For lack of a buyer, the retired baker sends his equipment to the front in Ukraine

2023-11-22 10:46:18

For thirty years, Casimir Langlois got up at dawn to knead his bread. But when retirement time came a few months ago, the baker from Espaly-Saint-Marcel, near Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire), found no buyer. “Of course, I would have preferred to sell my business and pass on my know-how,” he confides. But I couldn’t find anyone to take over. I really didn’t want to throw 30 years of work in the trash. I still prefer to give it away. Especially if it’s for a good cause.”

With his wife Isabelle, they get closer to the Occitalien charity associationin Tarn-et-Garonne, specializing in the dismantling and transport of bakeries and medical practices to countries in difficulty (Ukraine, Morocco, etc.).

A gesture that inspires other bakers

“He saw an article in the specialist magazine La Toque which talked about our actions. He contacted us and we took care of all the equipment. He was relieved to know that the professional equipment of a lifetime could still be used,” smiles Pascal Serrier, president of Occitalien.

In the lot taken last week by the association’s volunteers: two mixers, a rolling mill, scales and two dough mixers. “Everything was still in very good condition. We are in the process of packaging it in our premises before taking them to the front line in Ukraine in a few days.”

Casimir Langlois’ gesture even gave ideas to other bakers in Haute-Loire. “One of them just called us to donate all his equipment,” rejoices Pascal Serrier. He too is retiring without having found a buyer.