Nicholas Pedneault was 17 when he started working part time at Congebec, the company founded by his father Laurier in 1974. At the time, the young man’s student job had only one goal: paying the rent. 

Nicholas, however, aspires to make major financial transactions on Wall Street. So he decides to study finance at Université Laval.

Congebec, which at the time has about ten employees, had grown very little in its first 25 years.

Although Nicholas enjoys working on the maintenance team, and then in operations, the Quebec City-based company is by no means a part of his career plan.

It wasn’t a very exciting company back then.

Finances

Port of Québec warehouse, 1974

On the left forklift: Jacques Cantin.
On the right forklift: Réjean Tanguay.
From left to right, front row: Richard Côté, Richard Dubreuil, Stéphanie Mercier, Laurier Pedneault, Pierre Paradis, and Denis Coulombe. Back row: Gilles Larose, Claude Blanchette, Danny Hayfield, Russel Germain, and Claude Denis, 1994.

Ambition

Just before Nicholas finishes his studies, Congebec shows a willingness to develop an aggressive growth plan. Because the multitemperature food storage industry requires huge investments to expand, Laurier asks for his son’s help to raise venture capital. Nicholas’ background in finance, combined with his experience in the field are invaluable assets.

“That’s how, one thing leading to another, I started working for Congebec full time.”

When Nicholas carries out Congebec’s financial forecast, he is astonished to discover a company with great potential. Although the figures are already enormous, the company manages to surpass them.

“ We were shooting for the moon, and we ended up in the stars. ”

Montreal acquisition, 1998

In 2015, Nicholas’ father mentions his desire to sell the company. Companies from all over Canada and abroad quickly show interest in acquiring Congebec and its 12 huge freezers.

We asked ourselves whether we should sell Congebec or go into solution mode. We chose the second option, so that it would remain a Quebec-owned company.

With the collaboration of Desjardins Entreprises Capital régional et coopératif, Investissement Québec and Fondaction CSN, Nicholas finally buys Congebec. For him, this is a highly decisive moment.

Had we not made that transaction, the company would be under US control today.

In so doing, Nicholas becomes president of Congebec, now reporting to an experienced board of directors.

Overnight, there were a lot of hands on the wheel. It was a big adjustment period.

To help him through these pivotal times, Nicholas hires Guy Clairmont, who had previously worked for an agrobusiness company. Initially appointed as an analyst, Guy soon takes the reign as director of finance at Congebec, then senior vice-president of finance.

After just a few months of support, Guy became nothing less than a rock star on the board of directors!

Nicholas also owes his successful adaption to his chairman of the board, Réal Ménard, who acted, and still acts, as a mentor to him.

Adaption 

Nicholas and four members of the board in 2023

Saskatoon warehouse

Agreement

Transport division 

A year after the rescue operation, Congebec devotes its energies to developing a refrigerated transportation offer. After submitting three requests for proposals to a major customer, Congebec loses the contract to a competitor.

I immediately called Richard Patenaude, who was working for this competitor. I told him: congratulations, you’ve won, but I think I can help you.

Nicholas and France meet with Richard—and they immediately click. In October 2016, Richard leaves his job and becomes a consultant for Congebec. This alliance opens the door to strong growth in this sector. Today, Richard is president of the transportation division.

In 2022, Congebec begins construction of a new CO2 warehouse in Mascouche. Jean-François Vallée, who joined Congebec in 2019 and now holds the position of senior vice-president of engineering, is fully committed to the project.

We really wanted to stand out and build a very technologically advanced facility.

However, the road to opening the site remains challenging. Gathering sufficient materials and human resources to carry out the work is no easy task. Nevertheless, the project team never gives up.

“We remained on schedule, even though steel costs skyrocketed during this period.”

In 2023, Congebec inaugurates the site, which remains the company’s most spacious to this day. Positive comments abound, and people are greatly impressed by the result.

We have customers, even competitors, who would like us to help them build sites like this in different parts of the world.

