Unpaid invoices | Producers continue the Ecodep La Générale

A charming Montreal convenience store is at the heart of a sad story: many suppliers. Consequently, ex-employees allege that trade owes them money for unpaid invoices or unpaid wages.

“How can you boast of encouraging local industry when you don’t even pay producers?” ». Furthermore, Says Émile Robert, co -owner of Le Somnambule cider factory, about the Ecodep La Générale, avenue Laurier, in Montreal.

History, which implies apparently negligible sums, illustrates the obstacles that can face young businesses in startup.

The neighborhood trade established on Avenue Laurier is in turmoil. Therefore, Small unpaid invoices | producers continue producers turned to the courts to recover sums that the owner would not have paid them. Moreover, Others still say hoping to recover their money for their wines, ciders, meads, kimchis and other local or eco -responsible products.

Because it was the vocation of this innovative convenience store that had benefited from a good coverage in the business section of The press In her early days, in 2022. In addition, The instigator of the concept. Moreover, Marie Moubarac, had then explained that she always chose the most sustainable or unpaid invoices | producers continue responsible product to reproduce the conventional convenience store. Consequently, The consumer does not have to ask questions. Furthermore, he makes his purchase knowing that someone has done the research work for him.

Marie Mubarac is categorical: in an interview with The press To give her point of view on this situation. Similarly, she assures that she will pay the sums due to all suppliers who claim money. Furthermore, “My intention is to pay each person. Meanwhile, ” insists the retailer who specifies having good relations with the majority of her suppliers.

Charmed – Unpaid invoices | producers continue

The approach of the trade set up by M^me Moubarac had attracted several small producers.

“Shops like this are our bread and our butter,” continues Émile Robert. Nevertheless, Neighborhood convenience stores with alcohols. Nevertheless, local wines and regional products unpaid invoices | producers continue represent the majority of points of sale with which we are used to doing business. In addition, »»

However. Furthermore, things have turned to vinegar for the cider producer and several other suppliers who say they have been waiting for payments for months, even years. Similarly, The sums claimed, often small, can make a difference in the cash of a producer craftsman.

Émile Robert remembers that the first contacts with the retailer were good, which led to a first order of $ unpaid invoices | producers continue 366 in 2022. However, The trade has 30 days to pay for his bill is a common practice. According to invoices consulted by The pressthe ecodep placed a second order during this period. Émile Robert, in confidence, makes a second delivery (value of $ 646) without having received the payment of the first. And the 30 days are coming. And time passes. Additionally, And the contacts dissolve.

Several other entrepreneurs have told us similar stories about their relationship with the Ecodep La Générale who ended in silence. when they were in search of payment.

In total, for this report, we discussed with more than twenty producers. All had had payment problems with this business; Most are still waiting for money. They claim a few hundred dollars; Some rather speak of sums between $ 1,000 and $ 2000.

“For small businesses, $ 1,000 is $ 1,000. It’s a lot of money for us. Even if we’ve been in business for a long time. we are a family business, “says Tamar Panossian, who co -founded 57 vegan in 2014 and who claims more than $ 1000 from the ecodep.

The relationship has also deteriorated with several winegrowers, some of which took steps before justice. The winemaker Zaché Hall. of the play, did it after several unsuccessful interventions, including visits to the small convenience store to receive his payments. Other Quebec vineyards have also decided to continue in small claims. have won the case: the lordship of Liret de l’Île d’Orléans, the Grand St-Charles de Saint-Paul-d’Abbotsford and the Domaine du P’tit Bonheur de Cowansville.

Unpaid invoices | producers continue

Suppliers from all walks of life

There are not only alcohol producers who are demanding money from the Ecodep La Générale.

The manufacturer of Wontons Teochew Foodie has just obtained a judgment of the court in his favor – for $ 720 plus interest. costs. The decision dates from June 2025 and remains to be executed. The manufacturer has taken steps in this sense.

Rozi Bertrand’s company produces Cul-de-Sac conversation games. It is one of those who decided to submit a file before the Division of Small Claims of the Court of Quebec. in principle.

“It’s unacceptable, people who abuse small businesses,” said Rozi Bertrand in an interview.

Rozi Bertrand’s company claims $ 281 from the ecodep.

In the documents deposited at the Montreal courthouse. that The press Consulted, we can clearly see the deterioration of relationships between Marie Moubarac and the creators of the Cul-de-Sac game. The pursuit contains captures of discussion screens at the start very happy. At the end, the applicants no longer receive responses from the retailer.

“We are happy that at least it is known to warn new suppliers. ” says Hugo Ferra, of Oflore, who says he has been waiting for a payment of almost $ 800 for more than a year.

In an interview. Marie Moubarac has not been able to assess the unpaid invoices | producers continue number of producers who are still waiting for payments.

Employees too

Trade employees have witnessed producers’ fed up. and sometimes impromptu visits to some who wanted to recover their goods.

Claire Margarititelli began working at the small convenience store on Avenue Laurier in August 2024. The Frenchwoman worked in Quebec with a vacation-work visa. The mission of the Ecodep La Générale frames with its values. She really liked the experience at the start. “I felt well received,” she said. Then I started to receive calls from suppliers who said they were waiting for payments, says the ex-employee. Several times a day. »»

Three other ex-employees confirmed that they witnessed such situations.

“Many small businesses came to seek their money,” says Charles Bourdeau who worked for a unpaid invoices | producers continue few months at the Écodep.

The four employees with whom The press discussed all filed complaints before the standards, equity, health and labor safety commission (CNESST). They allege that the general ecodep is still owing an unpaid salary part to them and claim between $ 1,000 and $ 2,500.

They have passed on exchanges with their ex-boss who apologizes for delays for exceptional causes and announces an upcoming payment.

The Ecodep La Générale has already been ordered to pay more than $ 12. 000 in other files between the CNESST unpaid invoices | producers continue for the period between June 2024 and February 2025, reveal documents from the Court of Quebec.

A complex affair

We spoke to Marie Moubarac on July 31. She spoke of personal difficulties as well as the many challenges inherent in being an entrepreneur who owns a. small business during this interview.

She also published a message on the Facebook page of the convenience store on the evening of our interview. In his message, M^me Moubarac explains that his business had to face criminal acts. Despite this “climate of fear and hatred”, the retailer reaffirms his “commitment to find a constructive outcome”. In a subsequent message sent to The press. It reaffirms that its objective is to pay the wages on suspended “as soon as possible and to settle disputes with suppliers by the appropriate legal routes, unpaid invoices | producers continue in compliance with procedures”.