Racines boréales

What Racines boréales does

Racines boréales is a Montreal-based local fine food grocery store (épicerie fine locale) founded in 2021 that curates and sells Nordic-inspired condiments, boreal spices, wild mushrooms, and specialty foods from more than 200 Quebec and Canadian artisan producers. The company operates a triple-channel retail model: a Shopify e-commerce storefront delivering within Quebec, a single physical boutique in Montreal's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood (4317 rue Ontario Est), and a B2B ordering platform hosted on b2bwave that serves restaurants, caterers, food processors, and retailers at wholesale prices. The proprietary branded line spans boreal spices (poivre des dunes, nard des pinèdes, comptonie voyageuse, spruce shoots), wild mushrooms (morels, chanterelles, matsutakes, black trumpets), and specialty condiments such as marinated mushrooms with boreal spices, which received a star at the international Great Taste Awards. The product catalogue is supplemented by Quebec wines and ciders, non-alcoholic beverages, preserves, gift boxes, and occasional in-store culinary workshops on boreal aromatics.

The business model is direct-to-consumer and B2B retail with pay-as-you-go unit pricing (products ranging from CAD 4.50 to CAD 49.00), gift boxes priced CAD 54-109, and a delivery fee of CAD 12.99 that is waived for orders above CAD 115. Customer segments include home cooks and food enthusiasts (primary), professional chefs and restaurants (via B2B), and gift buyers. The technology stack is deliberately standard: Shopify for e-commerce, an integrated POS for the boutique, and b2bwave for B2B ordering, with no proprietary software or AI components. The company relies on Quebec-origin certifications (Aliments du Québec, Aliments préparés au Québec) and editorial media coverage (La Presse, Le Devoir, Radio-Canada, Elle Québec) to differentiate on provenance and culinary narrative.

Name

Racines boréales

Legal name

Racines boréales

Website

https://racinesboreales.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Racines boréales is a Montreal-based fine food grocery founded in 2021 that curates Nordic-inspired condiments, boreal spices, wild mushrooms, and Quebec artisan products for individual consumers, gift buyers, and foodservice professionals via a Shopify storefront, a single Montreal boutique, and a B2B ordering platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Foods Retail

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAMAFAF

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (Herbs, Botanicals) Wildcrafting/Cultivation

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Non-Timber Forest Products (Resins, Gums, Mushrooms, Berries)

Keywords

• Specialty food retail
• Artisan grocery store
• Boreal spices
• Wild mushrooms
• Local Quebec products

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: One-time product sales through e-commerce and physical boutique. Products include boreal spices, wild mushrooms, oils, vinegars, preserves, chocolates, Quebec wines and ciders, fresh and frozen products, and gift boxes.
2. Gift Box Sales: Pre-packaged and customizable gift box bundles featuring curated Quebec artisan products at various price points ($54-$109).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Racines boréales is a Montreal-based specialty food retailer that sells Nordic- and boreal-inspired condiments, spices, wild mushrooms, and a curated selection of local Quebec artisan products. It operates a Shopify e-commerce storefront shipping within Quebec, a physical boutique in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a B2B ordering platform for restaurants and caterers, and in-store culinary workshops on boreal aromatics.

