Ashton (restaurant chain)

Ashton
IndustryRestaurants
GenreFast food restaurant
Founded1969
Area served
Quebec, Canada
Products

Ashton (corporately styled as "ashton” and formerly known as Chez Ashton) is a popular fast food restaurant in Quebec, Canada famous for its poutine. The franchise includes 25 restaurants in the Quebec City region.[1]

History

Chez Ashton's origins can be traced to a traveling snack cart started by Ashton Leblond in 1969.[2] It was not until 1972, however, that poutine was first offered. Ashton hooked his customers by initially giving free samples of his poutine, which at the time was not popular in Quebec City.[3] The enterprise grew in popularity until Leblond was able to open a restaurant with a dining room open year-round in 1976.[4] In the 1980s, the chain tried to enter Montreal but failed.[5]

In 2019, the chain decided to add a surcharge to meals served past midnight, to compensate for rising labour costs.[2] After the COVID-19 pandemic, Leblond wanted to move on from the restaurant business, receiving offers from several fast food chains. He eventually sold his franchise to a couple, Émily Adam and Jean-Christophe Lirette, in 2022, stating he wanted to keep it in local control.[6] After the purchase, they introduced an expanded menu, new design for the restaurant, and changed the name from Chez Ashton to just Ashton.[7]

References

  1. ^ Lavoie, Martin (3 December 2024). "La célèbre poutine Ashton est maintenant disponible à Sainte-Marie". Le Journal de Québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Van Praet, Nicolas (17 November 2019). "Fries, with extra dough: a Quebec poutine maker turns to patrons for help in a labour crunch". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  3. ^ Laperrière, Emilie (30 May 2017). "Chez Ashton, la poutine contre vents et marées". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  4. ^ "La chaîne Chez Ashton change de mains". HRIMag (in Canadian French). 3 March 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ Tremblay, Diane (15 May 2017). "Le roi de la poutine n'avait «plus le goût à la vie»". Le Journal de Québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  6. ^ Grant, Josh (5 March 2022). "Iconic Quebec City poutine chain changes hands after 54 years". CBC. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ^ Lelièvre, Dominique (2 November 2023). "«Sky is the limit»: nouveau look, laits frappés et projets d'expansion pour les restaurants Ashton". Le Journal de Québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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