‘Epicurean of Life’
Yves Potvin, founder of gardein™
P R E S I D E N T O F G A R D E N P R O T E I N I N T E R N AT I O N A L
BIOGRAPHY
A charismatic chef and a pioneer in the food industry, Yves Potvin created North American’s first veggie dog in the 1980s and continues his innovative ways today with gardein™, a new line of tasty and healthy plant-based foods with a meaty texture made by Garden Protein International (GPI).
Potvin is a caring individual and inspiring leader dedicated to creating healthy foods. Recognizing that today’s consumer wants to balance fitness, green values and good nutrition without compromising quality or taste, Yves had the original idea of producing healthy convenient food made from vegetable protein.
Trained as a French chef at the Ste. Hyacinthe Professional School of Cooking in Quebec, Yves took time to travel to Central America to volunteer at a mission in Guatemala prior to starting his culinary career. At the mission, he helped screen children in need of medical attention, which was both humbling and inspiring work. It was here that Yves learned to live life to the fullest and treat others as he would want to be treated.
Upon his return to Quebec, Yves started a successful catering company and then went on to become co-owner and manager of a popular local restaurant specializing in nouvelle French cuisine. In 1983, he was looking for a change of scenery so he packed up his belongings in Montreal and cycled 3,200 miles across Canada to Vancouver for inspiration and his “aha!” moment. It was during this time that he saw people’s struggle to balance fast-paced healthy lifestyles with healthy foods – realizing what was missing: a healthy fast food option.
At the age of 28, with $10,000 of his own money and $30,000 raised from family and friends, Yves started his one-man operation in Vancouver – making the “original veggie dog.” This passion grew into North America’s largest meat-alternative manufacturer, which Yves sold in 2001. Two years later, in 2003, Yves started GPI because he felt his mission was only half complete.
According to Yves, the meat-alternatives category was “stuck between the bun” with foods like hot dogs, hamburgers and patties. He believed people were still having to compromise on taste and texture in pursuit of healthier meat-like foods. Yves’ unwavering passion and desire to continually develop tasty and healthy plant- based protein products is why he likes to say “goodness grows.”
Yves is fluent in English, French and Spanish and resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife and two children, aged nine and 11. He is an avid skier and enjoys tennis, golf and running. He was recognized as one of Canada’s top 40 under 40 by the Financial Post magazine and named Pacific Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year in Agriculture and Food.
Media Contact:
Kristin Treat, PR Manager
415-794-4041 USA mobile
604-761-9946 Canada mobile
Manufacturing Plant: 12751 Bathgate Way, Richmond BC V6V 1Y5 Canada T 604.278.7335 F 604.278.7798 www.gardein.com Finance, Sales & Marketing Office: 150 - 12751 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC V6V 3C8 Canada T 604.278.7300 F 604.278.8238