By Claire & Guido

To call Keck’s a shop would actually miss the point completely. Bertrand, its owner, labels it a Café Nature Shop, but it is far more than that.

Founded in 2010, Keck’s is a treasure cove for quality food lovers. Nestled in small side road, between Parc de Source and Parc Kenedy you’ll find a perfect place to unwind discover the world of food tastes, a miniature General Store.

In fact that is what was Betrand´s vision when in the 1990ies he returned to France from his global travel, learned in the prestige House Hédiard and slowly grew a vision of a slowretail quality food store. Inspired by a Canadian painting of a General Store he started to create Keck’s, a truly unique retail experience.

And true his place does follow the traditional General Stores: a place to meet, to buy the basics, a little bit of everything in quality food. In his case, as the store is small, he has to be selective, which gives the store almost the flavour of a child merchant store out of our childhood.

But Bertrand does not only sell his goodies, he also serves them and that with a huge passion.

Already when studying his 50 page menu you feel in completely different world, you feel his love for food and variety. 15+ different hot chocolate recipes from all around the world, 20+ teas from Europe, Asia, Africa, many pasta from Italy, a variety of soups, or his huge selection milk shakes all of them served in their very own decoration.

The variety is so beautiful unique, that you give up finding your favourite choice, you simply come regularly and try them one by one. Yes, you can hear, we are in love, we admit we go regularly to indulge another goody from the never ending wish list. So when you are visiting from out of town stay longer or come regularly.

While he prepares your food spend some time to study his shelves and watch his dedication to create a perfect serving. Top quality food, made with dedication and love, a special designed serving makes every cup or dish a very unique experience.

Next time you drive through the Auvergne on your way to South or North make a stopover in Vichy, visiting Keck’s and some of the other Slowretailer in town.

Keck’s Café Nature Shop, 16 Rue d’Allier, 03200 Vichy, France

The authors Claire and Guido are friends of Slowretail, they live in Vichy and Berlin.