Our History

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1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000

1920-1929

1923

After working on their farm for 25 years, Joseph-Arcade Vachon and wife Rose-Anna Giroux borrow $7,000 to purchase the Leblond Bakery in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, where they begin by making bread, brioches and pastries. Rose-Anna hopes that the business will encourage their children to return to Quebec from the U.S., where they had gone in search of work.

1924

With some family members working in
the kitchen and others doing deliveries, J.-A. Vachon & Fils becomes a true
family business.
1930-1939

J.Arcade Vachon

1932

The Jos Louis is created. This famous little cake is named after two of the Vachon sons, Joseph and Louis.

The business acquires its first motorized delivery vehicle.

1936

From Chicoutimi to Val d'Or, nearly all of Quebec now enjoys Rose-Anna's little cakes.

1937

Vachon expands its territory to include new markets in Ontario and the Maritimes.

1938

Joseph-Arcade Vachon passes away at
the age of 70. Rose-Anna and her sons
take charge of the business and
modernize the bakery.
1940-1949

The Vachon facility with a group of employees

1940

The business, boasting 125 employees and 30 trucks, stops making bread and focuses on producing cakes.

1943

During the Second World War,
Vachon supplies cakes to military
bases in Vancouver, Halifax, Nanaimo
and even England.

1945

Rose-Anna takes a well-deserved retirement and sells her shares to sons Benoît, Paul, Amédée and Joseph.

1947

Success continues unabated. The company produces more than 110 different products, employs 250 people and has a fleet of 70 trucks.
1950-1959

1950

Progress can't be stopped! The Vachon brothers set up a research laboratory and hire a chemist.

1952

The company has grown to 350 employees and 125 trucks.
- Benoît Vachon, Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer
- Paul Vachon, Vice President and Production Manager
- Joseph Vachon, President and Sales Manager
- Amédée Vachon, Director.
1960-1969

Official inauguration of the Sainte-Marie de Beauce plant expansion in 1966.

1960

J.A. Vachon & Fils becomes Vachon Inc.

1968

Vachon cakes become
available in Vancouver.

1969

Vachon acquires Lido Biscuits of Saint-Lambert, Quebec, boosting the company's workforce to more than 1,200 employees and 425 vehicles.
1970-1979

Vachon activities remain in Quebec following its acquisition by the Desjardins Group.

1970

Mouvement Desjardins acquires 83% of shares in the company.

1972

Following the purchase of competitor Pâtisseries Vaillancourt, Vachon changes its name to Complexe Alimentaire Vachon.

1974

Vachon continues expanding, acquiring the facilities of Grenache in Saint-Damien, Quebec.

1977

Complexe Alimentaire Vachon which became Groupe Alimentaire Vachon in 1976, changes its name to Culinar.

1979

Culinar buys longtime rival Stuart, makers of the renowned May West since 1932.
1980-1989

1980

The company creates the world's biggest production line for flaky pastries, turning out more than 30,000 units
an hour!

1983

A first in Canadian food processing history: Vachon turns out its ten billionth cake!
1990-1999

1993

Vachon benefits from the success of La petite vie, the first-ever Quebec TV series to attract more than 4 million viewers.

Culinar purchases the Hostess banner in Canada. The brand enjoys major growth in Ontario and Western Canada.

Roger Lacasse publishes Le rêve de Rose-Anna Vachon, a book about the early days of this Quebec family epic.

The family home in Sainte-Marie de Beauce, now converted to an interpretation centre, opens to the public.

1999

The Vachon brand becomes part of the Saputo Group, preserving its original logo, history and culture.
2000-2009

2006

To encourage healthier eating, Vachon reduces or eliminates trans fats in all its products.

2009

Vachon introduces a line of high-end frozen cakes, a first in the company's history.

Vachon has completely redesigned the logos and packaging for all of its brands.
2010