Fermentations mobile

This page is dedicated to the project "FermentationMobile (fm)" coordinated by Algoldor.

I'm coordinating set up of mobile fermentation center where we can do experimental fermentation, educate people and it can serve as a legal production and vending point of fermented and other products at variety of events and places. After nearly of decade of brewing around the world I came to conclusion that having mobile base where kvasirs (brewers, fermentors) can do what they love and legally generate money by their activities which they need for their life is fair and sustainable way to promote the fermentation arts&science in long term.

Current Situation

• 13/03/2018 Steadily Moving Forward

After more than six months of keeping a job and getting regular paychecks, I(Algoldor) have managed to start to build up finances needed for realization of fm. In February I've restarted meetings with the local governmental and non governmental organizations finding out more help and information so I can make the fm happen. It looks like that the best legal status for me is really "micro-entreprise", I should get an obligatory week curse in May (cca 200 eu cost) which allows me to apply for siret business number. I've to confirm but I should be able to have my "business address" in our artistic collective La Cherche where I've my atelier, I need to ask them but it should be fine. Concerning the remorque/trailer or truck/camion I'm more and more considering the camion option partly because I do not have any car anymore. I'm thinking about IVECO Daily, less than ten years old, less then 200 000 km on the clock, diesel engine and "box" structure on the back. Iveco has a good reputation and it is build to last, it would be very handy in more tough environments when touring Africa, East Europe, Asia etc. Costs of decent camion of this type are around 7 000 eu. Rebuild and equipment should be within 2000 eu. Of course I will need to investigate more on for what type of foods&beverages I should apply so the licensing for my business is simple enough and based on that how should I rebuild the car so it meets the requirements, alcohol is out of question at least for the first season. At the moment it looks like that by May I should be able to purchase the car, maybe having to borrow some money depending on how well will go the crowdsourcing campaign which I would like to run under the fhb logo. After that I need to start on the rebuild. By June or July I hope to have the vehicle certified for production of fermented foods&beverages, as a vending point being therefore official, legal micro-enterprise entity (which means also insured). I think the schedule concerning paper work is bit tight but after receiving siret number in May things should become more clear and move forward faster.

Project LOG

In this section you can find the log of the project.

13/03/2018 Steadily Moving Forward

After more than six months of keeping a job and getting regular paychecks, I(Algoldor) have managed to start to build up finances needed for realization of fm. In February I've restarted meetings with the local governmental and non governmental organizations finding out more help and information so I can make the fm happen. It looks like that the best legal status for me is really "micro-entreprise", I should get an obligatory week curse in May (cca 200 eu cost) which allows me to apply for siret business number. I've to confirm but I should be able to have my "business address" in our artistic collective La Cherche where I've my atelier, I need to ask them but it should be fine. Concerning the remorque/trailer or truck/camion I'm more and more considering the camion option partly because I do not have any car anymore. I'm thinking about IVECO Daily, less than ten years old, less then 200 000 km on the clock, diesel engine and "box" structure on the back. Iveco has a good reputation and it is build to last, it would be very handy in more tough environments when touring Africa, East Europe, Asia etc. Costs of decent camion of this type are around 7 000 eu. Rebuild and equipment should be within 2000 eu. Of course I will need to investigate more on for what type of foods&beverages I should apply so the licensing for my business is simple enough and based on that how should I rebuild the car so it meets the requirements, alcohol is out of question at least for the first season. At the moment it looks like that by May I should be able to purchase the car, maybe having to borrow some money depending on how well will go the crowdsourcing campaign which I would like to run under the fhb logo. After that I need to start on the rebuild. By June or July I hope to have the vehicle certified for production of fermented foods&beverages, as a vending point being therefore official, legal micro-enterprise entity (which means also insured). I think the schedule concerning paper work is bit tight but after receiving siret number in May things should become more clear and move forward faster.

31/10/2017 Status Hiatus

At the moment I'm Algoldor too busy and financially week to push the project forward. The good news is that I've started to work at the end of August so I'm becoming more stable by improving my financial situation. I would like to do another presentation of Fermentation Mobile at 34c3 which I hope to be at least partly practical - maybe constructing simple maketa/model of inside of the "trailer". However if all goes well and I keep the job I really believe that during the winter and spring 2018 the project can be fully developed and functional certified prototype will be done.

