At Swiss Chalet, we believe that great fried chicken begins with exceptional ingredients. That's why we're proud to source our chicken from Canadian farmers who share our commitment to quality, sustainability, and ethical practices. In this post, we invite you to meet some of the dedicated farmers behind the premium chicken that makes our delivery service stand out.
Why Local Sourcing Matters
When we talk about "local sourcing," we're referring to our commitment to purchasing ingredients from Canadian producers whenever possible. This approach brings numerous benefits:
- Fresher ingredients: Less transit time means fresher chicken arrives at our kitchens
- Reduced carbon footprint: Shorter transportation distances mean fewer emissions
- Supporting Canadian jobs: Our purchasing power helps sustain rural economies
- Quality control: Closer relationships with producers ensure consistent standards
- Food security: Strengthening Canada's agricultural sector benefits everyone
Currently, over 85% of all ingredients used in Swiss Chalet kitchens are sourced from within Canada, with chicken being 100% Canadian-raised. We're working toward increasing our overall Canadian sourcing to 90% by 2025.
Meet Our Partner Farmers
The Levesque Family Farm: Three Generations of Excellence
Located just outside Quebec City, the Levesque family has been raising chickens for over 60 years. What began as a small operation with just 500 birds has grown into a modern facility caring for 75,000 chickens, all while maintaining the hands-on approach that made their birds special from the beginning.
Jean-Pierre Levesque, the current owner, explains their philosophy: "We believe happy chickens make better chicken. That's why our birds have 20% more space than the industry standard, natural light throughout their barns, and access to enrichment activities that allow them to express natural behaviors."
"The partnership with Swiss Chalet has allowed us to invest in our farm's future. Knowing we have a committed buyer who values quality over cutting corners means we can focus on raising the best birds possible."— Jean-Pierre Levesque, Levesque Family Farm
The Levesque family supplies approximately 30% of the chicken for our Quebec and Eastern Ontario locations.
Prairie Pride Poultry: Innovation Meets Tradition
In Manitoba's fertile Red River Valley, Prairie Pride Poultry represents the perfect balance between agricultural innovation and traditional farming values. Founded by the Schmidt siblings—Emma, Michael, and Jacob—this first-generation farming operation began in 2011 after the three agricultural science graduates decided to put their education to work.
"We use data and technology to optimize our birds' health and comfort," explains Emma Schmidt, "but we still walk the barn floor three times daily to check on our chickens personally. No sensor can replace a farmer's experienced eye."
Prairie Pride has pioneered several sustainable farming practices, including:
- A closed-loop system that converts chicken waste into organic fertilizer for their feed crops
- Solar panels that provide 40% of the farm's electricity needs
- Advanced barn ventilation systems that reduce energy usage while improving air quality
Their commitment to sustainability earned them the 2022 Canadian Federation of Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Award.
Mountainview Farms: High Altitude, High Standards
Nestled in British Columbia's Kootenay region, Mountainview Farms raises chickens at an elevation of 850 meters, where the clean mountain air and pristine environment create ideal conditions for healthy birds.
Third-generation farmer Kristin Wong explains: "The cooler mountain climate naturally reduces many common poultry health challenges, allowing us to raise our birds with minimal interventions. Our chickens grow more slowly than in conventional operations, developing better flavor and texture."
Mountainview specializes in raising heritage breed chickens that are particularly well-suited to Swiss Chalet's fried chicken recipes. These breeds grow more slowly and develop a better meat-to-fat ratio that results in juicier, more flavorful fried chicken.
When wildfires threatened the region in 2021, Swiss Chalet worked with Mountainview to ensure their birds and operations were protected, demonstrating the depth of our partnership with our supplier farms.
Our Sourcing Standards
Not every chicken farm qualifies to supply Swiss Chalet. We maintain strict standards that all our partner farms must meet:
Animal Welfare
All our partner farms must be certified by the Canadian Chicken Farmers Animal Care Program and undergo regular third-party audits. Specific requirements include:
- More space per bird than industry minimums
- Natural light access in all barns
- Environmental enrichment to promote natural behaviors
- Strict air quality monitoring
Feed Quality
The chicken's diet directly impacts the quality of their meat, which is why we require:
- Vegetarian feed with no animal by-products
- No artificial growth hormones (which are prohibited in Canadian chicken production)
- Responsible antibiotic use policies that exceed regulatory requirements
- Locally-grown grains when available
Environmental Responsibility
Our partner farms must demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship through:
- Comprehensive waste management plans
- Water conservation measures
- Energy efficiency initiatives
- Biodiversity protection on farm property
Farm to Table: Our Supply Chain
Understanding how chicken moves from farm to your dinner table helps appreciate the freshness of our product:
- Farm: Chickens are raised to maturity (typically 38-42 days) on our partner farms
- Processing: Birds are processed at facilities no more than 4 hours' drive from their farm
- Quality Control: Each batch undergoes rigorous testing and inspection
- Distribution: Refrigerated (never frozen) chicken is delivered to our kitchens within 24 hours of processing
- Preparation: Our chefs prepare the chicken using our proprietary brining and coating processes
- Delivery: Freshly fried chicken is delivered to your door, typically within 30-45 minutes of cooking
This streamlined process ensures that the chicken in your Swiss Chalet delivery order has gone from farm to table in less than 72 hours—a level of freshness you can taste.
Supporting Farmers Through Challenges
The past few years have presented unprecedented challenges for Canadian farmers, from pandemic disruptions to extreme weather events. Swiss Chalet has stood by our farming partners throughout these challenges:
- During COVID-19 lockdowns, we maintained purchasing volumes even as our overall sales temporarily decreased
- We established a $2 million emergency fund to help partner farms affected by floods in British Columbia and drought in the Prairies
- Our long-term contracts provide farmers with stability to weather market fluctuations
- We've invested in on-farm infrastructure improvements through our Farm Future Fund
The Future of Our Farming Partnerships
Looking ahead, we're expanding our support for Canadian farmers through several initiatives:
- Our Young Farmer Program will provide mentorship and start-up support for next-generation chicken farmers
- We're investing in research partnerships with Canadian agricultural colleges to develop more sustainable farming practices
- By 2025, we aim to source 100% of all ingredients (not just chicken) from Canadian producers
Taste the Difference
We believe you can taste the difference that quality Canadian chicken makes in our fried chicken. The care our partner farmers put into raising their birds translates directly to the flavor, texture, and juiciness of every piece we serve.
Next time you order Swiss Chalet delivery, know that you're not just enjoying premium fried chicken—you're supporting a network of Canadian farmers committed to quality, sustainability, and ethical practices.
