Wholesaler of Canadian Maple Products
From taking over the family farm to exporting to around thirty countries, the company has grown with investments, encounters, and the commitment of those who work there.
Paul-Amable Pelletier and his wife, Adrienne Chouinard
Following the death of his father, Paul-Amable Pelletier, in 1987, Vital Pelletier acquired the family farm and sugar bush from his mother, Adrienne Chouinard. Vital is the third child and first son in the family.
He then moved to the farm with his wife, France Lelanc, and their three young children: Kevin, five years old, Éric, two years old, and Josianne, ten months old.
Quickly, Vital realized that major investments were needed to modernize the dairy farm and sugar bush. He chose to start with the sugar bush, where he installed a tubing system to replace the collection by boiler. The horses were sold and replaced by snowmobiles. The acquisition of a new osmosis concentrator also allowed the maple water to be concentrated to 8 degrees Brix. This concentrator, modified several times over the years, is still in operation today.
As the years passed, the workload became heavier for Vital, who worked from sunrise to sunset. Despite all his efforts, the income remained insufficient to finance the necessary investments for the dairy farm and sugar bush. In 1991, Vital made the decision to sell the dairy cows and his milk quota.
Unable to sell all of his maple syrup harvest, Vital decides, with his brother Dany, to market maple products in small sizes. Together, they found Les Produits d’Érable Daly.
The two brothers craft several products in an artisanal way, including maple butter, taffy, and maple candies. However, sales are not sufficient to support them. Dany chooses to step back from the venture. Les Produits d’Érable Daly then closes its doors, but packaging activities continue under the name of Ferme Vifranc inc.
Dany Pelletier, brother of Vital Pelletier, co-founder of Produits d’Érable Daly
In 1993, Ferme Vifranc began exporting its products to France. The first order from its customer included several products, grouped on half a pallet. The company also started shipping its products under private label in Western Canada. At that time, filling was done using a single valve. The capping, labeling, and boxing were still done entirely by hand.
Over the years, Ferme Vifranc's two customers experienced significant growth in their sales. This growth allowed the company to gradually increase its business volume and continue its development.
In 1994, Lucienne Piegeon joined Ferme Vifranc. She still works there today, where she holds the position of Director of Finance in addition to being a shareholder.
Over the years, sales have continued to increase steadily.
In 2006, the production volume reaches 400 barrels per year on a manual line, and the company has seven full-time employees.
That same year, Ferme Vifranc acquires its first automated packaging line. A bottling machine, a capping machine, and a labeling machine are then installed in its premises.
In 2010, Kevin, Vital's son, becomes a shareholder of the company. Holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, he focuses mainly on sales development. He divides his time between office work and manual work on the production line. In the spring, he devotes himself to the maple grove.
In 2011, Kevin participates in his first international trade fair, BioFach, in Germany. There, he meets two new clients, opening up new development prospects for the company.
In 2013, Ferme Vifranc undergoes a major expansion with the addition of a 9,600 square foot building. This expansion is necessary due to the increased volume, which reaches 4,000 barrels per year at that time.
The company continues its modernization by investing in new equipment, including a coder, an automatic box closing machine, and a pallet wrapper. At the same time, Kevin participates in more international fairs each year to develop new markets and expand the customer base. The company also implements a quality control system that will later lead to obtaining BRCGS certification.
In 2014, Simon Pelletier joins the company. He currently holds the position of general manager and is also a shareholder.
In 2019, the company undertakes its second major expansion with the construction of a 24,000 square foot warehouse. The work is completed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, well beyond the initial schedule. This situation forces the company to bottle in the evening and to subcontract in order to continue its operations and meet demand.
In 2021, Ferme Vifranc reaches a new milestone with the acquisition of a high-speed line and an automatic case packer.
Today, the family business has around fifty employees and four production lines. It annually packages over 20,000 barrels of maple syrup and exports its products to around thirty countries.
From its humble beginnings on the family farm in 1987 to its international presence, Ferme Vifranc has remained true to what has always been at the heart of its story: family, passion for maple, hard work, and the desire to go further.
Each step of this adventure has been marked by challenges, investments, and encounters, but above all by the determination of several generations to build a strong and sustainable business.
The story of Ferme Vifranc continues to be written, carried by the same family values that gave birth to the company.
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