Obernai. The gluten-free bakery L'Eden closes its grocery store to expand its catering business.

A little less than a year after opening a 70 ^m² gluten-free grocery store in downtown Obernai, a few steps from its bakery and pastry shop, L'Eden sans gluten has decided to close it to "refocus on what's essential."

She's keeping the space, which was converted into a kitchen for the growing catering and events business, which was running out of space, explains manager Janine Strohm. She mentions requests for birthdays, cocktail receptions with friends, corporate events, and delivery. Not to mention the supply of dishes to her bakeries in Obernai and Strasbourg.

The gluten-free grocery store, a unique concept in the region , also struggled to find its audience on Dietrich Street, which is both very close to the historic center and the bakery, but rarely used by pedestrians. "We thought the street would be more dynamic. In fact, there's little traffic. It was complicated to manage because we work with fresh produce," analyzes the manager.

The best-selling dry products have been placed in the bakery. Fresh pasta should be available again starting in the fall.