Krispy Kernels

A part of the Quebec landscape for more than 60 years, Krispy Kernels boasts a rich history that deserves to be told and makes the brand truly authentic. When Paul Jalbert took the train heading to New York for business in 1944, little did he know how important this trip would become. Spotting packets of Krispy Kernels peanuts on the shelf of a store, he decided to take a small detour and visit the business behind these delicious products, based in Newark, New Jersey. It was the beginning of a partnership that would last nearly a decade. Paul Jalbert acquired the exclusive distribution rights to Krispy Kernels peanuts in Canada, which he proceeded to resell through his already well-established newspaper distribution network. Sales were so successful that in 1951, already a third of them took place in Quebec. The decision to open a processing plant in Quebec City was the next logical step. The company continued to be a success in Quebec, and in 1953, Paul Jalbert bought his partner's shares. It was then that Krispy Kernels became a 100% Canadian company. The old logo featuring two Confederate Army colonels was changed to the little boy that we have all come to know as the company's hallmark. Following many years of unrelenting hard work, Jalbert's vision and passion allowed him to build the Krispy Kernels brand. In 1959, Paul Jalbert seized the opportunity to extend the product line-up he offered across his well-developed network through the acquisition of Yum Yum Chips, a company founded three years prior in Laurierville, Quebec by the Bergeron family. In 1970, Denis, Paul Jalbert's eldest son, followed in his father's footsteps and took on the role of CEO. Twenty years later, Denis Jalbert finalised the purchase of the company to become its sole owner in 1990. All along the 1990s, with the support of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, it was he who ensured the company's continuity, thus allowing it to keep going from strength to strength. Ten years later, at the beginning of the new millennium came the third generation's turn to get involved. Two of Denis Jalbert's four daughters, Renée-Maude and Valérie, joined the family business. Having grown up snacking on company products, driven by their father's and grandfather's determination and passion, they were quick to learn that no compromises can be made when it comes to offering only the very best. At the beginning of 2013, Valérie took on the position of CEO, and at the end of 2013, Paul Jalbert passed away at 94 years of age, with the absolute assurance that the legacy he spent a lifetime building would be maintained for future generations.