Créneau d'excellence Acéricole

What Créneau d'excellence Acéricole does

Créneau d'excellence Acéricole is a Quebec-based, non-profit industry cluster organization (ACCORD-recognized in Autumn 2020) that convenes and coordinates the full Quebec maple sector value chain. The organization's functional mandate is to aggregate producers, processors, equipment manufacturers, research centers, industry associations, and government bodies around shared priorities in innovation, workforce development, export promotion, sustainable development, and communications. It delivers value through a membership-driven engagement model offering member tiers ($300–$800 per 2-year cycle), project co-development support, working committees, sector surveillance bulletins (10 per year), regional collaboration cells across Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent/Gaspésie, and Estrie, and an annual flagship event. Its operational footprint is province-wide across Quebec, with a core staff of approximately 6, including a Directrice générale, Coordonnatrice, regional consultants, and a board-led governance structure chaired by Martin Malenfant (Érablière Escuminac) with Sylvain Patry as interim Vice-president.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its core technology role is industry cluster coordination and project facilitation. It supports member-led R&D across maple production technology, reverse osmosis, SpectrAcer spectroscopy-based syrup classification, circular economy solutions (tubing recycling, demineralized water valorization), and Industry 4.0 adoption through the Réseau 4.0 Acéricole program with Investissement Québec. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues and supplemented by government program funding (MAPAQ's PDTS 2023-2026, MEI ACCORD funding), event sponsorships (Desjardins Entreprises, Financière agricole du Canada), and project co-funding. Named partners span strategic R&D collaborators (Centre ACER, Biopterre, Université Laval, CDBQ), sector representation bodies (PPAQ, AMIE, CIE), and government ministries (MAPAQ, MEI, MRNF), positioning the Créneau as the official coordinating body for a Quebec maple industry that contributes $1.133 billion to provincial GDP and supports 13,300 jobs across 8,000 enterprises.

Name

Créneau d'excellence Acéricole

Legal name

Créneau d'excellence Acéricole

Website

https://creneauacericole.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec (province-wide operations)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from maple producers, processors, equipment manufacturers, clubs, associations, educational institutions, and government bodies. Tiers: Enterprise (private business) $300/2 years; Club/Association/Syndicate $500/2 years; Partner (educational institutions, research centers, economic development organizations, MRCs, municipalities) $800/2 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Créneau d'excellence Acéricole is a Quebec-recognized industry cluster that coordinates and supports the maple (acéricole) value chain through member-based services including enterprise, club/association, and partner membership tiers, an annual Rendez-vous event, themed collaboration cells, project calls, a member newsletter, and web visibility for member organizations. Its work focuses on innovation, workforce development, export promotion, and sustainable development for the Quebec maple sector.