With fifty years of experience in multi-temperature storage and food logistics, the Congebec team has, over the years, amply demonstrated that it doesn’t get cold feet. Confronting logistical challenges with unwavering resilience, Nicholas, France, Richard, Guy and Jean-François have maintained exceptional efficiency while preserving the quality and safety of the food entrusted to them.

One day, we told ourselves: we’ll never be the biggest, but we’ll be the best.

Congebec’s team of associates is tightly knit, like an extended family. No wonder they call themselves the Fantastic Five!

We’re all different people, who are capable of challenging each other.

This diversity of talents, personalities and skills is one of the keys to their success. It enables them to be much more efficient and to see the blind spots.

“Ego is not a part of our reality. It didn’t happen overnight, but now we’re comfortable exposing our vulnerability. We’ve learned to trust each other completely.”

That’s not all! Nicholas and his cohorts would love this family spirit to be reflected in their succession too.

We’re already looking at the next generation of Congebecers that could one day take over the leadership of the company!

In all transparency

The family spirit also permeates the staff, who literally have Congebec tattooed on their hearts. Employees see Congebec as a humane company that shows them a great deal of trust. In fact, when the associates make major decisions, the human resources department makes a point to meet with employees before the transaction even begins.

In all our transactions, we gave high-level information to our staff. It was risky, but we never regretted putting our trust in them. These were our first steps toward complete transparency.

Over the years, the Congebec team has demonstrated its ability to adapt. For the associates, this flexibility and openness inevitably means making decisions. Such was the case when Congebec had to close down a site for safety reasons and, as a result, lay off around twenty people. This was the most difficult moment of Nicholas’ career.

I knew what stress was, but when I made the announcement, it was like I’d been stabbed in the stomach.

How do you stay focused on your vision, even when your heart is not in it? For Nicholas, an entrepreneur shouldn’t be afraid to make decisions, even when they are difficult to execute.

You have to remember what is best for the company and, above all, not back down. That’s what managerial courage is all about.

2004, Sainte-Julie

Congebec receives the Fidéïde Award (2005).

Launch of Congebec University, 2020.

Construction in Mascouche

Groundbreaking ceremony in Mascouche, 2022

2011 – Congebec takes part in François-Guy Thivierge’s expedition to the North Pole, pictured here with the mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume.

© Archimed Studio

The visionary leader

Nicholas Pedneault
Chief Executive Officer

One thing is for sure, Nicholas’ business partners are very grateful that he never packed his bags and headed for Wall Street, choosing instead to propel Congebec to great heights here in Quebec. Creative, bold and ambitious, he has, over the years, brought together people who share his values, but who also bring the complementary expertise he needs to move forward. Nicholas is the kind-hearted businessman who always strives to give back. A positive leader in every way!

The one with multipotential

France Pomerleau
President Congebec Inc. (Operation division)

France has a thirst for learning and loves taking on complex challenges! It’s not surprising, then, that she was commissioned to pass on the company’s culture to the staff, a task she has taken on with thoroughness and passion. Because of her great ability to bounce back, her high potential and her talent to bring people together, her colleagues call her nothing less than the soul of Congebec.

The man you can trust

Richard Patenaude
President, Congebec (Transport) Inc. 

Everyone agrees that Richard is an experienced and inspiring speaker. His metaphors and clever humor add an absolutely unique dimension to his communications! Goal-oriented, Richard also attaches great significance to human relationships. For him, it’s vital to surround himself with people he can trust. In fact, he himself is a reliable and invaluable collaborator for the management team.

The perfect balance

Guy Clairmont
Senior Vice President, Finance

Calm, structured and honest, Guy brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to his team. But that doesn’t mean that Guy cannot have fun! In fact, this kind-hearted man has a knack for playing down difficult situations with a touch of humor— always at the right moment.

A thorough leader 

Jean-François Vallée
Senior Vice President, Engineering

Jean-François is the man who knows everything… well, almost everything! In fact, his curiosity, thoroughness and integrity played a major role in the successful building of a new CO2 warehouse in Mascouche, a project that changed his life. One might even say that his unique professional experience had prepared him throughout his career to deploy his knowledge in his adventure at Congebec. With a keen eye for a job well done, Jean-François is the kind of person everyone would want as a friend and colleague.