{"id":2501,"date":"2017-06-22T15:46:38","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T19:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/?p=2501"},"modified":"2024-02-13T11:51:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:51:08","slug":"etienne-croteau-of-flavour-trader-brings-spice-culture-to-yellowknife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/blog\/etienne-croteau-of-flavour-trader-brings-spice-culture-to-yellowknife\/","title":{"rendered":"Etienne Croteau of Flavour Trader Brings Spice Culture to Yellowknife"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by: La Libert\u00e9 Communication on behalf of RD\u00c9E Canada<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Before launching his business, Etienne Croteau asked himself: \u201cWhat am I good at?\u201d<\/em> The answer came to him immediately: \u201cI know about flavours, and I want to share them.\u201d This became the motto for his business, Flavour Trader.<\/a><\/p>\n

Since May 2016, this 37 year-old from Quebec has been introducing the fragrant world of spices, and all its nuances, to the people of Yellowknife. Far from limiting himself only to food services, Flavour Trader also includes a spice shop and cooking classes, in which Etienne works with recipes from all over the world.<\/p>\n

The \u201cnaturalized Franco-T\u00e9nois\u201d, as he likes to call himself, studied in Quebec to become a chef in 1998, and then worked for two years for a spice company in Montreal. A job which ended up being like a revelation for the young cook: \u201cI completely fell in love with spices. I discovered a world of cultures\u201d he said. He then decided to travel the world and hasn\u2019t stopped since. \u201cI have one goal when I travel: food. I want to discover new recipes and take cooking classes.\u201d During his stays in India and Morocco, this adventurer developed a spicy knowledge he hopes to share with the people of the Northwest Territories.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t jump into cooking right away however; instead, he took another training course in facilitation and project management, and then landed a job organizing events across NWT for Francophone youth. But he never let go of the idea of managing a project, his own project, from start to finish. His main goal? Independence! \u201cI\u2019m not a big fan of having a boss\u201d, he shares, amused. \u201cI have too many ideas, I\u2019m pretty hyperactive. And I wanted to feel free to make my own choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Flavour<\/p>\n

In 2016, he took the leap and jumps full-time into developing his business plan. He calls on Futurpreneur Canada, who partners with the NWT Business Development Investment Corporation <\/a>(BDIC) in the province, to support him with financing. Through Futurpreneur, he meets Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Desch\u00eanes, his mentor who helps him through his entrepreneurial journey. Working with his mentor, an accountant, has helped him immensely in his efforts. \u201cI meet him once a month. Sometimes, I find myself in a situation beyond my control, because I don\u2019t have the experience. I sit with him and we work together to find the best solutions.\u201d He also got the support of the Conseil de d\u00e9veloppement \u00e9conomique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest<\/a> (a member of RD\u00c9E Canada) in terms of communications. \u201cThe CDETNO was extremely helpful in building a communications plan for my business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flavour Trader opened its doors in May 2016. A year later, its founder is satisfied with the results: he offers 85 different spices in his shop, serves a meal from a different country every day, offers catering services, and shares the fruit of his travels through his cooking classes. His goal now is to generate enough profit to be able to hire someone full-time to help him.<\/p>\n

Is Flavour Trader a dream come true? For Etienne, the dream is still in progress. To fully realize it, he would like to become fully self-sufficient: \u201cI\u2019d like to grow my own food so I can use it in my business. I want to be able to provide for my family without relying on anyone else. I have a bit of hippie streak\u2026 he says jokingly, but it\u2019s been my dream for about 15 years now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Flavor<\/p>\n

What pieces of advice would this spice and travel enthusiast give to young entrepreneurs looking to launch their business?<\/p>\n