The franchisee: Alain Labonté
A life under the sign of the great M
If you frequent McDonald’s in Drummondville, and especially the one at 575 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, you surely know Alain Labonté. This athletic-looking man in his early sixties has always lived under the sign of the big yellow M. “I spend 80% of my time on the floor, doing a little bit of everything: helping out at the counter, cooking fries, collecting trays, or handing orders to my customers. I eat in the dining room every day. I’m interested in people, I like talking with them, and I pay close attention to them. My passion is customer service!” explains the owner of the four McDonald’s restaurants in Drummondville.
Being intense and perfectionist by nature, Alain combines his passions in his work by fully adhering to the banner’s values, such as constant innovation and above all the team spirit he experienced as a Navy cadet.
He enjoys supporting the restaurant’s day-to-day operations as much as contributing to the strategy.
« The bigger the challenge, the better I am! »
Alain is one of the first representatives of the second generation of Quebecers to own the McDonald’s franchise. His father, Jacques Labonté, opened the first McDonald’s in Drummondville in 1975, followed by two more in Sorel and Sainte-Hélène-de-Bagot. From his early teens, Alain worked there, and the idea of taking over the business came naturally. “But I got a bachelor’s degree in administration from UQTR; that was my plan B!” In 1996, he took the mandatory management courses at McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago, then began his training as a manager at the Sorel restaurant. In 2000, he became a franchisee, serving as both manager and franchisee for eight years.
“It took some getting used to by the clients and employees; it wasn’t easy! I had a second job and I traveled between Sorel and Drummondville for thirteen years. They were intense years, but I persevered. You should never give up.”
“The bigger the challenge, the better I am!” That’s my motto. In 2010, when his father retired, Alain became the owner of the McDonald’s restaurants in Drummondville. Today, he manages over 200 employees.
Fueled by adrenaline
A dedicated community member, Alain trains daily, running 5 and 10 km with his twelve-year-old son, skiing, cycling, trekking, and even trying skydiving. “Sport is part of my life; it helps me unwind. And I love challenges; I thrive on adrenaline, which is what keeps me going! McDonald’s is constantly innovating in terms of products and technology, which is very motivating. My daily challenge is to continue performing well while constantly adapting to technological changes and the costs they entail,” concludes Alain, who has one major goal: to make his four restaurants profitable. A fifth? Maybe someday!
History
The first restaurant, located at 575 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, opened in 1975. At that time, Mr. Labonté was one of the first to open a restaurant outside of Montreal, Quebec.
Take a good look at the photo to see how the restaurant’s footprint has grown since then—it’s absolutely incredible!
