In 2020, Groupe Frontenac, specialized in the manufacturing and printing of paper bags of all kinds, built a second factory in Trois-Rivières. The goal? Meet the growing demand for its products and export more. Today, more than 50% of production goes to the United States, particularly the Midwest. Overview.
Around the 2000s, Groupe Frontenac began exporting to the United States. If the process was simplified by free trade, the second generation at the head of Groupe Frontenac struggled with protectionism and had to be represented by a manufacturing agency. “What helped us was the poor political relations between the United States and China which caused companies to turn to the North American market,” says Martin Lefebvre, president of the company.
The pandemic, the boom in ready-to-eat food and home delivery have increased business. What has had the most impact is the banning of single-use plastic by a good number of provinces and states. However, there is a lot of resistance from a segment of the population. “Florida has gone backwards and the ban will not be enforced for a few years,” observes the entrepreneur. As a result, the supply is currently sufficient to meet market needs.
The businessman deplores, however, that the rules are not always applied here. “The fines are expected, but they are not given. On the ground, I still see lots of traders giving out plastic bags. If it’s like that here, imagine in the United States in the more conservative states. »
Groupe Frontenac focuses on states bordering Quebec due to transportation costs. “We want to keep our prices competitive. The further we go, the less we are. » The company has made some exports to Europe and the Caribbean and does not reject the idea of doing it again. “Exports by ship are not that complicated or very expensive. Yes, there is still room for our products at home and in North America, but we are also looking at North Africa, Portugal and Spain in 2024. Everything always depends on demand,” says -he.
To convince future customers, it must be said that Groupe Frontenac has several trump cards up its sleeve. A family business, it ensures that it offers rapid and personalized service to customers. It also ensures that it provides products that meet sustainable development criteria. “All of our packaging products are made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials. As for additives such as inks and adhesives, they are composed of natural pigments, corn starch particles, biodegradable ingredients and water,” he explains.
With nearly 40 years of expertise in the manufacturing field and more than 100 employees, Groupe Frontenac is also working to diversify its products. “We have new products other than bags, like trays, and it’s not finished,” concludes Martin Lefebvre.
