Introducing the first cohort of Everyone's Business programme!
Meet the 11 social enterprises contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable, and hopeful Sweden.
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Supports Romanian small producers and artisans by creating a low-waste marketplace for local food, handmade goods, and community connections.
AER Local started in 2020, inspired by Ioana Cerescu’s vision and drive. Located in Piatra Neamț, Romania, it began with a straightforward goal: support small producers and artisans in getting their products into the market and make it easier for people in smaller cities to buy healthy, low-waste, local food.
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Location
Piatra Neamț, Romania
Programme
Poland and Romania Accelerator Programme
in partnership with NESsT
Website
https://www.aerlocal.ro/
Piatra Neamț, Romania
Programme
Poland and Romania Accelerator Programme
in partnership with NESsT
Website
https://www.aerlocal.ro/
AER Local began as a small zero-waste shop for local products and has grown into a vibrant community hub. It includes an artisanal bakery and pastry line, a friendly café, a thoughtfully stocked store for local and regional goods, and a space for business meetings, celebrations, and community events.
These activities allow the enterprise to offer its own fresh baked goods and give small producers in the region new opportunities. Almost all the products, about 90%, are Romanian, which shows AER Local’s strong commitment to supporting local and regional makers.
Its main impact is supporting suppliers. Over 150 farmers, artisans, social enterprises, rural women, and small producers from underserved communities are part of its network. By offering a reliable place to sell their goods, AER Local helps them gain visibility, reach new customers, and earn a more stable income. It also creates jobs for people who often have trouble finding work.
Protecting the environment is part of everyday life at the enterprise. The team uses refill and bulk systems, keeps packaging to a minimum, sources locally, and finds creative ways to reduce food waste, such as turning near-expiry ingredients into new products or giving unsold bread another use. They also save energy by using solar panels and heat pumps to power the space.
These activities allow the enterprise to offer its own fresh baked goods and give small producers in the region new opportunities. Almost all the products, about 90%, are Romanian, which shows AER Local’s strong commitment to supporting local and regional makers.
Its main impact is supporting suppliers. Over 150 farmers, artisans, social enterprises, rural women, and small producers from underserved communities are part of its network. By offering a reliable place to sell their goods, AER Local helps them gain visibility, reach new customers, and earn a more stable income. It also creates jobs for people who often have trouble finding work.
Protecting the environment is part of everyday life at the enterprise. The team uses refill and bulk systems, keeps packaging to a minimum, sources locally, and finds creative ways to reduce food waste, such as turning near-expiry ingredients into new products or giving unsold bread another use. They also save energy by using solar panels and heat pumps to power the space.
For us, AER Local has always been more than a zero-waste shop. It is a way to build a different relationship between consumers, local producers, and the community. Our next step is to bring this local ecosystem to more people, while helping small producers from our region become more visible and resilient.
Programme support
With support from the Central and Eastern Europe Accelerator programme, AER Local will expand its online shop and marketplace, making it easier for local farmers, artisans, and producers to reach more customers. They’ll also refine their branding, product development, improved packaging, and making sure local artisans and their products are noticed online.
With this support, AER Local hopes to reach even more local producers and make it simpler for customers to choose products that are good for people and the planet.
With support from the Central and Eastern Europe Accelerator programme, AER Local will expand its online shop and marketplace, making it easier for local farmers, artisans, and producers to reach more customers. They’ll also refine their branding, product development, improved packaging, and making sure local artisans and their products are noticed online.
With this support, AER Local hopes to reach even more local producers and make it simpler for customers to choose products that are good for people and the planet.