Our Story: The Birth of La Parisienne

An Adventure Born in Sonvilier

The story of La Parisienne began in a completely unexpected way.

When we arrived in Sonvilier, it was not with the idea of opening a bakery. We simply came to settle in the village, especially to be closer to Neuchâtel, where Mélodie was continuing her studies in medical biology. David, on the other hand, was looking for work as a baker.

At that time, we had just finished our studies. We did not have much money, nor any real financial security, but we had one essential thing: a strong desire to work, to move forward, and to build something genuine.

A Closed Bakery, but an Opportunity to Seize

It all began during a conversation with the owner of our future home. David asked her if there were any opportunities for a baker in the area.

That was when she told us, almost jokingly, about a bakery in Sonvilier that had been closed for several months. She probably did not think it would go any further, especially since the owner of the premises was not particularly enthusiastic about renting it out again.

But David did not see a closed bakery. He saw a place that could be brought back to life.

Starting with Little, but with Great Determination

We then contacted the owner of the premises, Carlo Zoni. At that time, we did not even have the means to pay the deposit for the premises. Yet he agreed to listen to us, to trust us, and to believe in our project.

That trust was decisive.

GMSA, our mill, also believed in us from the very beginning. Thanks to their support and their bank loan, we were able to make the opening possible. Without this help, La Parisienne would probably never have come to life.

These acts of trust deeply touched us. They gave us a chance, and we wanted to earn it every day through our work.

15 October 2024: La Parisienne Opens Its Doors

After many efforts, administrative steps, doubts, but above all an enormous amount of work, La Parisienne opened its doors in Sonvilier on 15 October 2024.

Our goal was simple: to bring a village bakery back to life and create a warm, artisanal place close to the local community.

From the very beginning, we wanted to build a bakery that reflected who we are: sincere, hard-working, family-oriented, and committed to quality. Every loaf of bread, every viennoiserie, and every pastry had to reflect our love for the craft and our respect for the product.

A Bakery That Also Belongs to the Village

La Parisienne is not only our story. It is also the story of the people who supported us from the very first days.

Your encouragement, feedback, ideas, and loyalty have allowed the bakery to grow. We have always wanted to listen to our customers, understand their wishes, and develop our offer together with them.

For us, a village bakery must be more than just a shop. It should be a living place, somewhere people come to buy their bread, enjoy a coffee, chat, discover something new, or simply share a moment.

From Sonvilier to Saint-Imier, then Bienne

Founded in 2024 in Sonvilier, La Parisienne then grew with successive openings in Saint-Imier and Bienne.

Even as the company develops, our foundation remains the same: artisanal work, carefully made products, and genuine attention to the ingredients we use every day. Our basic ingredients, such as milk, eggs, flour, and butter, are selected with care, giving priority as much as possible to local and Swiss suppliers. We want to remain faithful to what has mattered to us from the very beginning: quality, closeness, and love for the craft.

A Story That Continues

Today, La Parisienne continues to write its story day after day.

We know where we come from. We also know that none of this would have been possible without the people who believed in us, without the customers who support us, and without all the hours of work needed to keep this project alive.

La Parisienne was born from an unexpected opportunity, with limited means, but with great determination.

And this is a story we want to continue building together with you.