Leaning forward onto the shared picnic table on a busy stretch of Mont-Royal Avenue, Jean-Philippe Matteau takes a deep breath before we begin. Then, relaxed and laid back, the co-owner of one of Quebec's most in-demand snacks starts to tell the story about how it all came to be.
It all changed at the beginning of 2022, when Matteau decided to take a sabbatical to spend more time with his young family. With more time on his hands, he soon felt ready to explore new opportunities—and he didn't have to wait long. He'd long known his eventual business partner Jennifer Charland, who, alongside her husband, had been in the food distribution business, selling to fine grocery stores for years. The pair had heard through their retail customers that there was a growing demand for high-quality, kettle chips, something that could rival the kind being imported from Europe.
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