- Story by Hans Tammemagi Photography by Don Denton
West Saanich Road is the quintessential thoroughfare of Vancouver Island, winding delightfully through shady stands of towering Douglas firs bordered by farms with sheep and horses, and passing the occasional roadside stand, where hand-printed signs advertise local flowers, eggs and vegetables.
At the northern end of this bucolic road, I turn onto the driveway that leads me to , the local company that creates recipes for healthy, nutritious dishes, using its own seasonings and sauces, and sells meal kits, food and cookware throughout North America.
Nestled in the backcountry of North Saanich, the Epicure property, including headquarters and warehouses, sits on a 30-acre farm.
Inside the large main building, Amelia Warren, the energetic CEO, explains that Epicure, with about 250 employees, is one of the largest private firms on Vancouver Island. Its dishes are easy to prepare and taste delicious, yet are fast, affordable and91裸聊视频攎ost importantly91裸聊视频攈ealthy and nutritious.
91裸聊视频淥ur motto,91裸聊视频� she says, 91裸聊视频渋s 91裸聊视频楪ood food. Real fast.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Obviously, the formula works, and Epicure91裸聊视频檚 business has doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In describing a few of the company91裸聊视频檚 hundreds of seasonings, sauces, meal kits and cookware91裸聊视频攁s listed in its catalogue and website, alongside recipes and appealing photos91裸聊视频擜melia says Epicure91裸聊视频檚 products break down to about 80 per cent food products and 20 per cent cookware used for preparing the dishes.
I get hunger pangs just looking at the scrumptious photos.
Amelia91裸聊视频檚 belief in her products is demonstrated as she describes the family dinners she is making this week. Each is Epicure-based and includes items like rotisserie chicken, donair and Greek salad.
91裸聊视频淚 love Epicure dishes because they91裸聊视频檙e healthy, tasty and easy to make,91裸聊视频� she says.
A team of 1091裸聊视频攊ncluding chefs, nutritionists, dietitians and food scientists91裸聊视频攊s devoted to creating about 60 new products each year.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e well-qualified, but most importantly they91裸聊视频檙e free thinkers, who love going outside the box,91裸聊视频� explained team leader Crystal McGregor,Epicure91裸聊视频檚 VP of products.
Ingredients are sourced from around the world91裸聊视频攕ome seasoning mixes contain 17 herbs and spices91裸聊视频攁nd quality is crucial. Amelia is closely involved, tastes all the dishes and her approval is necessary to bring a product to market.
Crystal has several favourite creations, but the Super Hero Breakfast Cookie stands out.
91裸聊视频淢ost people skimp on protein at breakfast. Hence, this recipe was created, featuring our awesome protein blend. I love that you can eat a cookie for breakfast and feel good about it.91裸聊视频�
Amelia speaks highly of her mother, Sylvie Rochette, who founded Epicure. Sylvie was well ahead of the food-curve, making nutritious easy-to-prepare dishes in the early 1990s. She created sauces and spice blends and sold them to friends and at farmers91裸聊视频� markets; she was so successful, she decided to expand and, in 1997, selected direct sales as her sales method. This means her products are sold91裸聊视频攍ike Tupperware or Avon91裸聊视频攖hrough consultants, who have a stake in the success of the company. Epicure has been charging ahead ever since.
Amelia, who took over as CEO in 2010, says, 91裸聊视频淢y mom is a hard worker and very courageous. It was a bold step to enter into direct sales without any previous experience in the channel. She isan extraordinaryentrepreneur.91裸聊视频�
Today, none of Epicure91裸聊视频檚 products are found in stores, even though, thanks to their ease of preparation and innovative tastes, they would sell well. Epicure91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渃onsultants91裸聊视频� hold cooking classes online or in people91裸聊视频檚 homes that are effective, popular and successful.
Crystal is enthusiastic about the direct-sales marketing method.
91裸聊视频淲e want to inspire good and help people,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淥ur consultants can start their own entrepreneurial business for less than $200, be their own boss, and earn as little or as much as they want. It91裸聊视频檚 wonderful to know Epicure is also building leaders and giving consumers an opportunity to buy locally, supporting local business!91裸聊视频�
Epicure is located in North Saanich. Amelia grew up in Victoria and believes 91裸聊视频渢his is one of best places in the world to live.91裸聊视频�
She enjoys hiking and immersing herself in the beautiful nature of Vancouver Island. She has a two-year-old daughter, and her husband, Kyle Vucko, the co-founder of Indochino, also works in the business.
Amelia91裸聊视频檚 caring and compassion form a vital part of Epicure, which helps its clients live healthier lives and gives to less-advantaged people in many ways.
91裸聊视频淢y favourite program,91裸聊视频� she says, 91裸聊视频渋s our Buy One, Share One program. For every mac and cheese sold, we donate one meal to Feeding America or Food Banks of Canada. Last year we donated just over 750,000 meals.91裸聊视频�
Leaving, I hear chickens clucking and I pass an organic vegetable garden. Turning onto West Saanich Road, I91裸聊视频檓 pleased that this vigorous, innovative company, tucked away in our own backyard, is bringing health and nutrition to North America.
This story originally ran in PEARL, the magazine for Sidney and North Saanich, British Columbia.
