Laureen Monteil

Since 1995, I have supported the creation and opening of hotel and restaurant projects for independent owners and groups.

Since 2002, I have also managed and developed my own businesses (restaurants, delicatessens, tea rooms, catering, takeaway), growing from 4 to 32 employees before selling them.

Today, I help business leaders in the food industry to improve their margins, profitability, and cash flow.

My goal:

Little Big Women is a Qualiopi-certified association in Lille whose mission is to support women entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey: creation, acquisition, development.

I contribute in three complementary areas:

- Mentoring: sharing experience with entrepreneurs starting out, drawing on 20 years of field experience as a business owner

- Coaching: individual support on issues of posture, decision-making, and business development

- Training: workshops on financial fundamentals and offer construction

Approximately 70 individuals supported individually and 200 trained each year.

In February 2002, opened Basilic Café, followed by Urban Basilic Café in 2010.

A truly hybrid space, BASILIC CAFE was innovative in the Lille metropolitan area, offering a modern and contemporary experience for 20 years.

Our establishments combined a private sunny terrace, a tea room, dine-in or delivery service, an urban art gallery, a gourmet food shop, a satellite restaurant, a stroller-friendly café, workshops, events, and catering services.

Always attentive to the quality, presentation, and flavor of our dishes, BASILIC CAFE was a true laboratory for experimenting with raw, healthy, and modern homemade cuisine: The first gourmet burger in Lille appeared with us in 2002, along with the city's first brunch. We always offered vegetarian dishes on the menu and... no fries for 8 years!! An achievement in the North of France, right?!

In 2003, we expanded our restaurant business with a catering service, delivering our meal trays throughout the Lille agglomeration until February 2014.

The first restaurant, with a capacity of 50 seats, started with only 2 employees in 2002; a few years later, we could accommodate 350 people and had a team of 32 employees.

The last restaurant was sold in January 2020.

Basilic Café - 10 rue du pont neuf Lille

Espace Traiteur - 10 rue du pont neuf Lille

Urban Basilic Café - 24 bis rue esquermoise Lille

Mercedes Café - 20 rue de la Chappe Villeneuve d'ascq

Espace Gourmand - 5 rue de saint andré Lille

Urban Square Gallery - 24 bis rue esquermoise Lille