Product overview

Racines boréales is a Montreal-based local fine food grocery store (épicerie fine locale) that operates as a multi-category retail platform featuring both proprietary branded products and a curated selection from local Quebec artisans. The core proprietary offerings center on boreal spices and wild mushrooms — including the Épices boréales line (Poivre des dunes, Nard des pinèdes, Comptonie voyageuse, spruce shoots, juniper berries), wild mushrooms (morels, chanterelles, black trumpets, matsutakes), and specialty condiments like marinated mushrooms awarded a Great Taste Award star. These are complemented by curated product lines spanning preserves and caramels, artisanal chocolates and snacks, oils and vinegars, ready-to-eat local foods, Quebec wines and ciders, non-alcoholic beverages, teas and infusions, nuts and grains, and fresh/frozen products. The company also offers gift boxes, in-store culinary workshops on boreal aromatics, and a B2B ordering platform for restaurant and retail partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boreal Spices (Épices boréales) Signature line of boreal spices and aromatics sourced from Quebec's northern forests, including Poivre des dunes (dune pepper), Nard des pinèdes (northern spikenard), Comptonie voyageuse (sweetfern), Pousses d'épinette (spruce shoots), Baies de genévrier (juniper berries), Sumac vinaigrier, Lavande du Québec, Myrique baumier, Mélilot blanc, Carvi sauvage, and dried herbs.
• Wild Mushrooms (Champignons sauvages) Fresh and dehydrated wild mushrooms including morilles (morels), chanterelles, trompettes de la mort (black trumpets), matsutakes, cèpes (porcini), pleurotes (oyster mushrooms), lactaires, and lobster mushrooms, in fresh, dehydrated, and marinated formats.
• Spice Blends and Condiments (Mélanges d'épices et condiments) Artisanal spice blends and condiments including Rub nordique aux champignons sauvages, Mélange d'épices à gravlax, Sel de mer du Québec, Sel de mer du Québec à l'ail noir, Sel umami, Sel aux épices nordiques, Sel Tadoussac, Sel Montréal, and Sel d'algues.
• Marinated Mushrooms with Boreal Spices and Garlic Signature marinated mushrooms prepared with boreal spices and garlic in infused oil, featuring pleurotes, roasted garlic, dune pepper, sweetfern, and sweet gale leaves. Awarded a star at the Great Taste Awards.
• Jams and Caramels (Confitures et caramels) Artisanal jams, spreads, and caramels featuring local Quebec berries and Nordic flavors, including Confiture bleuet sauvage à l'érable, Tartinade airelle & argousier, Confiture framboise & cerise, Confiture fraise & mélilot, Caramel au foin d'odeur, Caramel érable et poivre des dunes, and Gelée d'érable au poivre des dunes.
• Sweet and Savory Snacks (Grignotines) Artisanal chips, chocolates, candies, and gourmet snacks from Quebec, including Chocolat 66% au sapin baumier et à la rose sauvage (collaboration with Chocolat Dicitte), meringues, chickpea chips, crackers, biscuits, and chocolate bars.
• Oils, Vinegars, Sauces and Condiments Artisanal oils, vinegars, sauces, and condiments made in Quebec or Canada, including Sauce poisson du Québec (nuoc mam), Sauce tomate, kimchi, miso, Moutarde originale, truffle oil, and black garlic products.
• Ready-to-Eat Local Food (Prêt-à-manger local) Ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat local products including Dunord Risotto forestier, Daal boréal, fresh pastas (Giovedi Pasta), empanadas, dumplings, ramen gaspésien, and lyophilized fruits.
• Gift Boxes (Coffrets cadeaux) Curated Quebec artisan gift box collections priced at $54-$109 CAD, including Coffret cadeau initiation nordique, Coffret cadeau Le sentier des épices, Coffret cadeau Sel et poivre d'ici, Coffret cadeau Passion champignon, and mystery gift boxes.
• Quebec Wines and Ciders Quebec wines and ciders including ciders from La Capsule Temporelle (Camerise, Gingembre, Sureau), Cidre intrus, Clos Saragnat ciders, Vignoble Têtes au vent sparkling wines, and Domaine Bergeville wines.
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages Non-alcoholic beverages including Kombucha (Boissons TADAM!), tisanes pétillantes (Menaud), and non-alcoholic aperitifs (Noa, Wild Folk).
• Teas, Coffees and Infusions Teas, coffees, and infusions including Thé du Labrador du Québec, alternative coffee products (Les Siffleux), and Crémant de thé (Maison Théier).
• Nuts and Grains (Noix et grains) Nuts, seeds, and grains including Noix de noyer noir (black walnut), Graines de caméline, Graines de chêne décortiquées, Riz de la Gaspésie, and artisanal nut oils.
• Fresh and Frozen Products Fresh and frozen products available for in-store pickup only, including fresh mushrooms, fresh cheeses (Fleurmier de Charlevoix, Louis d'Or), camerise fraîches, kombucha, eggs, and frozen berries.
• In-Store Culinary Workshops (Ateliers) In-store workshops at the Montreal boutique, including the Atelier À la découverte des aromates boréaux (Discovery workshop on boreal aromatics), offered to consumers and food enthusiasts.
• B2B Ordering Platform Business-to-business ordering platform for restaurants, caterers, food processors, and retailers to purchase Racines boréales products at wholesale prices with volume pricing for commercial accounts.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chocolat DicittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-branded chocolate collaboration featuring boreal ingredients. Products include 66% chocolate with spruce bud and wild rose, sold exclusively through Racines boréales.
• LaucolominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative poster 'Cuisiner le Nord' created together, sold as a gift item in the boutique.
• Quebec Artisan Food Producers (200+ suppliers)coreOthersNetwork of over 200 Quebec and Canadian artisan food producers supplying products including cheeses, charcuterie, beverages, preserves, and specialty items. Includes producers like Simon Turcotte confiturier, Sel Saint Laurent, Tournevent, Covered Bridge, and many others.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Le Marchand de Café: Montreal-based specialty food and coffee retailer offering curated local and artisanal products. Comparable as a Quebec-focused fine food épicerie serving overlapping home-cook and gift-buyer segments through physical and online channels.
• Le Petit Dep (Le Petit Dépanneur): Quebec-based curated online épicerie fine featuring local artisan products and gift boxes. Directly comparable as a curated Quebec specialty food retailer with strong gift-box and DTC online positioning.
• Le Garde-Manger du Quartier: Montreal neighborhood épicerie fine featuring local artisan products. Comparable as a Montreal-located curated specialty food retailer targeting the same home cook and food enthusiast segments.

Emerging players

• Routine \| Épicerie zéro déchet: Quebec zero-waste specialty grocery concept curating local and bulk products. Comparable as a curated Quebec food retailer with a strong local-sourcing and sustainability orientation that overlaps with Racines boréales' terroir positioning.
• La Fromagerie du Vieux-Saint-François: Quebec artisan cheese producer and specialty food retailer. Comparable as a Quebec-based artisan food supplier whose products overlap with Racines boréales' curated cheese and specialty assortment.

Regional players

• Marché Jean-Talon vendors and specialty grocers: Montreal public market ecosystem housing multiple Quebec artisan food retailers including cheese, charcuterie, and specialty vendors. Comparable as a competing channel for the same Quebec artisan product assortment that Racines boréales curates online and at its boutique.

Broad incumbents

• ÉpiceriesIGA / Sobeys specialty private label programs: Large Quebec/Canadian grocery incumbents expanding local and Quebec terroir assortment under private labels and regional sourcing programs. Comparable as broad incumbents that can commoditize the local artisan story and compete on price and shelf access.
• SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec) — wine and cider retail arm: Quebec government-controlled alcohol retailer carrying Quebec wines and ciders. Comparable as the dominant retail channel for the Quebec wine and cider SKUs that Racines boréales distributes, and a structural constraint on artisanal beverage margins.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/racinesboreales
• Pinterestpinterest.ca/racinesboreales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/racinesboreales

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Racines boréales