CDZiDfred mauger
FREN
La Cantinetta Meal terrace on Lutry harbour

HoReCa

The HoReCa
adventure

© Fred Mauger

Two careers, one common thread: emotion creates connection.

HoReCa

The adventure began in 2014 in Lutry with the opening of La Cantinetta Meal, a lakeside restaurant. Over CHF 2 million in turnover, up to 25 employees and 200 covers in summer, seven years of day-to-day management, including the Covid crisis.

In 2024, at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, interim operations director of the Quintino and all its outlets: the Théâtre de Beaulieu bars and the exhibition centre catering. Up to 48 employees, turnover over CHF 3 million, Fait Maison label obtained and Swisstainable label introduced, full digitalisation.

Vaud café-restaurant licence obtained in 2015.

Creative

CDZiD, the creative factory, was founded in 2003 in Paris. Freelance creative for McCann, TBWA, Ogilvy, Grey, Les Magasins Généraux… Direct clients: L'Oréal Paris, Nespresso, Nestlé, Moët & Chandon, DHL, Vietnam Airlines, Banque Populaire, Crédit Agricole. Budgets up to €500K.

From brief to photo shoot, from strategy to final artwork, always driven by the belief that the right word with the right visual reaches the consumer.

2014Lutry, La Cantinetta Meal
CHF 3Mturnover, Palais de Beaulieu
48employees
2003CDZiD, Paris

What ties it all together

A way of working that always starts with people (the client, the employee, the guest) before the tool or the process. Twenty years in creative and art direction, ten years in restaurant operations management. It is the same work, applied to two different fields: creating connection, through the image or on the plate.

Logo La Cantinetta Meal, branding ©Ambre Lamy
La Cantinetta Meal slideshow: summer and winter team, the venue, the food, the events

The Story

La Cantinetta Meal SA

In 2010, in Paris, where we lived at the time, the idea of opening a restaurant was born with a couple of Parisian friends who had just moved to French-speaking Switzerland. A real challenge, as none of us knew the ins and outs of the trade. After looking for the right place, in June 2014 we set our sights on La Lagune. Located on the Vieux-Stand harbour in Lutry, on the lakeshore, it offers a breathtaking view of the south shore of Lake Geneva, with stunning sunrises and sunsets…

Brainstorming, architect, interior design, branding, launch and communication strategy: everyone found their place. Setting up the company, partners, joint shareholding, administration and management, obtaining the licence; official opening in December 2014, after many twists and turns, and already the start of its success.

But why Cantinetta Meal? Cantinetta for the friendly, canteen-like feel, and Meal for the initials of our children's first names. A resolutely contemporary venue, a break from the restaurants of the region. A team made up mostly of Italians from Abruzzo, and others from France and Switzerland.

To stay true to our values, in March 2021 we decided to move on to new adventures… The restaurant closed for good in February 2022.

Co-founder and partner / Manager / Licence holder / Director / Financial and HR management / Business development, customer loyalty / Branding / Brand image / Full digital, social media / In-store and out-of-store event management…