Hydroserre, a leader in greenhouse production in Quebec, is changing the image of its Laitues Mirabel brand to symbolize the arrival of a new generation at the helm.
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Now known as Gen V, the company aims to embody the values of that succession.
“We are Generation V. Our products are alive, grown according to our values of sustainable agriculture and respecting people and the environment. This impersonation is the realization of our vision,” says Valérie Terrault, Director of Marketing at Gen V.
Sylvain Terrault and Chantal Desjardins have owned Hydroserre, the producer of Laitues Mirabel, since 2008. Her children Valérie (29), Simon (31) and her nephew Francis (32) are now joining the adventure as salary increases.
The three new partners have been involved in the company for several years, which employs 350 people and has 30 hectares of lettuce, cucumber and pepper cultivation areas in greenhouses at four locations.
The mother has the floor
The mother, Chantal Desjardins, Senior Vice President, is proud to have this next generation involved.
“For them to take their place, you have to give them something and let them take control. Through their own experiences, they learn and gain self-confidence. You also have the right to make mistakes. »
In the huge greenhouses of Mirabel, the lettuces, arranged on Styrofoam plates with holes for the roots to pass through, float as far as the eye can see on the water basins.
“Planting the small lettuce was one of my first tasks,” says Valérie Terrault. “We believe that in order to have your own experiences, you have to start at the bottom of the ladder. Our parents give us the chance to experience this progressive learning phase. »
Act as mentors
Giving them time and space is a key factor in retaining the next generation, says Chantal Desjardins.
“You have to put them in a learning situation and mentor them. The technical aspect can be easy to understand, but to understand the business relationships, the relationships with the bank, we have to bring them and put them in touch with all that. »
Call on a mediator to maintain harmony
The Family in Business program – HEC Montréal and EntreChefs PME Entrepreneur Network meetings were put to good use. To facilitate communication between family members, a recruitment consultant acts as an intermediary.
“It can be a trap for a family business like ours to remain unspoken because we are too intent on maintaining family harmony. You have to be able to do business together. Likewise, we must put the good of the company above our personal whims. If I want to do marketing but ultimately it’s not my forte, you have to be able to see it. Everyone has to put their ego aside,” says Valérie Terrault.