A new chapter is underway at Freshii in Sherbrooke as local entrepreneur Jennyfer Lafond strengthens operations and deepens community ties. When Lafond officially took over as owner and operator of Freshii Sherbrooke on April 12, 2025, she set out to sharpen performance while reinforcing the restaurant’s role in the Eastern Townships business community.
Less than a year later, the location has moved well beyond a traditional quick-service model. Lafond has prioritized hands-on leadership and fast decision-making. “Being present allows me to move quickly, support my team in real time, and ensure our guests experience the quality Freshii is known for,” she says.
Catering and Corporate Services Drive Growth
Under Lafond’s direction, Freshii Sherbrooke has expanded into catering and corporate food services. The restaurant now offers buffet-style options, corporate lunch boxes, and event catering tailored to businesses, institutions, and student groups.
New curated meal bundles combine wraps, salads, and snacks in flexible, shareable formats. These options balance convenience and flavour and have gained traction with local organizations. Freshii now operates four outlets within various buildings at Cégep de Sherbrooke, where a tailored selection of bowls, wraps, and snacks serves the campus community. Portions and pricing have been adjusted to reflect student demand.
“Our goal is to be flexible and solution-oriented,” Lafond explains. “Whether it’s a corporate meeting, a sports team, or a family on the go, we adapt our offering to fit lifestyles and needs.”
A complete family combo designed for busy households is also in development. At the same time, Lafond has tightened menu execution and product quality in-store. Guests are responding to bolder flavours, improved textures and aromas, and more satisfying meal options. As a result, repeat visits and word-of-mouth have strengthened.
Strategic Location and Regional Reach
Located along Sherbrooke’s high-traffic King Street West corridor, which sees between 25,000 and 35,000 vehicles daily, Freshii Sherbrooke benefits from strong visibility. The restaurant sits near Highway 410 and Boulevard de Portland within a commercial zone of more than 150 businesses.
This positioning draws customers from across the Eastern Townships, including Magog, Lennoxville, and Rock Forest. In addition, Lafond and her team have secured corporate agreements with major organizations such as BRP, Desjardins, IA Insurance, SherWeb, Héma-Québec Plasmavie, Dermapure, Glorius, and CIUSSS de l’Estrie, which employs more than 23,000 staff and physicians. These partnerships focus on supporting workplace well-being through balanced meals and tailored delivery.
Community Engagement as a Growth Strategy
Community involvement has become central to the Freshii Sherbrooke strategy. The restaurant sponsors the Mistral de Sherbrooke Soccer Club, which counts more than 3,500 members, including a Freshii senior community league. It also supports sporting events, student initiatives, and charitable organizations throughout the region.
Fundraising campaigns have benefited Maison Aube Lumière, regional early childhood centres, and the Justin Lefebvre Foundation. Through these efforts, the restaurant has aligned commercial growth with community impact.
The business employs ten team members, including students and newcomers to Canada, contributing to local workforce development. It also aligns with Freshii’s Mission Green sustainability platform by using biodegradable packaging and prioritizing environmentally responsible practices.
Brand Context and Ownership
Freshii was founded in Toronto in 2005 as a health-focused fast-casual concept built around making nutritious food convenient and affordable. In February 2023, Montreal-based franchisor Foodtastic Inc. acquired Freshii for approximately $74.4 million, taking the company private and integrating it into a broader restaurant portfolio.
Under Foodtastic, the brand has leveraged greater scale in supply chain and expanded into non-traditional venues such as gas stations and grocery stores. Freshii continues to focus on customization, menu innovation, and environmentally conscious operations.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Lafond plans to introduce seasonal menus, expand corporate services, deepen regional partnerships, and improve digital ordering and loyalty tools through the Freshii app.
“As a local entrepreneur, I’m proud to build a business that delivers strong financial performance while creating value for the community in everything we do,” Lafond says. “Growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of purpose. The two can and should work together.”
