monbento® developed by Peugeot helps the whole family to make the switch to reusable containers and accessories. It develops innovative products that combine practicality and style, and that are perfectly suited for meals and snacks for the whole family, at the office, during sports sessions, on hikes or at school. Using a monbento® lunch box, bottle or accessories means making an ecological and economic choice by opting for a quality product that you can keep for years.
As monbento® and the Peugeot brand share common values like ingenuity, elegance and family spirit, monbento® is now supported by Peugeot Frères Industrie in internationalizing its distribution, developing its product innovation and standing out with its design.
There is a 200-year gap between these two brands, yet a common ingenious spirit has driven Peugeot and monbento® since their origins. Creativity, a special taste for beautiful design and user empathy are part of their DNA.
monbento®, developed by Peugeot, represents the meeting of two brands with the same requirement for elegant and innovative objects, and uses in sync with their time.
monbento® has already convinced working people who like to combine design and practicality for their meals enjoyed at the office! Now, with the support of the Peugeot brand, symbol of daily use, monbento® aims to revolutionize to-go meals for all family members.
Interview with Capucine Levai, Communication Manager at monbento.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Capucine Levai: monbento® is the french leader in to-go tableware field. It offers a wide range of reusable lunch boxes, bottles and accessories for take away meals.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
C.L: monbento® keeps the whole family in mind with a brand dedicated to little foodies: monbento® Kids. Quality, durable products are designed to accompany them in all their daily adventures and make their parents’ lives easier. Whether in the playground, on school trips, or during their outdoor activities, kids can easily use their own monbento® products and even customize them! The latest addition is the MB Foodie, a lunch box for children made in France.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
C.L: With a wide range of reusable lunch boxes, bottles and accessories, monbento® equips the whole family for both everyday situations and extraordinary adventures :
- Urban is the perfect collection for enjoying lunch with style at the office or university, meeting the expectations of over 45% of employees who prepare their meals to eat at work (French Observatoire Cetelem survey published on November 28, 2023).
- The monbento® kids range has been designed with parents for school meals, picnics and sports activities. A must-have since more and more schools are asking parents to give their children zero-waste products.
- For those who want to reconnect with nature, monbento®’s outdoor collection includes metal and/or insulated products that are perfect for adventures in the nature.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
C.L: The to-go tableware market is experiencing significant growth. Due to ecological concerns, inflation, and a general desire to eat better, people are increasingly preparing their own meals and bringing them to work. In France, 45% of employees bring their own food to work, a figure that has seen a 20% increase over the past two years. More and more individuals are seeking high-quality products that not only last a long time but also possess a stylish design.
At monbento®, we firmly believe that making sustainable choices does not require compromising on style. That’s why we offer products that are not only durable but also feature trendy designs and patterns, ensuring they remain stylish while lasting for an extended period.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
C.L: The current prevailing trend in to-go tableware is sustainability. Once again, opting for long-lasting products enables a reduction in waste and recycling, as you can keep your lunch box for many years.
monbento® has been a pioneer in embracing this trend. monbento® products not only help users to eat better through homemade food but also contribute to reducing food waste by providing a suitable container for carrying meal leftovers to the office. monbento® additionally offers a wide range of spare parts, allowing customers to replace any broken or loosened pieces of their products.
monbento® is committed to recycling materials. Since 2021, the company has been reusing all materials used in the production of its best-selling product, the MB Original. An exclusive “Recycled” color has been developed from the generated residues (2.4 tons of plastic have already been reused).
Another trend is local production, which is also something Monbento® has been working on for the past 6 years. In 2017, we began producing our best-selling lunch box, the MB Original, locally. Now, six ranges are manufactured locally. This approach allows Monbento® to support the local economy, reduce its carbon footprint associated with transportation, and provides several advantages. These include preserving the brand’s French identity, controlling production costs, and achieving greater flexibility and agility.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
C.L: Our most innovative products are:
- The MB Warmer, our heating lunch box
No more waiting in long queues in front of the microwave, or eating cold meals at motorway service stations: thanks to the MB Warmer electric lunch box, you can enjoy hot meals whenever and wherever you want! Thanks to its 3 programs, you can adapt the heating time to suit your meal, while preserving the flavour of the ingredients and their nutritional qualities. Once heated, the MB Warmer will keep your meal warm for 1 hour. Cherry on the cake? It’s car-compatible*, so it can follow us on all our adventures!
- MB Sense – the microwave-safe metal lunch box
This hermetically sealed stainless steel lunch box is as light as it is robust thanks to its quality materials (18/8 stainless steel and PP). It has been designed to follow us on all our adventures, whether at the office or on a hike! In the kitchen, this stainless-steel lunch box goes everywhere: the oven, microwave, freezer, fridge and even the dishwasher!
E.E: What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2024?
C.L: monbento® aims to elevate outdoor meals into an unparalleled experience. We are set to launch a collection in March that incorporates the design elements of the outdoor sector. These products are specifically crafted for use in nature and during sport sessions. The colors and graphics in this collection are entirely distinct from our urban collection, aligning with the expectations of this target audience while maintaining monbento®’s high quality and aesthetic standards.