Publié le :
07 February 2025
Catégorie : Actualité
When you buy Quebec apples at the grocery store, you may not think about all the work behind each fruit. Yet before reaching store shelves, these apples go through a long journey—from the orchard all the way to your grocery cart. At Verger des Bois-Francs, this entire logistics process is fully controlled thanks to their own fleet of trucks.
In this episode of Histoire de Truck, we met Mathieu Brie, a fourth-generation member of the family leading the company. He explains why Verger des Bois-Francs chose to integrate transportation into its operations and the challenges of managing a fleet within the agri-food industry.
A four-generation family story
Verger des Bois-Francs is, above all, a family business. Founded over 50 years ago, the company has grown through generations to become a major player in apple production and distribution in Quebec.
It all began with Mathieu’s great-grandfather, who sold fruits and vegetables door-to-door in the Princeville area. His son later focused exclusively on apple production and built strong relationships with local grocery stores. With the arrival of the third generation, the company expanded further by acquiring new land and increasing its production and storage capacity.
Today, Mathieu, along with his brother and sister, continues this growth by bringing a modern and structured vision—particularly through the optimization of transportation logistics.
Why does Verger des Bois-Francs operate its own trucks?
Transportation plays a critical role in the food supply chain. To ensure apple freshness and provide reliable service to grocery stores, Verger des Bois-Francs decided to be fully autonomous, operating its own trucks and employing its own drivers.
The advantages of having an in-house fleet:
✅ Greater control over deliveries
In the food industry, meeting delivery deadlines is essential. With its own trucks, the company can adapt to customer needs and deliver seven days a week.
✅ Increased flexibility
With three full-time drivers, Verger des Bois-Francs can quickly respond to unexpected situations, such as sudden order increases or last-minute changes.
✅ Optimized freshness
Transport under controlled conditions is essential to maintaining apple quality. The trucks are cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure optimal transport standards.
✅ Long-term cost efficiency
Rather than relying on third-party carriers, owning a fleet allows the company to optimize costs and improve overall logistics efficiency.
Challenges of managing a truck fleet in the food industry
Despite its advantages, managing an in-house fleet comes with its own challenges.
🚚 Mechanic availability
Finding skilled and available mechanics remains difficult, especially during peak periods.
🛠 Vehicle maintenance
With trucks operating 365 days a year, preventive maintenance is essential to avoid breakdowns that could disrupt deliveries. (This is why we created Location BL—ask your representative!)
📦 Logistics coordination
Each day, two to three trucks leave to deliver apples to various distribution points. Coordinating routes, schedules, and inventory requires precise organization.
A company focused on the future
Verger des Bois-Francs continues to innovate to meet evolving market demands. Several projects are currently underway, including:
🌱 Optimizing apple production through automation and the introduction of new varieties
🏗 Expanding infrastructure to improve storage and ensure year-round apple availability
🔧 Upgrading the truck fleet to enhance delivery efficiency and reduce environmental impact
Watch the full episode on YouTube 🎥
Step into the world of Verger des Bois-Francs and discover how a Quebec family business blends tradition and modern innovation to deliver fresh apples to consumers. 🍏