Sisters Laurie and Mélanie Boivin, aged 29, represent the second generation at the head of the Le Subtil Group restaurants. Continuing the family business, they will open a new branch in Beauport in winter 2025.
Well known thanks to its three established sandwich shops, Groupe Le Subtil is undertaking its first phase of expansion by investing $600,000 in a brand new branch which will be located on rue d’Everell, in Beauport.
Le Subtil Group is beginning its first phase of expansion by investing $600,000 in a brand new branch in Beauport.
Image: Atelier Chenard
“We have been preparing for the expansion of the company for several years. We are now ready to open new restaurants. We’re starting with Beauport, but there will be others. This is the fruit of our work together for several years,” said Laurie Boivin.
The first branch, founded by their father, André, and his brother Paul, opened its doors in 1986, on rue du Campanile, in Quebec. In addition to the three addresses – soon to be four – the company has a central kitchen. Le Subtil Beauport is the first project managed entirely by the second generation.
“We worked hard to restructure the company and prepare ourselves as a new generation. With the opening in Beauport, a new page is being written,” added Mélanie.
“We are working on solid foundations. Our parents are still involved, but they let us stand on our own two feet. We have always been well mentored and we feel supported,” continued Laurie.
The two sisters have free rein to realize their vision for the company, which includes several phases of expansion.
A ten-year plan
The objective is to open ten Le Subtil restaurants in the coming years, both in Quebec and Lévis, to cover “all the hot spots”, which includes, among the coveted locations, La Cité-Universitaire, La Cité- Limoilou, L’Ancienne-Lorette, Val-Bélair, Charlesbourg, downtown Lévis, Saint-Apollinaire and even Beauce.
“We don’t want to go too fast either. We start with Beauport. We don’t want to wait several years before realizing our plan. We are ready and we want to put our energy into this. Everything is in place to accommodate other restaurants,” said Mélanie.
It would not be impossible to eventually integrate franchises into the business model. Laurie and Mélanie, who know the workings of the profession well having held different positions in the company, are now in charge of its management.
The Le Subtil Group is already well known thanks to its three sandwich shops.
Photo credit Elysabeth Lemonde
“Restaurants are in our DNA. We grew up there and we want to continue their development by offering an uncompromising, quick and delicious healthy alternative to the people of Quebec,” added Mélanie.
Beyond their loyal clientele, Le Subtil restaurants are seeing annual growth of 15% in their sales, notably thanks to take-out orders and the sale of their signature products.
Do you have any information to share with us about this story?
Write to us at or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.