Our Story
2019
The Beginnings
Hi! We’re Alexy and Xavier from the Outaouais. Two lifelong friends, but also brothers-in-law and godfathers to each other’s children. Yes, our bond goes way beyond friendship. One day, a CBC article on food waste caught our attention. This issue struck a chord with us. We looked at each other and knew we had to do something.
Our mission was simple yet ambitious: create a project that would leave a positive impact for our children and the planet. The road hasn’t been easy. The challenges were numerous, but each one brought us closer to our vision.
2020
Circular Economy:
Our Response to Waste
Did you know that 50% of Canadian food production intended for human consumption is thrown away? Incredible, right? The fruits we use are perfect on the inside, but often, they don’t meet aesthetic standards or can’t survive the 3-4 weeks required between their arrival in the country and the time spent in our fridges. The result? They often end up in the trash. For us, the solution was obvious: turn this waste into something beautiful, delicious, and fun. Our sparkling beverages are the complete opposite of waste – they bring joy and give new life to these fruits with every bubble.
2021
The Pandemic: Reflection
and Experimentation
The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach. We had just launched our kombucha made from real fruits when all our points of sale closed. But instead of giving in to discouragement, we saw it as an opportunity. A chance to test, to explore. We tried kombuchas with and without sugar, fermented sodas, even non-alcoholic cocktails. Despite our commitment and our circular economy concept, none of these beverages resonated with our community as we had hoped.
2022
The Revelation:
The Essence of Flirt
One thing was clear: our beverages had a unique taste. The feedback was unanimous: "It tastes real." We had perfected a unique technique to capture the pure essence of the ripe fruits we saved from waste. But something was still missing. All our products required too much explanation, too much education. This wasn’t what our community was looking for.
That’s when we had a stroke of genius: go back to a classic. Lemonade. A simple, familiar beverage, sold in summer stands along the roadside. It had everything we needed to carry our vision. The perfect vehicle to showcase the authentic taste we had so patiently cultivated.
2024
The Future
In 2024, we upgraded our facility to meet the highest international sanitation standards while tripling our production capacity. This allows us to continue innovating and offering even more delicious beverages while staying true to our commitment to quality and sustainability.
And that’s how Flirt Drinks was born. A refreshing alternative to traditional sodas. Not another health fad or trend, but a simple pleasure, a little indulgence, a flirt. We decided our beverages would be at least 40% less sweet and made with natural raw sugar, organic cane sugar. But most importantly, they had to put fruits at the heart of everything. Thanks to the circular economy, every sip is a small step toward a better future for our planet and our children.