Equipped with the first European solar oven, this Norman craftsman transforms local products

By Adrien Filoche published Le76Actuvoir my news

"Neoloco's idea is to find local alternatives to products that are consumed on a daily basis," says Arnaud Crétot, the founder of this Norman company based in Montville, near Rouen (Seine-Maritime) andwho wants to be a pioneer in the field of solar crafts.Within his small farm which he went up from scratch to the heart of his property, this engineer from Quincampoix distills his passion.He opened the doors of his laboratory to us ... as well as those of Neoloco's attraction: the solar oven!

Solar bakery and wood fire

If all of the roasted seeds produced not Neoloco go through the solar oven, Arnaud specifies that he also uses an oven on a wood fire for part of his bread confections.This allows him to adapt when the sun sulks it.

This solar oven, if it is not like that in your kitchen, works relatively in the same way."We can do everything, as in a classic oven.I have already cooked a roast in it!», Assures Arnaud with a smile.The machine model, called Lytefire Deluxe, comes from the Finnish company Solar Fire Concentration."This oven you see has been assembled in Le Havre," said its owner.

Pioneer in the field

The founder of Neoloco perceives above all his exploitation as a laboratory to "invent and reinvent know-how.Roasting has been forgotten for many years, when it is the basis of food.In addition to being a mode of conservation, it is also a booster of taste!Too often left by the hand of industrialists according to him, he wants to take over this practice."There is a real desire to create a dynamic," insists the pioneer in terms of solar crafts.

He thus wishes to give pride of place to Normandy and his local products."I only work with organic seeds from Normandy or that should be.For example, there are very few hazelnut producers in Normandy, but you have to participate in their reimplantation, ”he insists.

Substitute products

Neoloco's flagship idea is to offer local substitution products to those consumed and imported from the other end of the world."I have a roasted seed recipe for the aperitif.We can very well imagine replacing peanuts with that, ”notes Arnaud.

Even more original, “Made in Neoloco” recipes of coffee substitute have also emerged."I call it resistant awakening.These are equivalents to coffee, lens and chiche pea, "he said.(The journalist who tells you that and who is far from being a big coffee lover tasted it and has not seen a frank difference in taste with a classic coffee, editor's note).

Sixty points of sale in Normandy

Being dependent on the sun for its production, Arnaud is obviously forced to adapt.He takes advantage of each sunny day to (re) do his stocks.Unsurprisingly, the activity is more sustained and prolific during the summer."The goal is that the warehouse is always full," he insists.And this is the advantage of roasting seeds since they are foods that enjoy a long margin of conservation.For the bakery side, it is necessary to aim more just since its breads keep between seven and ten days.

With around sixty points of sale in Normandy, including fifteen on the Montville-Rouen axis for which Arnaud operate on bike deliveries, Neoloco benefits from a beautiful local influence.Since he launched his business in 2018, he has produced around 4 tonnes of roasted seeds per year, as well as a hundred kilos of bread per week."The activity remains very variable depending on the day," he said.