Ben & Florentine
Ben & Florentine is a Canadian franchised restaurant chain specializing in breakfast and lunch.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ben & Florentine is a Canadian breakfast and lunch restaurant chain founded in 2008 in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. The concept was developed around characteristics drawn from the founders' families, although the available reference material does not identify the founders by name. The first restaurant opened in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, on June 1, 2009. From its beginning, the chain emphasized an extensive breakfast and lunch menu and operated through individually owned franchise locations rather than a wholly company-owned restaurant network. The brand's initial growth was concentrated in Quebec. By 2011, it had opened 16 locations in the province. It joined the Canadian Franchise Association in 2010, reflecting its focus on franchising and its position within Canada's organized franchise sector. In 2012, Ben & Florentine expanded beyond Quebec into Ontario. The network reached 31 locations by 2014 and 43 franchised units in 2015, demonstrating a rapid early expansion strategy based on recruiting and supporting franchise operators. In January 2016, the chain entered Manitoba with its first restaurant in Winnipeg. During the same year, it continued to build its presence in the Greater Montreal area, including a franchise location inside a tennis club on Nuns' Island, and added a restaurant in Sherbrooke, Quebec. These openings show the brand's use of both conventional restaurant sites and venue-based locations. The chain was projected to have approximately 65 restaurants by the end of 2020 and was described as serving around four million customers annually. Ben & Florentine's positioning is centered on accessible, full-service breakfast and lunch dining delivered through a Canadian franchise network. Its core business is restaurant operations, with local franchisees owning individual locations. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about current ownership, leadership, revenue, menu pricing, national market share, or post-2020 developments. Accordingly, the brand's present scale and corporate structure require further verification.
History
Ben & Florentine Restaurants Inc. was established in 2008 in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. The founders reportedly drew on characteristics of their own families when developing the restaurant concept, but the available reference material does not identify them individually. The business was designed as a breakfast and lunch chain, with restaurants operated individually by franchisees. The first Ben & Florentine restaurant opened in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, on June 1, 2009. The early concept focused on an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, placing the brand within Canada's casual dining and family-restaurant segment. Its expansion model relied on franchising, allowing individual operators to own and manage locations under the Ben & Florentine name. By 2010, the chain had become a member of the Canadian Franchise Association. In 2011, it had grown to 16 restaurants across Quebec. The following year marked the beginning of its interprovincial expansion, when the brand entered Ontario. By 2014, the network had reached 31 locations, and in 2015 it continued to expand to 43 franchised units. Ben & Florentine entered Manitoba in January 2016 with its first restaurant in Winnipeg. During 2016, it also continued opening locations in Quebec, including a franchise inside a tennis club on Nuns' Island and a restaurant in Sherbrooke. The combination of standard restaurant sites and a location within a sports facility illustrated the flexibility of the franchise model. The chain was expected to have about 65 restaurants by the end of 2020 and was described as serving approximately four million customers per year. The available source material does not document subsequent openings, closures, acquisitions, leadership changes, financial performance, or changes in ownership. Its documented history therefore primarily covers the brand's creation and geographic growth during its first decade.
- 2020
Projected network of approximately 65 restaurants
[1]The chain was expected to have around 65 restaurants by the end of 2020.
- 2016
Enters Manitoba
[1]The first Manitoba restaurant opened in Winnipeg in January. Additional Quebec growth included a Nuns' Island tennis-club location and a Sherbrooke restaurant.
- 2015
Reaches 43 franchised units
[1]The chain continued its franchise-led growth and reached 43 franchised units.
- 2014
Reaches 31 locations
[1]The restaurant network had grown to 31 locations.
- 2012
Expands into Ontario
[1]Ben & Florentine began expanding outside Quebec by entering Ontario.
- 2011
Reaches 16 Quebec locations
[1]The chain had expanded to 16 restaurants in Quebec.
- 2010
Joins the Canadian Franchise Association
[1]The franchise became a member of the Canadian Franchise Association.
- 2009
First restaurant opens
[1]The first Ben & Florentine restaurant opened in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, on June 1.
- 2008
Company founded in Quebec
[1]Ben & Florentine was founded in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, as a breakfast and lunch restaurant concept built for franchised expansion.
Products and positioning
A Canadian casual breakfast-and-lunch restaurant brand built around an extensive menu and a predominantly franchise-operated location network.
Breakfast · 2009
Breakfast menu
The breakfast menu is a central part of the Ben & Florentine concept. The chain is described as offering an extensive breakfast selection within a casual restaurant setting. Specific current dishes, ingredients, and menu composition are not documented in the available reference material.
Lunch · 2009
Lunch menu
Lunch is the other principal service occasion for the brand. Ben & Florentine restaurants serve lunch meals alongside breakfast, supporting an all-day restaurant format. The available source does not provide a verified list of current lunch dishes or standardized menu items.
Sources1 sources
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