French Canadian companies in Canada (sale, credit, pharmacies)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

What current big businesses in Canada were started by and still led by, French Canadians? I know Bombardier is one.

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

What current big businesses in Canada were started by and still led by, French Canadians? I know Bombardier is one.

Alimentation Couche-Tard, 4th largest company by revenues according to FP500
Desjardins (largest credit union in NA)
Metro inc. (3rd largest grocer in Canada)
Industrial Alliance (insurer)
National Bank of Canada
WSP Global (was Genivar)
Agropur
Quebecor
Rona (recently purchased by Lowe's)
Cascades
BRP (spun off from Bombardier -- they make ski-doos)

Others were by French Canadians but are now led by Americans or Anglos etc -- CGI, SNC-Lavalin
The opposite holds for others -- Intact Financial, Resolute Forest Products (to some extent)

[Acajack]

BRP (spun off from Bombardier -- they make ski-doos) - and also Sea-Doos and those three-wheel Can-Am motorcycles

[Acajack]

Also:


Pharmacies Jean Coutu


Garda World (armoured vehicles and security)


Power Corporation


St-Hubert BBQ (recently bought by Ontario's Cara Foods)

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by barneyg

Alimentation Couche-Tard, 4th largest company by revenues according to FP500

Couche-Tard I believe is close to the biggest or one of the biggest convenience store operators in the world. Among other things it owns Exxon On the Run and Circle K in the U.S.

[BIMBAM]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Couche-Tard I believe is close to the biggest or one of the biggest convenience store operators in the world. Among other things it owns Exxon On the Run and Circle K in the U.S.

They also own Statoil fuel and retail, previously the distribution arm of the Norwegian state oil corporation. They are huge in northern europe and the baltics.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by BIMBAM

They also own Statoil fuel and retail, previously the distribution arm of the Norwegian state oil corporation. They are huge in northern europe and the baltics.

Thanks. Couche-Tard is huge player it seems, though mostly behind the scenes.


Another biggie is Cirque du Soleil. They're no longer majority owned by people from Quebec (Guy Laliberté et al.), but they're still run almost entirely by people from here AFAIK.

[Arcenal813]

Surprised no one's mentioned Hydro-Quebec, the fourth largest hydropower producer in the world. Produces 10% of New England's electricity also.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Rona's sale to Lowe's was controversial.
What you need to know about the Rona affair - Montreal - CBC News

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Surprised no one's mentioned Hydro-Quebec, the fourth largest hydropower producer in the world. Produces 10% of New England's electricity also.

You're right, but I didn't mention it as it's a government-owned enterprise.