The Marché des Saveurs du Québec was born from the passion of Suzanne Bergeron and Tony Drouin for Quebec regional food products. Animated by the desire to share their passion, they first opened the Maison des Vins et Boissons artisanales du Québec at the Marché Maisonneuve in December 1998. This first store features alcoholic beverages. Building on this success, Suzanne and Tony then offer these same drinks from a counter at the Atwater Market as well as at the Jean-Talon Market in the summer of 1999. Shortly after, the Corporation de gestion des marchés publics de Montréal proposes to the owners to rent a permanent space at the Jean-Talon Market.
It was in July 2000 that the Marché des Saveurs du Québec opened its doors!
The primary goal of the owners of the Marché des Saveurs du Québec is to introduce consumers to the delicious artisanal food products of small regional producers in Quebec.
As these artisans produce on a small scale and generally wish to preserve the artisanal nature of their production, they are often forced to sell on-site or to restaurateurs. By opening the Marché des Saveurs du Québec, Suzanne and Tony allowed consumers in the greater metropolitan area to access their products and learn more about them.
The store operates on a collective principle, resembling that of a cooperative: artisans rent a space, determine the price of their products, while the owners take care of the commercial operations. They make a point of giving each artisan the same shelf space, never offering discounts on one product at the expense of another.