Quebec-based Chocolats Favoris plans to double the size of its operations in a year, which will include a dozen new store locations and a new downtown Montreal flagship. The modest-sized retailer plans to grow its sales to about $100 million by the year 2020, expanding its store count from 13 to about 75 locations while also enlarging wholesale channels.
Founded in Lévis, Quebec, in 1979, Chocolats Favoris currently operates locations in smaller Quebec cities. It was acquired by entrepreneur Dominique Brown in 2012 and in September of 2015, the company opened a new $3.5 million, 32,000 square foot factory. Each new store costs about $600,000 and employs between 35 and 40 staff. About half of Chocolats Favoris’ locations are franchised and that ratio will be maintained as part of the expansion.
Chocolats Favoris will open about a dozen shops this year — with two of those expected for Ontario according to La Presse. The expansion will reportedly cost about $7 million and will create nearly 400 jobs, adding to the existing 450-person workforce already with the company.
Chocolats Favoris will also open a flagship this June on Sainte-Catherine Street West within Complexe Desjardins. It will replace an Aldo store which closed in February, and will feature a terrace overlooking Place des Arts.
The retailer’s first Ontario location will open within the next few months in Orleans, near Ottawa.
President Dominique Brown says that the company is looking to expand Canada-wide, as well as possibly into the United States. Mr. Brown says that he hopes the retailer will be in all major Canadian cities over the next three years, and that the retailer’s name will remain the same in all markets, as opposed to Anglophone translation.
This topic was originally covered in French language in La Presse by journalist Marie-Eve Fournier, and it was brought to our attention by our Montreal-based correspondent Maxime Frechette. For those who read French, we direct you to the original article which goes into specific details about the new flagship as well as the company’s expansion plans.
