At a Glance
Location: Piatra Neamț, Romania
Impact Areas: Supplier Inclusion, Circular Economy, Sustainable Local Consumption
People Supported:
Small Farmers and Producers, Artisans, Rural Women
NESsT Program: Central and Eastern Europe Accelerator
Joined the NESsT portfolio:
2026
Overview
Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Ioana Cerescu, AER Local is a social and environmental impact enterprise based in Piatra Neamț, Romania. The enterprise was created to address two local needs: limited market access for small producers and artisans in the region, and limited access in smaller cities to healthier, low-waste, and more locally rooted ways of buying food.
What began as a zero-waste store for local products has grown into a community-based commercial hub that connects responsible consumption with local production. Today, AER Local is a multi-purpose space home to an artisanal bakery and pastry line, a café, a curated store for local and regional goods, and space for business gatherings, private events, and community activities.
Together, these activities allow AER Local to sell its own freshly baked products while creating a market for goods from small producers in the region. Around 90% of the products sold by AER Local are Romanian, reflecting the enterprise’s strong focus on local and regional sourcing.
AER Local’s strongest impact pathway is supplier inclusion. The enterprise works with a network of more than 150 farmers, artisans, social enterprises, women from rural areas, and small producers from underserved communities. By formalizing these supplier relationships and offering a curated retail channel, AER Local helps producers strengthen their visibility, reach customers that might otherwise be difficult to access, and generate more predictable income. While this supplier-led model is its main source of impact, AER Local also contributes to direct employment for people facing exclusion.
AER Local also upholds a strong environmental commitment which is reflected in how the business operates day to day. Its low-waste practices include refill and bulk systems, reduced packaging, local sourcing, and food waste reduction — from reusing near-expiry ingredients in production to repurposing unsold bread into new products. The enterprise has also invested in energy-efficiency measures, including photovoltaic panels and heat pumps.
Results & Impact
154
suppliers from excluded backgrounds receiving income through AER in 2025
250
suppliers from excluded backgrounds expected to be supported by 2028
80–100
customers served daily
“
For us, AER Local has always been more than a zero-waste shop. It is a way to build a different relationship between consumers, local producers, and the community. Our next step is to bring this local ecosystem to more people, while helping small producers from our region become more visible and resilient.”
NESsT Investment
AER Local joined NESsT’s portfolio to support its next stage of growth: expanding market access for small producers from northeastern Romania, strengthening online sales, and building the commercial systems needed to scale sustainably.
NESsT’s investment will support the development of AER Local’s online shop and marketplace features, helping the enterprise to reach more local farmers, artisans, and producers in the region. Technical assistance from NESsT portfolio managers will also focus on branding and product development, improved packaging and product presentation, and stronger digital visibility for local artisans and their products.
Beyond commercial growth, NESsT will also work with AER Local to strengthen its internal systems. This includes creating an advisory board, improving management reporting, and tracking commercial and social impact. Through this support, AER Local aims to reach more local producers, supporting them to access markets while making it easier for customers to choose responsibly sourced products.