After more than 20 years producing magazines and creating 10 books, developing three restaurants, diversifying our range of food products and kitchen accessories, launching an apparel collection, designing a planning tool for simplified meals and pursuing our television show with the arrival of chef Isabelle Deschamps Plante, there’s no denying that RICARDO has paid its dues in the kitchens of Quebec and elsewhere. Our mission, “Eating together”, has been at the heart of our projects since the very beginning and it’s what motivates each of our actions. Here’s a look back at how far we’ve come, in a few key dates.
RICARDO a continuing success story
2023
- Second launch of the RICARDO clothing collection (aprons)
- Launch of RICARDO food products at Sobeys stores in Ontario
- Launch of My RICARDO+, a customized planning tool to simplify meals
- Participation of Isabelle Deschamps Plante as a judge on the TV show Les Chefs for a second season
- Launch of the RICARDO pizza oven, a flagship product
- Launch of some 40 new RICARDO kitchen accessories
- Announcement of the end of the Ricardo TV show and launch of the new show La cuisine d’Isabelle et Ricardo, with host Isabelle Deschamps Plante
- Launch of some 40 new food products
- DUX Award for the range of sous-vide marinated meats in the Best Taste category
- Taste Canada Awards/Lauréats des Saveurs du Canada winner: Silver Prize for the book Manger ensemble, in the Livres de cuisine générale category (French-Language Books section)
2022
- Launch of the RICARDO clothing collection
- Launch of the book Manger ensemble
- The Laval RICARDO boutique celebrates its 5th anniversary
- Launch of 40 new food products
- Launch of 47 new RICARDO kitchen accessories
- Opening of the first school conceived through the work of the Lab École
- Participation of Ricardo as a judge on the TV shows Wall of Bakers and Top Chef Canada
- Launch of the RICARDO meal boxes through Avec Plaisirs Chefs Traiteurs
- Participation of Isabelle Deschamps Plante, Café RICARDO’s executive chef, as a judge on the TV show Les Chefs
- Release of the special issue magazine Autocuiseur
2021
- RICARDO Media joins the Sobeys family
- Ricardo takes part in the Home Economics campaign by IGA
- Launch of the new video series Comme au resto with Isabelle Deschamps Plante
- Launch of the book Sheet Pan Everything in English Canada and the United States
- Launch of Ricardo’s vlog and the debut of the brand on TikTok
- Launch of food products: Rotisserie-grilled Portuguese chicken and dipping sauce (2), instant yeast (1) and sheet cakes (2)
- Launch of frozen dishes in the 44 Sélection Retraite retirement residences
- DUX Award for the book À la plaque in the Initiatives in Communication and Education category
- Named to the Palmarès des 110 entreprises au féminin by the magazine Premières en Affaires
2020
- Launch of the book À la plaque in Quebec
- Launch of the Café RICARDO gourmet boxes for pickup or delivery
- Launch of food products: Butterflied chickens (3), fresh family dishes (4 + 1 Christmas special edition), individual frozen dishes (6), Stuffed turkey roast (1), yule logs (2) and sheet cakes (2)
- Ricardo ranked 21st on Léger Marketing’s 2020 Personalities of the Year list
2019
- The book Vegetables First, wins the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Canada, in the Television Chef Book World category
- The book Plus de Légumes wins Gold at the Taste Canada Awards
- Publication of the book Vegetables First
- Launch of the quiz game Le Quiz des aliments, by RICARDO et Éditions Auzou
- Increased diversification of content on our digital platforms
- Opening of the first Comptoir RICARDO express counter at Quebec City's Galeries de la Capitale
- Launch of six RICARDO cooking sauces and the three new cakes sold exclusively at IGA
2018
- 3 major honours : Brand of the year 2018, Strategy Marketing, Best Magazine, 2018 National Magazine Awards, DUX 2018 Grand Prix Award, Communications Category
- Ricardo et Brigitte receive an honorary degree from Université Laval for their contribution to food and nutrition in Quebec
- Publication of the books Explique-moi... les aliments and Ultimate Slow Cooker
- Opening of a new RICARDO Boutique + Café at Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec City
- The most popular dessert at Café RICARDO is made available exclusively at IGA stores across Quebec.
- Ricardo is guest chef for Iron Chef Canada on Food Network
2017
- To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, Ricardo hosts and produces We are the best/On est les meilleurs
- The TV show Chef in Your Ear / Un chef à l’oreille, produced by Ricardo, is sold to Warner Bros. for international distribution
- Ricardo receives the National Order of Quebec
- A new RICARDO Boutique + Café opens in Laval, Quebec
- The RICARDO online boutique is launched
2016
- Opening of Café RICARDO, adjacent to the RICARDO Boutique in Saint-Lambert
- Ricardo becomes a weekly contributor to the Toronto Star and the Star Touch tablet app
- RICARDO magazine is named Best Magazine Brand and receives the gold medal for the feature “Végé inspiré” at Canada’s National Magazine Awards
- Les Gourmands, a new show hosted by Ricardo et Francis Reddy, debuts on ICI Radio-Canada
- Publication of the book Un Québécois dans votre cuisine in France
- The book Slower is better is launched
- Ricardo receives a diploma Honoris Causa from the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec
- The Art of the Table textile collection is launched
2015
- Publication of the books La Mijoteuse 2 and Mon premier livre de recettes, which sells over 100,000 copies
- Ricardo coproduces and hosts the television show Un chef à l’oreille
- Ricardo receives a second Gémeaux award for the show RICARDO
2014
- RICARDO wines hit the shelves at SAQ stores in Quebec
- Ricardo receives the Order of Canada
- Canadian launch of the English version of RICARDO magazine
- The first Espace RICARDO boutique opens in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, along with the Mama Choka chocolate shop
2013
- RICARDO Media receives the Concours Boomerang People’s Choice Award and is a finalist in the Media Website category
- Launch of the book Slow Cooker Favourites
- RICARDO content appears in La Presse+ every week
2012
- Ricardo receives a Gémeaux award for best television host
- Ricardo stars in Le Fermier urbain on Radio-Canada
- Publication of the slow cooker book La mijoteuse – De la lasagne à la crème brûlée (over 185,000 copies sold to date)
- In recognition of his commitment and dedication to youth, Ricardo receives the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
2011
- Ricardo laucnhes his line of kitchen accessories (over 2 million items sold to date)
- RICARDO accessories are sold at Safeway stores throughout Canada
2010
- Inauguration of the television production house Productions 350°
2009
2008
2007
2006
- Publication of the book Weekend Cooking
2004
2002
