• 23/06/2022
• By binternet
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Growth leaders 2019: a woman at the top of the charts<

Finally !For the first time in six years - and for the second time since its creation, in 1992 -, the list of growth leaders is led by a woman.A fresh air wind that is aptly named: Missfresh.

By dint of ambition and determination, Missfresh CEO Marie-Eve Prevost built a pan-Canadian company ready to cook which employs 275 people and generates annual income exceeding $ 10 million.A feat all the greater since the young shoot did not exist just five years ago.

In fact, this is perhaps the most impressive element of growth leaders: not so long ago, none of the 50 companies in this list.Until an idea germinates in the head of a person who is quite persistent to manage to transform them into a product or service that someone, somewhere, would like to buy.

According to the Quebec Entrepreneurial Index 2018, 19.5 % of adults wish to become entrepreneurs.If you are part of this group, remember this by reading the story of Missfresh and those of other companies in this file: the first step to go from "nothing" to "a business" is an idea.(M.-A.S.)

Methodology

This record was established from the declarations submitted by Quebec companies enrolled in the Canada’s Top Growing Companies competition, a partnership of the Globe and Mail and News.The classification is based on the growth of turnover from 2015 to 2018. To participate, companies had to have income of at least 200,000 dollars in 2015, and at least 2 million in 2018. The figures relateThe number of employees include contract workers and relate to 2019, while income relates to 2018.

1. MissFresh

Delivery of meals ready for KitchenCroissance: 6 053 %turnover: Between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 275 Social: Montreal: Montreal

The "crazy life", the one Missfresh promises to simplify with her quick to cook dishes, Marie-Eve Prevost, 36, knows her.

For a whole year, when she was working as a digital consultant in Australia, the young woman devoted each free minute of her days to the development of the Missfresh business plan.In public transports.During the dinner break.After supper.And sometimes even at night!Because to convince investors to finance the adventure in Quebec, Marie-Eve Prevost had to coordinate Skype calls with 14 hours of time difference!

In 2015, once back in Montreal to launch the business with his brother, Bernard, and a childhood friend, Ritter Huang, she saw her already frantic pace accelerating.There have been the employees to hire, the number of which has quickly exceeded the limit where it is possible to know all the names.There have been the moves, three in three years, due to premises that have become too small.There were negotiations with Metro, which acquired 70 % of the young shoot in 2017. And there were the competitors to watch, ever more numerous in the sector: GoodFOOD market, Plate chefs, Cook IT, HelloFresh.

Added to this are the thousand and one problems that arise when you deliver fresh food to the four corners of the country.Earlier this year, shipping prices west of Canada exploded."Exorbitant costs," says Marie-Eve Prevost.We had to open an office in Calgary in four weeks to avoid interrupting the service.Really, the entrepreneur never has a respite.

What is good in all of this?Thanks to her company meals, Marie-Eve Prevost finds the time to cook and eat well, despite her "crazy life".(V.f.)

2. AlayaCare

Supplier of management software solutions for care in Domicilecroissance: 2,732 %turnover: Between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 152 Social steps: Montreal

Alayacare software allows clinics and care centers to orchestrate more than 500,000 home visits per month in Canada, the United States and Australia.

3. neuvoo

Employment research engine: 2,045 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 175 Social test: Montreal

Job offers from some 40,000 companies, including Amazon, Uber and Deloitte, can be viewed on the Neuvoo website.

4. R2i

Service for infonuagic solutionsCroissance: 1,263 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 25 social location: Anjou

R2i is one of IBM's largest partners in Canada.

5. Icentia

Manufacturer of medical apparatusCroissance: 1,137 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 85 social location: Quebec

The small electrocardiographer of Icentia detects cardiac arrhythmia as effectively as traditional devices, the threads less.

6. Levio

Technology and management advisory services: 1,106 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 5511 social steps: Quebec

Brazil, France, Mexico, Morocco: Levio does not hesitate to leave Quebec to recruit the best employees.

7. OVC Assurance

Damage insurance firm: 984 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 70 social location: Sainte-Julie

To minimize the necessary office space, OVC Assurance offers its employees to do more than half of their working hours from home.

8. CoolWay

Callard manufacturer Low ice cream in CaloriesCroissance: 808 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 25 social location: Montreal

Noah Bernett, Dino Vassiliou and Benjamin Outmezguine were convinced of having a golden idea.So much so that in 2014, they abandoned their studies to buy 200 freezers and install them in sports centers in Quebec and Ontario in order to sell their invention: ice cream with high protein content.

However, the expected gold mine was not materialized."We realized that people were more interested in calories, and less in proteins," admits Benjamin Outmezguine.What is more, the addicts of the gym club represent a very small clientele.

