Funding From the Government of Canada to Les Boissons du Roy

SAINTE-ANNE-DE-LA-PÉRADE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 3, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announces that Les Boissons du Roy received $75,000 in repayable funding for, among other things, the construction of an agri-food processing shop and the acquisition of specialized equipment, including a cylinder press, vats, bottle washers and a cold room, for the small-scale production of berry-based beverages.

"The Government of Canada chose to fund this project of Les Boissons du Roy, a creative family-run business, because of the interesting economic prospects it opens up for the des Chenaux RCM," said Minister Lebel.

Les Boissons du Roy arose from an idea developed by Françoise Cossette and Normand Gauthier to produce homemade beverages from the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries grown on the Tournesol farm they have been operating since 1987. The success garnered by their value-added products in market tests, particularly on urban markets, convinced the entrepreneurs of the growth potential to be harnessed in processing these berries.

The new enterprise manufactures its beverages in a 4,000 square-foot building that, located at the entrance to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, houses a processing and production shop, a restaurant, an interpretation centre and a boutique selling local products. This unique site constitutes a new point of attraction along chemin du Roy, a tourism route that draws numerous visitors to the area each year.

For more on Les Boissons du Roy and its products, visit www.boissonsduroy.com

This financial assistance was granted through Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program, an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and helping communities build their tourism drawing power.

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