With the launch of the “Atelier La Lorraine” education initiative in Belgium, LLBG is sharing its passion for baking with youngsters in its communities.
Atelier La Lorraine: inspiring the next generation of bakers in Belgium
In April 2025, we proudly launched the “Atelier La Lorraine” educational initiative in Belgium, a meaningful step in giving back to the communities around us. Inspired by the success of our program in Romania, we’ve teamed up with Habbekrats, a long-term partner and trusted youth organization, to bring the joy and craft of baking to young people.
The mission of our education project is to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open doors to future careers in the bakery industry. With “Atelier La Lorraine”, we offer hands-on learning opportunities that teach not only the fundamentals of baking, but also the entrepreneurial spirit that lies at the heart of our industry.
Over the Easter holidays, the first group of Habbekrats youngsters rolled up their sleeves for an immersive training week. Supported by passionate LLBG volunteers, they were introduced to various aspects of the bakery business: from baking, food hygiene and finance to marketing and communication. Now it’s time to put those skills into practice by running their very own bakery corner at the Habbekrats house, where neighbours can regularly drop by for a fresh pastry or sandwich.
This new project is based in Ninove, close to LLBG’s headquarters, in a warm and welcoming Habbekrats house that officially opened in October 2024, also with support of LLBG. The house is a vibrant place where young people aged 8 to 18 can find friendship, support, and a fresh start.
This Belgian “Atelier La Lorraine” project follows the example of our education initiative in Romania, which has been running since 2022. In Romania, we’ve developed two specialized LLBG courses, focused on bakery and technical skills, specifically tailored to help less-privileged youth build a future in the bakery industry. We also provide the students with hands-on experience through summer internships at our production plant. During the 2024–2025 school year, nearly 100 students took part — a number we’re very proud of.
About Atelier La Lorraine
At LLBG, we believe that businesses should do more than make great products — they should make a difference. Through “Atelier La Lorraine”, we want to give back to the local communities we operate in, contributing to quality education, especially for less-privileged youngsters. By 2027, we aim to run five active Atelier La Lorraine programs, reaching at least 150 youngsters every year.
About Habbekrats
Habbekrats is a Belgian non-profit that has been creating safe, supportive spaces for young people for over 30 years. With 13 houses across Belgium, they welcome more than 2,500 youngsters annually, especially those from difficult backgrounds, offering them friendship, guidance and a place to belong.