Lallemand was founded in Montreal, Canada at the end of the 19th century by Fred A. Schurer, a young immigrant from Alsace, France. His German-sounding family name earned him the nickname “l’Allemand” or “the German” among the local population. He quickly embraced this moniker, going so far as to share it with his newly-founded company, and even changing his last name to Lallemand.
The company was initially focused on providing raw materials for the baking industry. Years later, in 1915, Fred Lallemand built a production plant on Prefontaine Street, which remains standing to this day as a testament to our company’s long history and deep roots in Montreal. In 1923, the Prefontaine plant began producing bakers yeast, which marked a pivotal moment in our company’s history: the start of our journey as a yeast manufacturer.