1952: Jean-Claude Branchaud goes in business!
After completing his studies in commerce, Jean-Clade Branchaud joins his sister and father in the family business: the Bois-Franc grocery store. Then, in 1959, he teams up with his cousin Robert and truly gets in the household appliance retail business.

1963: "Le Coq" (The Rooster) is born
And how the expression "le Coq des prix" happened to be? We have to get back to the younger years of Jean-Claude Branchaud. The founder of the Branchaud stores was a passionate baseball player. Although no more than 5 foot tall, he was an involved player, a swift and energetic man always willing to fight for victory. His opponents dreaded him and eventually nicknamed him "le p'tit coq" (Little Rooster) (Bottom row picture, 2nd right). This nickname comes in naturally when it is time to give an iconic image to the Branchaud stores. "Le p'tit coq" becomes "Le Coq des prix"! The very first Branchaud rooster is drawn by Robert Éthier, a Blue Sea native, very skilfull with the pencil. Today's Branchaud roosters are crafted by professional drawer Jacques Fournier. Courageous and bold, the rooster symbolizes more than ever the Branchaud businesses.

1970: First expansion
Branchaud keeps growing and expanding its client base. In 1970, Jean-Claude Branchaud wants to build a new store, bigger and better suited, and able to hold a large warehouse. Mr Branchaud thinks for the future and of expansion. He finally selects a large land in Egan Sud and the new building is opened on March 19, 1970. $150,000 are invested for its construction, a considerable amount at the time. Five years later a 15,000 square foot warehouse is added.

1981: Expansion in the Atibiti - AMOS
IIt is in Amos that Meubles Branchaud starts its expansion. And the warm welcome found there shows that the location is just right. In 1984, a new warehouse is added to the store. Then, in 1987, $300,000 are invested in renovations: the show room grows to 22,000 square feet and the warehouse to more than 8000 square feet. It is in Amos that the "mezzanine" style is first introduced to be re-created later in other Branchaud stores.

1987: A third store is opened... in Gatineau
A contemporary store is inaugurated in Gatineau on March 19th, 1987. With more than 40,000 square feet, including a 36,000 square feet show room, the store re-creates the "mezzanine" style first introduced in the Amos store. Three million dollars are invested in the region by the Branchaud family who receives a very warm welcome there. Right in the first year, sales exceed all expectations. All wheels in motion for "Le Coq"...

1988: The Maniwaki store burns down
Around 6:15 P.M. on November 18th, a raging fire destroys most of the show room and the warehouse... for a considerable 3.5 million dollar loss. The very next morning, Jean-Claude Branchaud meets the challenge head on and declares: "We will rebuild". A temporary show room is re-opened and administration is installed in a mobile home... It is soon back to business. A huge fire sale draws more than 1000 people.

1989: The new Maniwaki store is rebuilt
Only ten months after its destruction, the new store is inaugurated. Bigger and resolutely modern, the new Maniwaki store features a two storey spacious show room. Over the years, continuous improvements are made: a new contemporary house appliance space is built, the electronics shop is renewed and increased, the furniture show room is re-designed... In 2004, the whole flooring department is relocated in a new and more functional building, right on the other side of the street. No effort is spared to offer the best to the community.

1996: The "Fondation Jean-Claude Branchaud" is created - $393,600 in total donation
The implication of Branchaud grows year after year in the community. In 1996, Jean-Claude Branchaud wants to create a non-profit foundation chiefly aimed to help and aid the young generation. So is born the "Fondation Jean-Claude Branchaud". Click on link "Fondation Jean-Claude Branchaud" for all the details.

1998: A fourth store is opened... in Val d'Or
Val d'Or is chosen for the next Branchaud expansion and the new store covers 17,000 square feet. The demand in Val d'Or grows so steadily year after year that new investments are needed. In 2004, the store opened in 1998 is converted in a clearance center for the whole Abitibi and a new 40,000 square feet building is acquired.

2001: A fifth store... in Rouyn-Noranda
Only three years after opening the Val d'Or store, Branchaud invests again in the Abitibi. Rouyn-Noranda is selected and a fifth Branchaud store is opened there. The new modern store occupies 30,000 square feet and creates 16 permanent jobs.

2001: A new venture... "Transport Branchaud"
The Haute-Gatineau looses part of its transportation service between Maniwaki, Québec City and Toronto. The Branchaud brothers acknowledge this new situation... and create on July 16th, 2001 a new transportation company called "Transport Branchaud" that does furniture transportation as well. Transport Branchaud now operates 12 trucks, 20 trailers (one refrigerated) and employs 25 people full-time.

2002: A New Distribution Center in Maniwaki
Branchaud now manages five sucessful stores and keeps growing and expanding. This brings new challenges it clearly becomes a priority to centralize some administrative and distribution tasks. Meubles Branchaud builds in Maniwaki a large 32,500 square feet regional distribution center for all its stores. It is open 24 hours Monday to Friday, and Saturday up to 5 PM.

2002-2003: ISO 9001 : 2000
Always wanting the best quality in all its services and departments, Branchaud launches its ISO certification process. All the operations in all the stores are standardized at all levels - purchasing, sales, distribution, services, administration. On December 24th, 2003, Branchaud gets its ISO 9001 : 2000 certification.

2004: The Maniwaki flooring department is relocated
To better serve its clientele, the flooring department is moved in a new and more functional building, right on the other side of the street, at 49 Route 105.

2006: Branchaud acquires Meubles Pagé Mont-Laurier and Mont-Tremblant
February 10th, 2006 ends many months of negotiating for Meubles Branchaud as it officially acquires the two Hautes-Laurentides Armand Pagé stores, one in Mont-Laurier and the other one in Mont-Tremblant.

Meubles Branchaud thus becomes one of the major furniture, home appliance, electronics and computers retailers in Quebec, and the first flooring retailer in the Outaouais and the Hautes-Laurentides.