About ma Ferme Régis
Ferme Régis is a unique 100% Quebec market.
To understand what Ferme Régis is all about, we need to go back in time. Here's its history through the years.
Mario Vanier, proprietor, was born into a family of 15 children, to a father who was a licensed grocer and butcher, and a mother who was a teacher. From childhood, he and his siblings were immersed in the supermarket owned by his father, Maurice Vanier, and his mother, Hélène Croteau, which was located along Métropolitain Boulevard in Anjou. Where they grew up to the rhythm of the store's aisles and the comings and goings of its customers. It was a dynamic and formative environment for Mario's career.
Over the years, the Vanier family had acquired land in Saint-Damien. And it was during these moves to the countryside that young Mario became visionary. He spotted the land on Route 131. It belonged to La ferme avicole L. Régis. In 1988, Ludovic Régis, an Italian immigrant, sold his land to Mario Vanier.
On June 22, 1989, after a few renovations to the original barn, Mr. Vanier opened the doors of what was to be his third grocery store. His first store was Fruiterie Vanier on Ontario Street in Montreal, followed by his second, Au toit Bleu Fruits et Légumes (1983) in Laval.
Unlike his previous businesses, this one will be located in the regions, will be seasonal and will aim to capture a large number of customers in transit from Montreal to the countryside. This will be a radical departure from his other businesses, which targeted a local or urban clientele. Season after season, the success of the kiosk has been confirmed by the growing number of customers.
Following a series of renovations over the next 20 years, a major project got underway in 2007. This major investment involved the demolition of 80% of the existing building. It was rebuilt in the style of the original wooden buildings. The aim? To restore the building's original character and appearance. This expansion will enable Ferme Régis to double its sales and storage space. It has grown to 50,000 square feet in order to meet the ever-increasing demand from its customers. During this major restoration, circulation areas for customers and employees were improved and adapted to the company's ever-growing volume. Ferme Régis has expanded to such an extent that it has become a fixture in the Lanaudière region's food retail scene.
Today, Ferme Régis welcomes its customers in these improved premises. In season, it employs over 80 people who offer fast, courteous service and daily fresh produce, 7 days a week, from March to Thanksgiving Monday. The early seasonal produce stand has given way to the Ferme Régis market as we know it today.
Always seasonal for freshness!