Trésors et Délices
Scaling success: From start-up to expansion with CBDC support
In 2008 when Nanda and Vanesha Yagambrum moved to Grand Falls, they had no idea their hard work would one day make them business owners, selling their food across New Brunswick.
Through hard work, determination and the support of CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South, the Yagambrums now operate the successful local restaurant, Trésors et Délices, and sell their packaged food in grocery stores across the province.
“CBDC helped us for the opening of the restaurant in 2011 and for the enlargement of the production area for the machinery. For almost every step we were doing, CBDC was always here for us.”
When the family first moved to Canada from Mauritius, Nanda worked multiple jobs to support his family. During the summer months, the family started preparing food to sell at the local farmers’ market on Saturdays.
“Every week we went, and people were liking our food,” Nanda said.
After a year at the market, customers suggested the Yagambrum open a permanent restaurant, mentioning the CBDC would be able to help.
In 2011, they took that next step, leasing their restaurant location thanks to the help of CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South. Nanda took out a general business loan and accessed business support and counselling.
“I think this support is very important for someone who has just arrived in the country and doesn’t know much about the regulations or the culture. It’s very important to have people who can help us and guide us," Nanda said.
Nanda and Vanesha started cooking up dishes like curries, stir fries, noodles, rice and some European food, too.
“The specialty was the samosa, and people were liking it,” Nanda said.
Business was thriving, with high-volume catering jobs and contracts throughout the community, including the local golf course and cooking breakfast at the farmers’ market.
In 2020, the restaurant industry became more uncertain with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was a challenge, it also pushed Nanda to innovate.
Although he had always planned to package Trésors et Délices products, the pandemic pushed Nanda to finally take that step. They started preparing customer favourites including beef, vegetable and chicken samosas with specialty sauce, and combo plates with samosas and noodles, to sell frozen at local grocery stores.
Nanda once again turned to CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South to take out a loan to purchase new kitchen equipment.
“We can have vision, we can have dreams in our mind, but if you don’t have qualified people like members of the CBDC who are here to guide you, this wouldn't be possible.”
In 2022, Nanda decided to start the process to expand to larger chain stores across New Brunswick, which required a federal license. He again contacted CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South for help to expand the kitchen and equipment, adding a dedicated production area to meet the licensing requirements.
With more space and production capacity, Nanda said the business expanded its workforce to keep pace with the growth.
“Instead of making 100 samosas a day, we can do 1,000, 2,000, 5,000.”
Nanda says the support and guidance he received from CBDC Victoria Madawaska-South has been invaluable.
“I would recommend people who want to do business and don’t know how to start go to the CBDC.”
For the time being, Trésors et Délices will continue to focus on offering high-quality products, both in the restaurant and in stores. Nanda says he hopes to continue to expand the business in the future.
“If we do more projects, I will go to the CBDC again to ask for help and guidance.”