The three friends therefore returned to their freezers to review their strategy.The result ?A new corporate name - Coolway - a new brand image with a bright turquoise and, above all, icy desserts "without guilt", which contain about half the calories as traditional ice.

And this time, it worked.With 15 scents of frozen desserts, including "Cream and cookies", "Lemon Cake" and "Vanilla Pod", Coolway entered the main grocery stores in the province and sold more than a million pots in 2018!It remains to convince the English and Loblaws English -speaking brands that the company is big to compete with the food giants in the frozen alley.(C.P.)

9. Alliance Zone

Exporter of cereals, legumes and seedsCroissance: 576 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 4 social location: Longueuil

Alliance Zone generates income of more than $ 2.5 million per employee!

10. Pharmaceutique Searchlight

Marketing of healthcare health products: 557 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 16 social location: Montreal

"Before I launched my business, several warned me that if I thought I was working hard before, it was nothing compared to what was waiting for me as an entrepreneur," said the CEO of pharmaceutical Searchlight, Mark Nawacki.They were right.»»

11. Squeeze Studio Animation

3DCROISSANCE ANIMATION STUDIO: 495 %turnover: Between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 120 social location: Quebec

Denis Doré, 46, a big dream for Squeeze, his business: "Children from all over the world will walk with backpacks with the effigy of our characters.And the first to appear on products derived from the animation studio could very well be Ed, the star of the original cracked series.

Ed is an ostrich dad who protects his eggs against a crowd of threats - elephants, crocodiles, zombies -, as well as against his own blunders.In five years, the 52 cropped episodes have accumulated more than 310 million online views in 210 countries.

Despite this success, Squeeze's bread and butter consist of 3D animation mandates entrusted to it by studios such as Universal, Paramount and Marvel.Prestigious customers, of course, but these contracts no longer satisfy the ambition of Denis Doré and the other co -owners of the animation studio, Patrick Beaulieu and François Houde.

"I constantly need new challenges to feel happy," said the entrepreneur with an eclectic journey - after a master's degree in geography and a doctorate in regional development, he touched teaching and politics before heJoin the Ubisoft team.For him, the way of happiness is the original content.

A second season of Cracked is therefore in the boxes, just like an animated film."The feature is the front door," explains Denis Doré.Once the public focuses on your universe, you can think of franchises, operating licenses.In short, to a brand.A trademark that will be found everywhere, including on backpacks.(M.B.)

12. district m

Platform for the sale and purchase of digital advertising spaces: 439 %turnover: between 100 and 250 millionmployed: 100 social location: Montreal

Each day, District M processes more than 17 billion digital advertising requests from all over the planet.

13. Techso

Consulting services in technologyCROISSANCE: 434 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 55 Social steps: Montreal

Bell, Airbus, Bombardier, Honda and Xerox are just some of Techso customers.

14. diff

Commerce and online marketing solutions: 411 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 95 social location: Montreal

If it is true that the left -handers are more creative, Diff must be a particularly innovative company: 65 of its employees write with the left hand.

15. Toast Studio

Content marketing agency: 409 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 35 social location: Montreal

The founders of Toast wanted to specialize in the creation of websites for the Quebec television and cinema industry.After 48 hours of reflection, they realized that it would not be paying and rather founded a marketing company ... which today has a television production division.

16. Genyk

Polyurethanecroissance polyurethanecroissance foam manufacturer: 396 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 18 social location: Shawinigan

What do a memory foam, an automobile steering wheel and a wrapped deer head have in common?All contain polyurethane, a versatile material used in many products."There are even some in some condoms," says Yves Rondeau, president of Genyk, about condoms for people who are allergic to latex.

However, it is not the condom market that interests the 52 -year -old entrepreneur, but that of insulation, which generates the vast majority of its turnover.Genyk sprayed polyurethane foam, sold to entrepreneurs under the name of Boreal Nature, is used across the country to protect houses against our brutal winters and our hot summers.

Several did not give Genyk skin when the company arrived with its green lime foam in 2015, because the sector was dominated by American competition."I was afraid," admits Yves Rondeau.Sleeping nights, I don't count them.»»

Unnecessary stress, because the presence of these multinationals finally played in favor of Genyk."Most insulation companies are small," says Yves Rondeau.The president who signs the check is often the one who applies the foam.Customers, neglected by the giants, who favor large volumes, quickly hit the door of Genyk.“Business has exploded.»»

Could it be the turn of the competitors of Genyk to be afraid to the point of lacking sleep?"It will take more than that to shake them," said the president of the company.For the moment, we are more like a thorn in the foot.But who is starting to cause infection.»(M.-A.S.

