VG GOURMET will tour various enterprises this summer and offer samples

 

Montreal’s VG Gourmet Marks a Decade of Successful Plant-Based Innovation, Growing from Home Kitchen to 1,500 Stores & Restaurants Across Canada! Husband and wife run company celebrates 10th anniversary with the launch of the Beet Power Burger—a mouth-watering, grill-ready patty for summer that boasts 19g of protein and 10g of fibre

VG Gourmet's Emmanuel Castiel & Chantal Bekhor

Plant-based brand VG Gourmet is marking its 10-year anniversary as husband and wife founders Chantal Bekhor and Emmanuel Castiel prepare for another busy BBQ season. The company, which started as a side project in their Montreal home kitchen, has grown into a major name in the Canadian plant-based sector with products now on grocery shelves across the country. Bekhor and Castiel launched VG Gourmet in late 2015 as a way to share Bekhor’s recipes and passion for fresh ingredients and bold, satisfying flavours. Today, the brand’s 20 person-strong team operates out of their new 15,000 square foot facility in Ville Saint-Laurent, supplying a dozen delicious, healthy products to over 1,500 restaurant menus & stores across Canada, including major retailers like Costco, Sobeys, Whole Foods, Lufa Farms, Metro, and IGA. VG Gourmet’s tenth anniversary highlights a Montreal success story built on simple ingredients, bold flavours, and steady growth. At a time when many consumers are looking for straightforward, satisfying meal options, the brand continues to focus on products that are nutritious, flavourful, and easy to prepare. As summer approaches, Bekhor and Castiel are preparing for their busiest season of the year. The company just launched a new product designed with BBQ season in mind: the Beet Power Burger, a vibrant, grill-ready patty made with vegetables and spices, offering 19g of protein and 10g of fibre.

Initially offering three products, all veggie burgers, VG Gourmet has since expanded its offering to include sauces, soups, shawarma, kebabs, bites, and ready-made meals, all made with natural ingredients and gluten-free. Its veggie burgers remain its biggest sellers, something both Bekhor and Castiel credit to their hearty texture and ability to hold up on the grill, making them an easy choice for both vegans and non-vegans alike. Bekhor has always been focused on creating products that don’t compromise on taste, texture, or freshness. “We’re raising the standards for what plant-based products can be,” she said. “People are choosing meat- and dairy-free options for all kinds of reasons, sometimes just to mix things up or eat a bit healthier. They shouldn’t have to sacrifice flavour or nutritional quality when they do, it should be just as satisfying, or even more!” While VG Gourmet’s product line has grown, the recipes used are still all Bekhor’s, and they remain rooted in her original approach: using whole, recognizable ingredients like fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices to create meals that are both practical and flavourful. The brand’s goal has always been to offer convenient options that feel just like home cooking. VG Gourmet also prides itself on being a leader in responsible sourcing; cooking with locally-sourced Quebec and Canadian-grown ingredients, and using recycled cardboard boxes in their 100% recyclable packaging.

Castiel, whose previous career was in marketing and sales, leads the company’s business development efforts. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come,” he said. “It’s nice to look back now and see how much we’ve achieved. And after ten years, we’re still having a lot of fun doing it!” In the past two years, VG Gourmet’s sales have doubled after making inroads at Ontario retailers and at Costco Canada. Following its first year in Costco stores in 2025, the grocery giant increased their orders, almost doubling the volume of products requested.

“We’ve spent ten years building something we truly believe in,” said Bekhor. “For us, it’s always been about creating food that people feel good about eating; meals made from ingredients they recognize, with flavours that bring people back to the table. As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep growing and to be a staple part of more kitchens, more meals, and more moments across Canada.”

Over the summer, the VG Gourmet team will be holding tastings at stores across Canada. Consumers can follow the brand’s social media channels for details on when and where to try their products.

www.vggourmet.com