The story behind Lili et Gordo: The Quebecois-Mexican fusion cuisine business from Futurpreneurs Kévin Bélisle and Lili Perez Vera

At the heart of Quebec’s evolving culinary landscape, Lili et Gordo is redefining how authentic Mexican cuisine is experienced—one taco at a time. Co-founded by chefs Lili (originally from Mexico) and Kévin (from Quebec), the business is a vibrant blend of two cultures, rooted in tradition and driven by innovation. We sat down with the founders to learn more about their journey, values, and the passion that fuels their growing brand.

1. Please tell us about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.

We’re Kévin and Lili, Co-Founders of Lili et Gordo (and Marché MX), a business celebrating authentic Mexican cuisine in Drummondville, Quebec. As a Québécois-Mexican couple, we blend our cultures to bring something unique to our community. This journey teaches us daily about management, adaptation, and innovation.

2. Please tell us about your business, its origin story, your mission and vision.

Our company is called Lili et Gordo and operates Marché MX in Drummondville. Born from our passion for authentic Mexican cuisine, we offer fully cooked, seasoned taco fillings, vacuum-sealed and frozen for convenience. We also run an online grocery store, a taco bar, catering services, Mexican cooking classes (in-person and online), and a restaurant-style counter. Our mission is to make real Mexican food easy to enjoy at home and bring people together through a friendly, flavorful experience.

Early challenges included introducing unfamiliar Mexican flavors to the local market, managing food production logistics, and educating customers about our products. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our online grocery and classes across Canada.

3. What inspired you to start your own business in Canada?

The inspiration really came from the meeting of our two cultures. We saw an opportunity to introduce the richness of Mexican gastronomy to our area, where authentic options were limited. The support and curiosity of our local community also encouraged us to take the leap and build something meaningful together.

4. What are some of your biggest wins since launching your business?

Some of our biggest successes to date include:

• Building a loyal local customer base and opening our specialty grocery store, Marché MX, in Drummondville.
• Launching our signature line of vacuum-sealed, ready-to-eat taco fillings, combining authenticity and convenience.
• Developing in-store and online Direct-to-Consumer (D2C distribution), allowing us to ship frozen products across Quebec and beyond.
• Expanding services to include taco bar catering and cooking classes (in-person and online), strengthening community engagement.
• Receiving consistent positive feedback for product quality and authenticity.
• Growing organically through D2C sales and exploring strategic partnership avenues to scale production and distribution across Canada.

5. How did Futurpreneur support your entrepreneurial journey?

Futurpreneur played a key role by providing us with financing when it was challenging to access traditional loans. Futurpreneur’s support helped us get off the ground and invest in equipment and inventory. Their online resources and business planning tools were also extremely helpful, giving us practical guidance as we navigated the Canadian market.

6. What advice would you offer to newcomer entrepreneurs starting their businesses in Canada?

One of the first things we noticed, especially Lili, was how many more rules there are here compared to Mexico. Our advice to other newcomers is to take the time to understand the key differences in business laws and regulations between Canada and your home country.

From food safety and permits to labeling and taxes, the regulatory environment can feel overwhelming at first. But investing the time to learn and comply with these rules is essential—not just to stay legally protected, but also to build trust and credibility with your customers.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Local business organizations, government programs, and mentorship networks can offer valuable guidance. It’s absolutely worth it in the long run.

7. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself as an entrepreneur?

We’ve learned that we’re able to adapt and thrive in a multicultural environment. Working with team members, distributors, and customers who speak Spanish, French, and English has challenged us to be more flexible, open-minded, and creative in how we communicate and solve problems. This diversity has become one of our greatest strengths. It helps us to grow and learn every day.

If you are a newcomer entrepreneur like Kévin and Lili, click here to learn more about Futurpreneur’s My Canadian Startup program presented by TD Bank.