Product overview

This is not a technology product company but rather an industry excellence cluster (Créneau d'excellence) that supports the Quebec maple syrup sector through industry coordination, research project support, innovation initiatives, human resources development, export promotion, and sustainable development projects. The organization facilitates collaboration among maple industry stakeholders, provides member services including consultation, project submission, working committees, web visibility, newsletters, and sectoral monitoring bulletins. No standalone software products or technology platforms are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Enterprise Membership Tiered annual membership for Quebec maple enterprises that includes access to cluster projects, networking events, working committees, and visibility within the industry.
• Club/Association Membership Membership tier for industry associations, research organizations, and not-for-profit groups serving the Quebec maple sector, enabling participation in cluster activities and projects.
• Partner Membership / Sponsorship Sponsorship/partnership tier for equipment manufacturers, technology suppliers, and service providers that funds cluster activities and provides brand visibility to Quebec maple producers and processors.
• Rendez-vous Acéricole (Annual Event) Annual flagship event that convenes Quebec maple producers, processors, suppliers, researchers, and associations for networking, project updates, and sector strategy discussions.
• Collaboration Cells (Cellules de collaboration) Structured working groups organized around sector priorities (e.g., innovation, workforce, sustainable development, export) where members collaborate on shared projects and deliverables.
• Cluster Newsletter (Bulletin) Recurring bulletin/newsletter delivered to members and the broader Quebec maple community sharing news, project updates, and event information.
• Project Calls (Appels de projets) Coordinated calls for collaborative research, innovation, and development projects in which cluster members can participate and co-fund.
• Web Visibility for Members Online exposure program that publishes member profiles, news, and project highlights on the cluster's website to increase visibility within the Quebec maple sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 145 maple-specific training programs catalogued across 10 Quebec regions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec (PPAQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020PPAQ is the provincial maple producers' organization representing 13,300 producers and 8,000 businesses. PPAQ collaborates with the Créneau on strategic projects, sector planning, training, climate initiatives, and the annual National Maple Day (Journée nationale de l'érable).
• Centre ACERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre ACER is a research, expertise, and technology transfer center for the maple industry. It conducts R&D on maple production, quality (SpectrAcer devices), and by-product valorization. Collaborates with the Créneau on multiple sector projects.
• Biopterre (CCTT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiopterre is a College Technology Transfer Centre (CCTT) specializing in mushrooms and non-timber forest products (PFNL). Partnered on projects valorizing demineralized water from maple reverse osmosis for mushroom and PFNL cultivation.
• Desjardins EntreprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesjardins Entreprises presented the November 1 visits and networking portion of the 2026 Estrie event as a sponsor.
• Financière agricole du Canada (FAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented the November 2 annual sector rendezvous of the 2026 Estrie event as the event's presenting sponsor.
• Investissement QuébecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborates with the Créneau on the Réseau 4.0 Acéricole program for industry 4.0 technology adoption among maple enterprises.
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ)coreOthersMAPAQ is an observer board member providing policy alignment, sector support, and program funding (e.g., PDTS 2023-2026) for maple industry development initiatives.
• Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEI)coreOthersMEI oversees the ACCORD démarche under which the Créneau was recognized, and provides strategic guidance and funding access for industry cluster activities.
• Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)minorOthersMRNF is an observer board member addressing forestry regulations and maple forest management considerations.
• SADC de TémiscouatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSADC (Société d'aide au développement de la collectivité) de Témiscouata provides professional resources for business modeling and project development, notably for demineralized water valorization and tubing recycling projects in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
• CRIBIQ (Consortium de recherche et innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRIBIQ supports the bioeconomy colloquium organized by the four BSL excellence clusters, including the maple sector, to connect industry with research institutions.
• ERAC (Espace d'Accélération et de Croissance du Bas-Saint-Laurent)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the Créneau on the Filière Érable Numérique web platform project and the Espace Créneaux webinar initiative.
• Environek (Groupe APTAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironek operates tubing recycling facilities, recovering maple tubing plastic for repurposing into agricultural drains, playground equipment, and other plastic products. Partnered on the tubing recycling factory project in Bas-Saint-Laurent.
• Université Laval (Dr. Seddik Khalloufi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité Laval researcher Dr. Khalloufi leads research combining maple syrup with natural health ingredients for high-value product development.
• Centre de développement bioalimentaire du Québec (CDBQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDBQ in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière contributes pilot trial capacity for maple-based health food product development projects.
• Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) / KenaukminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUQO's rain exclusion facility at Kenauk is used for drought impact studies on maple sap production in collaboration with the Créneau's climate adaptation projects.
• Synergie Bas-Saint-LaurentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization collaborating on demineralized water valorization project and other Bas-Saint-Laurent initiatives.
• AgriRÉCUPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgriRÉCUP partners with the Régie intermunicipale des déchets de Témiscouata and the Créneau on responsible recycling and valorization of maple plastics.
• SAGE InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation organization listed as a member supporting maple sector development and financing in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
• Carrefour Québec InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational trade and export support organization listed as a member, supporting maple sector export development initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• North American Maple Syrup Council: Continental industry association for maple producers and processors across the U.S. and Canada. Operates at a broader geographic scope than the Quebec-focused Créneau, with overlapping mission of sector coordination and promotion.

Direct peers

• Biopterre (CCTT): College Technology Transfer Centre (CCTT) specializing in non-timber forest products, partner of the cluster on circular-economy projects (e.g., demineralized water valorization). Shares an applied-research, sector-innovation mandate within Quebec's agri-food ecosystem.
• Centre ACER: Maple research, expertise, and technology transfer center conducting R&D on production, quality (SpectrAcer), and by-product valorization. A core research partner of the cluster with overlapping innovation mandate.
• Conseil de l'industrie de l'érable (CIE): Quebec maple industry council focused on industry-wide coordination, standards, and advocacy — a closely comparable sector-coordination mandate. Sits on the Créneau's board and operates within the same maple ecosystem.
• Association des manufacturiers industriels de l'érable (AMIE): Quebec association of maple industrial equipment manufacturers, created in 2024 through a project supported by the Créneau. Represents the same equipment-manufacturer constituency the cluster serves.
• Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec (PPAQ): Provincial joint marketing board representing 13,300 maple producers and 8,000 businesses in Quebec. While the Créneau is a sector convener/cluster and PPAQ is a regulated producer board, both operate as industry-wide representative organizations for the Quebec maple sector and sit on each other's boards.

Others

• Investissement Québec: Quebec's provincial investment agency, collaborating with the cluster on the Réseau 4.0 Acéricole Industry 4.0 program. Acts as a funding and ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but is a peer organization within the broader Quebec innovation cluster landscape.
• Carrefour Québec International: Quebec international trade and export support organization, listed as a cluster member. Provides complementary export-development services that the cluster leverages for its members' international expansion.

Regional players

• Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association: State-level producer association representing Vermont maple syrup producers. Comparable in function (producer representation, training, promotion) but serves a different jurisdiction, so does not directly compete with the Quebec cluster.
• Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association: Ontario's provincial maple producers' association, comparable in mandate (producer representation, training, R&D support) but operating in a different Canadian province, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@creneauacericole
• Facebookfacebook.com/creneauacericole
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cr%C3%A9neau-d-excellence-ac%C3%A9ricole
• Instagraminstagram.com/creneauacericole

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Créneau d'excellence Acéricole