Route du Rhum, the Vendée Globe, are too big for us. We have a local presence, we are in discussions with local authorities, local businesses.
How are the Food Banks doing?
We used to work a lot with anti-food waste, but waste has decreased significantly. So we need to find new resources. We are thinking of companies, who are attentive to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). We have experienced various crises: COVID, the Ukrainian crisis, with the increase in energy and raw materials, now the war in the Middle East. All of this will further increase precarity and needs. In Rennes, which is my food bank, we have tripled volumes in five years. We support 43,000 people. In Brittany, we support 110,000 people, with 370 distribution points. Food Banks represent the utmost benevolence to support the less fortunate. We have 600 permanent volunteers in Brittany.
Practical
Food Banks form the largest national network of food aid, with 111 local structures in France. They collect 130,000 tons of products per year.