17. Perreault Plastix

Manufacturer of plastic and polyurethanecroissance parts: 298 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 15 social location: Guadeloupe

The Perreault Plastix factory, in Beauce, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

18. KLF Group

Award programs for employeesCroissance: 271 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 40 social location: Mont-Royal

Before specializing in the award programs, KLF rented video games by post - a service that she still offers today.

19. ACE Services Mécaniques

Mechanics for industrial equipment: 270 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 150 Social steps: Val-d´Or

ACE has more than 45 trucks converted into rolling garages to repair cranes, bulldozers and other mechanical giants throughout Quebec.

20. Clôture Régionale

Sale and installation of fencesCroissance: 235 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 36 Social stewards: Gatineau

Regional fence participated voluntarily in the construction of seven skating rinks in the Gatineau region by providing, obviously, fences.

21. Atypic

Consulting services for the Charitable Sector School: 233 %turnover: Between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 50 social location: Montreal

Pascal Lépine founded Atypic when he had only $ 300 - and a baccalaureate in French literature - in the pockets.

22. Bloom

Digital marketing agency: 231 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 52 social location: Montreal

With the help of Bloom, the clothing manufacturer Lolë saw its online sales increase by 621 %!

23. Openmind Technologies

IT and Webcroissance Development Services: 215 %turnover: Between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 47 social location: Blainville

Jonathan Léveillé, 33, thought about it.His company, OpenMind Technologies, does not sell so much IT services as "brain juice".And for it to be of good quality, you have to pamper the people who produce it.

It is for this reason that openmind employees are regularly invited to reward activities, such as a surf release or an escape game."We have already rented a 53-foot semi-trailer on which we have screened video game games," said the president.The generous boss even promised a trip to the south to the whole team if she achieves her next goals!

However, this is not the cruise has fun every day on board.Openmind remains a company that must make profits.“You have to be productive and you monitor the hours that can be billed on a daily basis.But it's more pleasant to do it in an uninhibited workplace, explains Jonathan Léveillé, who is the type to put on a mermaid costume to give a presentation to his employees.

In total, the president of Openmind spends more than half of his time to the "humans" who make up his business.This is what allows him to retain his employees - the rolling rate is within 5 % for key positions - and to attract new ones.The entrepreneur also plans to hire 200 people by 2024. Obviously, demand is strong for "brain juice".(M.B.)

24. A+

Entrepreneur à ConstructionCroissance: 207 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 50 social location: Montreal

Building a $ 3.5 million building in six months in winter conditions is the kind of project that is not afraid of A+.

25. Fuze HR

Recruitment and hiring services: 204 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 105 Social steps: Montreal

Need a Plute Press Operator, a supplier account specialist or a Java developer?Fuze HR can find them.

26. Fiducie de placement immobilier Fronsac

Rental of commercial spacescroissance: 185 %turnover: Between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 3 social school: Pointe-Claire

IGA, Canadian Tire, Couche-Tard, Tim Hortons and Walmart are only some of the tenants of Fronsac.

27. BBQ Québec

Sale of devices and accessories for barbecus: 183 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 75 social location: Longueuil

Jean-Philippe Lavoie has neither oven, microwave oven, nor a stew.But he has four barbecues.Her brother, Max, preferably cooks her lunch, her dinner and her supper on the grill.And the latter's spouse, Ariane Lefebvre, has no equal time when the time roasts a salmon on the flames.Difficult to imagine a better trio to direct BBQ Quebec stores!

When they are not barbecue for their own pleasure, these grill ambassadors make it for others, by animating a workshop on the art of smoking, or by turning a video capsule on the cooking of the Tomahawk steak for40,000 subscribers on their Facebook page.

Somewhere in all this, the two brothers find time to participate in barbecue competitions from one end of the world.In 2016, they even got into third position in the French barbecue championship in the Taurus category.

Today, it is their company that the three partners want to bring to the international scene, under the name of House of BBQ Experts.Max Lavoie is convinced that they have everything to get there.“We have the American side, very working, and the European side, more creative."It was thanks to these two qualities that he was able to invent the beef dumplings stuffed with lobster!(A.R.)

28. D2C Media

Web solutions for Automobilescroissance concessionaires: 182 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 70 social location: Montreal

About 30,000 cars are for sale on the various D2C Media web platforms.

29. GG Telecom

Manufacturer of motion detectors in infraredcroprose: 179 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 130 Social test: Victoriaville

“Zero and a bar.This is what Yan Gagnon knew about hunting in 2004 when relatives pointed out to him that the surveillance camera he had manufactured during his studies in electric engineering had everything to please lovers of big game, wholike to know the prey present on their territory.

