Column 47: Lassonde in the U.S.A.
Ever since their initial foray into Boston and Miami, Lassonde’s management team had been thinking about how to gain a foothold in the United States. Conscious of the limits of the Canadian marketplace, Lassonde Industries’ President and Chief Operating Officer Jean Gattuso held out for just the right opportunity. Patience is also part of Lassonde’s DNA: waiting for the right moment to take carefully considered action.
The first opening was created over a period of years with Clement Pappas, a leader in the production and marketing of juice and private label fruit sauces. In 1994, the two companies entered into a strategic alliance. The project did not yield the expected results, but Jean Gattuso and Peter Pappas took a liking to one another. It was not surprising, then, that Clement Pappas management turned to Lassonde when they decided to sell the company in 2011.
Three years later, Lassonde acquired Apple & Eve, a major producer of national brand juices with which Lassonde shared many common values. Both manufactured products associated with health and wellness. And both were family-owned businesses.
To optimize operations, Lassonde Pappas and Apple & Eve united under the name Lassonde Pappas & Company Inc. in January 2017. In May 2018, Lassonde purchased another familyowned business, Old Orchard Brands which is well established in the central United States.
Early in the 20th century, Aristide Lassonde and Georgianna Darcy left the United States to return to their ancestral home. Today, a century on, the company they founded has a strong presence south of the border in the country where they learned their trade and acquired a taste for business.
Next column: A success story built on firm values…