06/08/2017 Fermentation Mobile Presentation SHA2017

I (Algoldor have presented Fermentation Mobile project at SHA2017, you can find the video recording of the presentation here.

20/3/2017 Update

I've decided to go for trailer option because of the lower cost of the unit when purchasing and most likely no insurance payments during the year. From the legal entities the "micro-enterprise" sounds now most interesting, more legal investigations needs to be done.

Main topics

The Fermentation Mobile unit needs to be able to generate income fulfilling the legal requirements.

Fallowing objectives needs to be accomplished:

• legal production of foods&drinks needs to be possible, best option would be producing directly at the fermentation mobile which would secure mobility of the project
• legal sale of products made at fermentation mobile and also other products needs to be possible
• giving workshops and classes has to be legally possible
• trailer/mobile unit has to be bought, refurnished and licensed for food&drink production and sale
• legal entity most likely micro-entreprise needs to be acquired, such that it will allow for all above and preferably will not cut social benefits from the state at least at the beginning of the project
• producing and selling alcohol in the future would be highly desirable, therefore it should be already considered when deciding on legal entity and refurnishing, licensing of the fm

Mobile Unit

There are two main possibilities to move around (on the land) easily at the moment. One is a truck option the second is trailer option. They have both advantages and disadvantages.

Truck option:

• Advantages:
  • mobile by itself, all in one
  • easier to park and manage at the locations
  • lower gas consumption - compared to car and trailer option it should consume less fuel
  • may be easier to adapt/rebuild if the "box car" version is used
• Disadvantages
  • more expensive - €6 000 - 8 000 cost for reasonable vehicle
  • car insurance and road tax has to be paid even when not used
  • sleeping in the car is likely not to be possible because of hygienic standards
  • selling or transfer of the vehicle in the future may be more complicated because of the papers, insurances etc.

Trailer option:

• Advantages
  • €500-1000 for basic frame, €1000-4000 for trailer with whole framework in place, therefore cheaper than truck to buy and also importantly probably no tax or lower tax/insurance needs to be paid when not in use later on
  • sleeping in the car used to pull the trailer shouldn't be a problem
• Disadvantages
  • can not be moved without a car
  • harder to manage at the location
  • higher fuel consumption of whole set up compared to the truck
  • the weight limit may be an issue, especially if 750 kg is the top without need for special type of license, for bigger events like SHA2017 where around 1000 l or more of drinks may be needed it is severe limitation (can be avoided to a degree by getting special permit)
  • may be harder to build up on the wheel base
  • if higher weight limit is needed getting specific car to pull it may be necessary

Legal Law Entity

There are several legal entities which could be used to legally produce and sell probiotic drinks and foods and possibly alcoholic beverages. "Educative Non Profit Organization" seems as most easy way. Another bit more difficult but still probably doable option would be becoming officially a "farmer", selling alcoholic beverages would be again more complicated. Third option which is quite new but maybe actually most feasible is micro-entreprise structure.

All options needs to be investigated, I hope to collaborate on this project with my school which objective should be to prepare me for the French job market - either as employee or self-employed, at least that is what I assume.

• Educational Non Profit Organization
  • the whole legal procedure since applying till being able to operate should take around one month
  • accounting system should be very simple
  • from the profit - no direct wages can be paid to "founder/operator" (details has to be researched)
  • from the profit - it is possible to pay variety of expenses like ingredients, fermentation equipment, fuel etc.

• Farmer
  • land would have to be bought or rather rented, minimum size has to be researched, for the baker for example it is around 3 hectares.

• Micro-entreprise
  • increasingly popular concept for small scale business activities. I've met with two persons who are using this entity, one of them is owner and operator of two food trailers and he recommended me micro-entreprise structure because of several reasons which will be discussed later. It seems to fit my requirements best, except production and sale of alcohol at least during first season.

Documentation&links

Micro Entreprise Info how to set up small business in France, Expatica, in English.

Hôtel et Pépinière d'entreprises Cherbourg en Cotentin - Incubator for business projects in Cherbourg, help with planning the project, especially obtaining the legal entity may be acquired.

Maison de l'Emploi et de lq Formation de Cotentin - Incubator for innovations.

example of horse trailer, double wheel, with base of course and it looks like decent frame for €450, Netherlands.