About us - Saint-Arneault

Company background

From Pointe-St-Charles to abroad!

Founded in 1973, Michel St-Arneault inc. is a family-owned business located in Saint-Hubert, on Montreal’s South Shore. When the business first opened, it processed and sold various pre-cut vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.

In 1987, as the business was poised to expand its sales territory, it acquired the rights to a European process that remains unique in America; the Qualifresh brand was born! Stemming from a revolutionary process, Qualifresh products provide restaurant owners with fresh, PRE-COOKED fries! In addition to saving time, these unique fries can be kept in the fridge for 35 days from the day of production, with no preservatives.
The product was almost an instant hit, and Qualifresh’s popularity has never ceased to grow since.

In 1994, new equipment was acquired to add frozen fries to our product line-up. This gave Saint-Arneault access to the international market with our fries now being sold in Canada, the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Over time, research and development initiatives and the addition of new state-of-the-art equipment lead to increased productivity, the development of new processes, and the penetration of new markets. Saint-Arneault now has more than 120 employees and its plant spans over 66 000 ft2. Qualifresh products can now be kept for 35 days in the fridge and frozen fries account for about 65 % of the plant’s total output.

In 2011, the Quebec company purchased a farm to partly meet the potato needs of its processing plant.

The company is definitely in full expansion and continues to make massive investments in potato processing technologies and the research and development of new potato products. Furthermore, management is staying abreast of any expansion or acquisition opportunity.

A constantly evolving business

Foundation with the acquisition of a snack bar in Pointe-Saint-Charles. Humble beginnings in the basement of the snack bar, peeling of fresh potatoes, and delivery to restaurant owners.

Set up in a warehouse of 2,000 ft2 in Verdun.

Relocation in Saint-Hubert in a 10 000 ft2 warehouse. Production of whole peeled potatoes as well as carrots and onions all with a refrigerated shelf life of 5 days.

Innovation – Marketing of the Qualifresh fries.

Expansion – The company starts exporting and integrates the necessary equipment to its frozen french fry production.

Between
1996 and 2002

Increase in the size of the plant and production capacity. Production of pre-peeled potatoes, carrots, and onions are discontinued.

Purchase of farmland to control the supply of a portion of the number of potatoes required to meet the growing demand for its quality products.

The company gets ready for a new expansion.

Opening of the new warehouse, a stone’s throw from the plant, with a surface of 65,000 ft2.

New website

Mission, vision, values

Our mission

Cultivate, process, and market Quebec’s potato through innovation, efficiency, and knowledge.

Our vision

Be the first choice of farmers, workers, and restaurant owners.

Continue to produce and develop new products that meet the needs of restaurant and store owners, whose challenges continue to evolve.

Although the team is always looking for new markets, it doesn’t plan on abandoning the North American market, quite the contrary.

Lastly, the son of the Founder and General Manager, Rémy St-Arneault, hopes to pass on his passion to his children. He has a long-cherished dream of one day seeing the third generation of Saint-Arneault taking over the family business.

Our values

Respect
Commitment
Integrity
Mutual aid

Our team

Let’s do fries together!

For a winning recipe, each ingredient must be carefully considered and selected.

At Saint-Arneault, the secret ingredient of our winning recipe is our team! Since1973, each person who joined the Saint-Arneault team contributed to the growth and success of the business.