Pignol, a caterer with strong links to Lyon who is also the top independent operator in France, has just set out to conquer Grenoble where he opened a restaurant and a shop on 7 November 2008. In order to make his mark, he chose one of the finest locations in the city – the Sainte-Cécile convent, renovated by Éditions Glénat which has its headquarters there – and now an impressive canteen.

Pignol has worked in Grenoble for a good many years on behalf of some of the largest companies in the area as well as during big events such as the CFDT conference when 12,000 meals were served over a four day period! But we only came on a project by project basis and local clients, who knew about our Lyon shops, kept asking us to set up in Grenoble, recalls Priscia Heneaux, the site’s general manager. The renovation of the Saint-Cécile convent by Jacques Glénat essentially offered us the opportunity for a well-established shop window, which became our first operation outside of Lyon .

On site, Pignol has a shop with caterer and cake shop, a tea room in the cloisters and a restaurant in the former nuns’ refectory! Decorated in red and grey tones by designers Alain and Dominique Vavro, the establishment offers 60 covers in the main room, a further 20 in the cloisters and 40 on the terrace. The shop is serviced by the Brignais kitchens, close to Lyon, whilst fresh products are made on site. The restaurant, managed by Fabrice Descamps, is locally supplied. Its clientele, up market, pays about 30 € for lunch, and the average bill for dinner rises to 45 €. Right from the start we’ve had people almost beating the door down, confirms Priscia Heneaux. Since when we’ve pretty much been full every day !

Having set up shop in this former convent, built in 1624, Pignol will also be able to make use of the neighbouring former Sainte-Cécile chapel, which is on the same site. Renovated at the same time as the convent, it is ideal for seminars, conference, upmarket evening events and gala dinners for between 150 and 200 people.

La Maison Pignol is managed by Jean-Paul and Françoise Pignol. In addition to Grenoble, the company owns six shops in Lyon, Brignais, Écully and Villeurbanne. It has 160 employees, 13 of which work in Grenoble, and can call on 200 extra workers if necessary. In 2008, it served 500,000 individual clients and 300,000 meals during various conferences and seminars producing a turnover of 17 million euros from 55% of its event business.