In late Summer, quick service poutine restaurant Ashton enters the Montreal market with a franchise location in the food court at Complexe Desjardins in downtown Montreal. Manon Larose and Michelle Marcotte-Blart at Oberfeld Snowcap are responsible for the Quebec City-based chain’s site selection in the province and they add that several more locations are under negotiations for 2026 and beyond. The Ashton concept has evolved from a seasonal mobile QSR introduced in the late 1960s to become a popular chain of about 24 locations featuring a menu of fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, roast beef sandwiches and its signature poutine dish. The majority of the units are in the Quebec City area. In 2022, Quebec City restaurateurs Jean-Christophe Lirette and Emily Adam acquired the chain and with a fresh new design, set out on a major expansion program targeting several regions throughout the province. In addition to food court opportunities, Ashton is focusing on prime street front and plaza sites in the 2500 square foot range with patio and drive-thru options.
Oberfeld Snowcap, 8300 Decarie Blvd., Suite 600, Montreal, Quebec H4P 2P5 (Manon Larose – 514/906-4395 manonl@oberfeldsnowcap.com) & (Michelle Marcotte-Blart – 514/906-4393 michelle@oberfeldsnowcap.com)
Ashton, 850 Boul Pierre Bertrand, Suite 160, Quebec City, Quebec G1M 3K8 (418/660-6060 www.ashtonrestaurants.ca)