L.C. Fruit & Legumes Inc. continues to grow in Montreal
L.C. Fruit & Legumes Inc. continues to grow in Montreal
Though his family's roots in produce run deep, Luc Charbonneau got his start in produce the old-fashioned way: selling bananas from the back of his car.
Mr. Charbonneau's great-grandfather Elie, a farmer, started selling his produce at Montreal's original central market, the Marche Bonsecours, in the early 1900s. His four children, including Luc's grandfather Elie, took over that business, Charbonneau & Sons, but Luc Charbonneau later decided to strike out on his own selling produce on Montreal's south shore. His father, Jean- Pierre, continued running that business until 1992.
In 1993, Luc Charbonneau, on the advice of his father, sold 15 cases of bananas from the back of his Honda Civic hatchback and made $60. He has not looked back since.
From those humble beginnings, Luc Charbonneau, the president of L.C. Fruits & Legumes Inc., has grown the firm to become one of Montreal's larger wholesalers with yearly sales between $20 million and $25 million and five divisions: import, export, local, international and retail.
L.C. Fruits & Legumes, which is located just off Montreal's Marche Central, the city's wholesale produce market, services its clients, which are primarily retailers located in eastern Canada and both coasts of the United States, from a modern 20,000-square-foot facility with a full line of the freshest produce possible.
Mr. Charbonneau is looking to expand his presence in the United States and said that his international division has "good connections" in Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. He is also looking to develop the Chinese and Japanese markets in 2009.
"Everything the client needs, I can have for him," he said proudly.
Mr. Charbonneau's great-grandfather Elie, a farmer, started selling his produce at Montreal's original central market, the Marche Bonsecours, in the early 1900s. His four children, including Luc's grandfather Elie, took over that business, Charbonneau & Sons, but Luc Charbonneau later decided to strike out on his own selling produce on Montreal's south shore. His father, Jean- Pierre, continued running that business until 1992.
In 1993, Luc Charbonneau, on the advice of his father, sold 15 cases of bananas from the back of his Honda Civic hatchback and made $60. He has not looked back since.
From those humble beginnings, Luc Charbonneau, the president of L.C. Fruits & Legumes Inc., has grown the firm to become one of Montreal's larger wholesalers with yearly sales between $20 million and $25 million and five divisions: import, export, local, international and retail.
L.C. Fruits & Legumes, which is located just off Montreal's Marche Central, the city's wholesale produce market, services its clients, which are primarily retailers located in eastern Canada and both coasts of the United States, from a modern 20,000-square-foot facility with a full line of the freshest produce possible.
Mr. Charbonneau is looking to expand his presence in the United States and said that his international division has "good connections" in Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. He is also looking to develop the Chinese and Japanese markets in 2009.
"Everything the client needs, I can have for him," he said proudly.
