How a boar farm made the pivot to selling online

What does the time interval “trendy agriculture” point out to you? Do you envision a monumental manufacturing unit farm, churning out livestock at staggering prices, or do you see the methodology forward for farming as additional of a return to the pioneer days?

While it’s true that each these developments exist in the agricultural world – mega-farming equals mega income all whereas purchasers have gotten additional environmentally and morally aware – a glad medium does exist.

Ferme Sanglier des Bois in Saint-Augustin-De-Desmaures, Québec is simply that: a comparatively small wild boar farming operation that cares merely as a lot about the top of the range of the meat it produces as a results of it does about the happiness of the animals. In actuality, house owners Nathalie and Charles take into consideration you presumably can’t have one with out the fully completely different.

By combining absolutely pure farming practices and a few of the most cutting-edge genetic traceability methods in the area of curiosity boar farming enterprise, Ferme Sanglier des Bois is breaking the agricultural mould in further methods than one.

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Unexpected beginnings

Unlike many farm operations, Ferme Sanglier des Bois was not an inherited enterprise. Rather, it began as a pupil downside led by each Nathalie Laroche and Charles Fortier, now husband and associate with 4 youthful kids.

In the spring of 2000, the couple have been faculty school college students of the University of Laval’s engineering program.

As a a a part of the establishment’s SAAC (Agriculture, Food and Consumption Week), the faculty school college students have been tasked with creating a distinctive agricultural pilot downside that may be showcased to attendees.

Going above and former, Nathalie and Charles raised a group of 5 wild boars on land that Nathalie’s grandparents graciously supplied in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaure, Quebec. The downside resulted in 5 scrumptious méchouis (spit-roasted boars) and served as a launch pad for what would flip into a everlasting aspect enterprise.

Today, Nathalie and Charles run Ferme Sanglier des Bois whereas each pursuing demanding engineering careers – making effectivity a necessity and not at all another.

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All their eggs in a single basket

Arguably, one in every of the causes for Ferme Sanglier des Bois’ success has been their hyper-focus on producing a singular premium product. The enterprise is proof that deep diving into a specific area of curiosity self-discipline can yield merely nearly just about nearly as good, if not bigger outcomes than diversifying.

Not solely are the animals at Ferme Sanglier des Bois raised in a free-range ambiance from two months of age, however they’re furthermore the product of rigorous genetic testing achieved at the University of Guelph to guarantee a pure lineage.

These genetic assessments make sure that the animal’s DNA consists of 36 chromosomes instead of 38.

A boar with 38 chromosomes signifies that the animal has been crossed with a frequent pig.

Thanks to this due diligence, purchasers profit from robust-tasting cuts of 100% boar meat — the solely “wild sport licensed” boar meat produced in the province of Quebec.

While the consideration to ingredient would possibly seem over the extreme, Nathalie strongly believes that Ferme Sanglier des Bois’ information and use of expertise is one in every of its largest strengths.

“We had been educated as engineers,” she says. “Therefore, it was easy for us to implement traceability applications, registers and statistical monitoring in our operations. It brings a expert aspect to our farm.”

This is all the additional compulsory in the wild recreation meat enterprise, as purchasers are paying a premium value for merchandise and depend on top of the range and magnificence that far exceeds what they might uncover by means of typical channels, equal to grocery retailers.

“It’s very unusual in Quebec to deal straight with the farm that is elevating the animals … even the frequent prospects are contemplating learning about the place the merchandise come from.”

Turning lemons into lemonade (or boar into boar chops, in case you may)

Ferme Sanglier des Bois is a shining event of a enterprise that rapidly and effectively pivoted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not solely did they create an online retailer inside weeks, however in addition to they completely shifted their shopper base from corporations to particular specific individual purchasers.

When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, Nathalie and Charles have been left in a highly effective predicament: the majority of their boar merchandise had been selling to consuming areas shuttered by the lockdown orders. They have been compelled to pivot their enterprise online so as to serve particular specific individual purchasers.

The drawback?

Like fairly a few agricultural operations, Ferme Sanglier des Bois didn’t have an online presence in any methodology, as there was no want for a web site when selling to wholesalers.

Putting Ferme Sanglier des Bois online

Nathalie and Charles agreed that it was time to reconnect with the client in a massive methodology. With excessive motivation and a do-it-yourself perspective, the pair turned to the GoDaddy Website Builder so as to assemble an online ordering platform with each curbside pick-up and supply selections.

Although neither engineer had a lot net design expertise, they navigated GoDaddy’s easy-to-use platform and took advantage of the online assist desk when wanted.

“The pandemic was truly a massive change,” says Nathalie. “Once we built-in the content material materials and achieved the website, it was all quite simple … following the launch, we ran television commercials and selling on social media.”

“It’s solely been one 12 months, however it appears to be like like an eternity, given all that we’ve completed.”

With their web site energetic and the cook-at-home trend booming, Nathalie and Charles instantly captured the consideration of native buyers. The excessive demand for his or her merchandise rapidly turned obvious, and the pivot to eCommerce everlasting.

“At this time, we’re the solely farm that sells its merchandise 100% online on our GoDaddy website,” says Nathalie. The online retailer now carries a fairly a few stock starting from flooring boar meat to a full butchered “boar-in-a-box,” which can be unimaginable to uncover in a typical grocery retailer.

A mannequin new lease on enterprise

As for the future, Nathalie and Charles plan to keep on their newfound trajectory. And whereas Ferme Sanglier des Bois would possibly proceed to serve native consuming areas, the relationships unique with direct purchasers all by means of the pandemic have flip into an integral – and everlasting – a a a part of the enterprise.

“Our function is to further improve our methodology of doing points,” confirms Nathalie. “We want to proceed guaranteeing our animals’ well-being, all whereas serving to further people uncover boar meat.”

To study additional about Ferme Sanglier des Bois or to retailer their merchandise, go to www.sanglierdesbois.ca/boutique