Step into the chocolatey universe of Chocolat Boréal.

When first walking into the Chocolat Boréal atelier, we were immediately hit with the smell of cocoa. As the rest of our senses caught up, we found ourselves in their boutique, welcomed by owners Florence and Ludovic, alongside their little boy Édouard and girl Claire. Together, the family has built a Nordic-inspired chocolate factory that pays tribute to the flavours and colours of the boreal forest.

With their combined passion for sweets and a fitting set of skills, it’s no doubt their shop is a success. With Ludovic's 30-year expertise as a chocolatier and pastry chef, and Florence's background in literature and textile design, they collectively had the creative skills needed to start crafting gourmet chocolate. Above all, it was the arrival of their kids that pushed them to start their family-run business in 2017, taking control of their schedule and prioritizing work-life balance. 

It didn't take long for the chocolaterie to forge a special bond with our Lufavores. From the start of our partnership in 2019, the team has been reworking their recipes just for us, using certified Fairtrade cocoa grown without synthetic pesticides. This cocoa comes from a program actively working towards improving the land and the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. The chocolate is then crafted in their atelier and wrapped in packaging that favours local, recyclable, or compostable materials.

Drawing inspiration from local flavours, they switch up their chocolates following the seasons. During warmer months, the duo welcomes Quebec fruits, partnering with organic blueberry farm La Giroflée in Montérégie (and our long-time partner) to make choco-covered fresh berries. In the winter, Ludovic draws on his childhood near the forest in France for a line of boreal chocolates using ingredients like blackcurrant, balsam fir, Labrador tea, and much more to bring out the fields and woodlands of Quebec.

Almost five years into our partnership, our teams still collab to keep the lineup fresh. Whether we throw them an idea or they come to us with one, there's no shortage of creativity. Their small, dedicated team goes beyond what we could’ve imagined, creating fun new activities and contests just for our Lufavores. For special occasions, the team offers exclusive bars and boxes - including this year’s Valentine’s Day lineup of passion fruit caramel bar, crunchy praline hearts, and classic heart-shaped lollipops (their kids’ favourite).

Seven years in, this small family business continues to grow at its own pace. Soon, the family plans to expand their atelier to offer an even better workspace for their growing team. After that, the goal is to create even tastier treats to add to Chocolat Boréal’s classic range of seasonal festive products.

Watch our short video where we take a deeper look into Chocolat Boréal with owners Florence and Ludovic.