The young "patent" did neither one nor two and founded GG Telecom even before obtaining his diploma.His device, capable of staying for weeks in the woods to photograph the "big bucks" which triggered its movement detector, quickly won the hunters of Quebec and elsewhere.

Today, GG Telecom products, marketed under the name of Spypoint, are ultra -feared.The images are transmitted in real time and the battery life can reach a year, or even more for models equipped with a solar panel.Even artificial intelligence is used to retain only the photos of the game that interests the hunter.

In the case of Yan Gagnon, it is the moose.Because, yes, the 39 -year -old entrepreneur finally started hunting.(A.R.)

30. Opsens

Manufacturer of fiber optics sensorscroissance: 178 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 150 Social steps: Quebec

Opens sensors are used in particular to measure pressure in the arteries of the human body and to monitor cracks in the structure of the bridges.

31. DX Mobilier événementiel

Rental of furniture and decorationsCroissance: 160 %turnover: between 2 and 5 millionmployed: 70 social location: Quebec

DX can transform a lifeless piece into a thousand and one night decor, a third wave coffee, or simply add a table and chairs.

32. Expert’ease

Sound, lighting and video for major events Corporate: 159 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 100 social location: Saint-Colomban

Expert’ease provides video services for the 2019 American tour of the British group The Who.

33. Ciao

Consulting services in information technologiesCROISSANCE: 147 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 67 social location: Quebec

Ciao is a web accessibility specialist, who facilitates online navigation of disabled people ... and those who have a bad internet connection.

34. Chocolats Favoris

Chocolate factory: 135 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 1,500 social location: Quebec

Astronaut David Saint-Jacques tasted a chocolate fondue from the Quebec company during his recent stay in space.Marketing?No, the Canadian space agency chose this product after laboratory tests.

35. DataCandy

Loyalty programs for businesses: 134 %turnover: Between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 47 social location: Montreal

If you have already used a gift card for Aldo shops, the cage or the source, you can thank Datacandy.

36. STGM Architectes

Architecture CabinetCROISSANCE: 129 %turnover: Between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 120 Social test: Quebec the STGM team devoted 30,000 hours of work to the reconstruction of the Quebec Voltigeurs Military Manège, destroyed by flames in 2008.

37. Big Bang ERP

Infonuagic-shallow-shaped advisory services: 110 %turnover: Between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 90 social location: Montreal

Big Bang ERP has nearly 400 customers spread over four continents.

38. Motion Composites

Manufacturer of ultra-stakeholder wheelchairsCROISSANCE: 105 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 190 social location: Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan

To design its ultralight wheelchairs, Motion Composites works with industrial designers, therapists and aerospace engineers.

39. OrthoCanada

Distributor of therapeutic equipmentCROISSANCE: 103 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 37 Social steps: Gatineau

A week after spending his retirement speech in front of his orthocanada employees in 2016 Judith Stanfield felt a huge weight getting up from his shoulders."I didn't even realize that he was there," said the 68 -year -old entrepreneur.

It is perhaps because the beginnings of the company in 1988 were "surprisingly easy".From the first days, the lumbar rolls that the physiotherapist made in time lost with the help of his eight -year -old son sold without difficulty.Then, quietly, it became larger, "always bigger".

The entrepreneur was asking more and more questions.Should we leave physiotherapy to focus on business?Yes.Is it a good idea to bring your spouse into the company to take advantage of your management experience?Yes.Should we continue the manufacture of lumbar rolls?No, it is better to diversify by distributing products from other manufacturers."It was a lot of challenges, a lot of responsibilities, but I loved it.»»

Until the day Judith Stanfield felt that Orthocanada had found his wander to go.The company had just bought one of its competitors in 2015, and other acquisitions were in the boxes."I am an entrepreneur, but once the success is reached, I find it less interesting.»»

His spouse and his son, the one who made the lumbar rolls at the start, therefore took over.Except that Judith Stanfield is not gone, in the end.Once released from the unconscious weight that weighed on her shoulders, she wanted to stay in Orthocanada.While others manage the growth of the business, she does what she likes: solving problems with customers and suppliers.(M.-A.S.)

40. Kinova

Roboticist arm designer: 102 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 187 social location: Boisbriand

Kinova's robotic arms can perform a surgical operation, handle a radioactive substance or help a disabled person to eat.

41. Les Emballages Box Pack

Manufacturer of custom cardboard packaging Corporate: 98 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 33 Social location: Saint-Germain-de-Grantham

When Marc-André Pépin makes the grocery store, he sometimes leaves with a cardboard display in addition to his busy bags."I want to understand how it is done," explains the 48 -year -old entrepreneur.I also pick up boxes, to look at how to fold them, to close them.»»

