Benoît Hamon Champions Social and Solidarity Economy in Nîmes with Cooperative Initiatives

Benoît Hamon, president of ESS France and former minister of the social and solidarity economy (ESS), visited Nîmes in February 2026 to promote cooperative business models and the ESS's growing role in regional development. He toured the cooperative company Marmiton, which had transitioned into a Société coopérative et participative (Scop) in 2024 following judicial recovery. Once on the edge of collapse, Marmiton now distributes 450 meals daily across five departments, with plans to expand its fleet and premises. This successful cooperative model exemplifies ESS’s impact, which last year generated €381 billion, far surpassing sectors like startups and defense.

At a public event titled "Produire, décider et vivre autrement, l’Économie sociale et solidaire en action" held on February 13, Hamon highlighted how the ESS addresses population needs unmet by traditional economies or public services. The meeting also included Fatima Bellaredj, president of ESS Lab and delegate of the SCOP and SCIC confederation, underscoring the sector's rising political importance, especially in the upcoming municipal elections in Gard. Local political figures such as Nadja Flank and Vincent Bouget supported initiatives to develop cooperative structures, including a proposed cooperative school in Nîmes that would serve as an incubator for entrepreneurial projects and a research hub.

Hamon reassured the audience about the longevity and sustainability of cooperative enterprises, noting that their profit-sharing model often leads to greater durability compared to traditional companies. His visit and advocacy offered encouragement to cooperative employees at Marmiton and signals the ESS’s increasing traction as a viable economic alternative in the region.