Box Pack packaging, which Marc-André Pépin directs with his brother Stéphane, make cardboard packaging of all shapes and colors.In a market dominated by multinationals like Kruger and Cascades, the company is distinguished by its tailor -made production, which meets sometimes very sharp needs.

When the Drummond History Society wanted containers capable of preserving its paper archives, boxes packaging made neutral pH boxes to prevent acids normally present in the cardboard slowly degrading documents.A product that then aroused the interest of museums, libraries and government organizations.

When the Mauricie Protective Society of Animals has sought a low -cost solution to transport dogs and cats, boxes packaging have created boxes with ventilation holes, which the company offers today to pet stores."We sell thousands a year," says Marc-André Pépin.

Certainly, these are niche products in both cases.But with nearly 3,000 customers in Quebec who also make special orders, boxes packaging have found their place in the shade of the giants."Our goal was to be the biggest of the little ones, and we succeeded.There, we want to be the biggest of the means.Marc-André Pépin has not finished collecting cardboard boxes with grocery store.(M.-A.S.)

42. CloudOps

Infonuagic-realities advisory services: 96 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 65 Social location: Montreal

Cloudops allows companies to host their IT data in Canada rather than servers around the planet.

43. FX Innovation

Infonuagic and computer consulting services: 93 %turnover: between 75 and 100 millionmployed: 640 Social steps: Montreal

The beginnings of FX Innovation are worthy of a real story of a young shoot.Founded in a garage in 2002 by three friends, the company now has offices in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary.

44. Functionalab

Manufacturer of cosmetic products Corporate: 90 %turnover: between 25 and 50 millionmployed: 249 social location: Montreal

If the name Functionalab is not familiar to you, those of Jouviance and dermapure, two divisions of the group, are probably more so.

45. Marina Del Rey

Transformation and distribution of merchant fruits: 89 %turnover: between 50 and 75 millionmployed: 55 Social steps: Laval

Marina del Rey's shrimps and wild scallops are distributed throughout Canada and the United States.

46. Spiria

Custom Software Design Currency: 85 %turnover: Between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 150 Social steps: Montreal

For a client, Spiria has created a computer system that allows you to follow a dog using a smart necklace.

47. Spray-Net

Network of exterior painting franchises: 78 %turnover: between 5 and 10 millionmployed: 350 social location: Boucherville

Since its foundation, Spray-Net has given new color to more than 10,000 houses, which required nearly 200,000 liters of paint.

48. Alimentation Couche-Tard

Chain of convenience stores and petrol stations: 75 %turnover: more than 1 billion employees: 130,000 social stewards: Laval

Whether you are in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Norway or Russia, you will find a convenience store or a petrol station that belongs to Conoute-Tard.

49. FlagShip

Broker in transportation and mailbox services: 74 % turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 31 social location: Pointe-Claire

"We do not offer the lowest prices, and I am proud to say!Howard Kruger, 62, would have made a very bad car seller.But in the delivery industry, the cost is not the only thing that counts. At first glance, its company, flagship, provides SMEs with a simple price comparator for package delivery.Just enter the details on the package to ship so that the Flagship website displays the best offers from Fedex, Purolator, UPS and others.

However, the reality is more complex.From the point of view of email services, the customer is not the SME who sends a package, but flagship.Small or medium -sized enterprises thus access the preferential rates usually reserved for large organizations.Better yet - and that’s why customers do not turn to the low price of competition -, it is Flagship which deals with shipping companies in the event of a problem.

"Most deliveries are made without hassle," says Howard Kruger.But I've been in this industry for 40 years, and if you are sending packages regularly, I guarantee that a problem will eventually occur.A package can be retained at customs, for example, or the recipient may have moved.Whatever the glitch, the after-sales service of flagship will ensure that the package arrives safely, whether in Canada or China.

Companies who wish can also integrate the flagship platform into their own transactional site.This allows Internet users to choose the supplier themselves who will deliver their purchase and, above all, when the package will arrive.Because, in online trade too, the cost is not the only thing that matters.(M.-A.S.)

50. LinkNow Media

Creation of websites and digital marketingCroissance: 69 %turnover: between 10 and 25 millionmployed: 180 social location: Montreal

Wesley Mendelovitch and Sonny Bettan had all the misery in the world to find a supplier capable of creating a website quickly, and at a low price, for their first business.Their solution: found Linknow Media to meet this type of need.

This article was published in the November 2019 news issue.