The meeting is set at Mandy's restaurant in Westmount to meet the Wolfe sisters, at the head of the chain of counters. One is fiery and adventurous. The other is wise and thoughtful. Both complement each other wonderfully and finish each other's sentences. Free discussion planted in their decor, while the youngest sleeps in his pram. Meeting with two mothers, sisters, entrepreneurs.

How did the Mandy's restaurant project take shape?

Mandy : Rebecca came back from New York in 2003 and told me how inspired she was by the salad bars she had frequented. She asked if I would like to open one with her. She would do the interior design and I would create the menu and recipes. I said, “Certainly,” and we got to work almost immediately.

Rebecca : We didn’t realize at the time that it would become a viable livelihood or a long-term project. The idea was fun and the project grew organically on its own. Without having a clear vision from day one…

Mandy : …or a 5 or 10 year business plan.

SOUL MATE

Have you experienced prejudice as sisters, as women running a business?

Mandy : Some people doubted us and the sustainability of the project. Sometimes, there was this perception: how cute, two sisters who have a salad bar. It's a bit like a "cupcake counter". But once people discovered the legitimate project we were building, the number of people we employed and our contribution to the Quebec economy, we were given more credibility and love.

Could you describe your sister relationship?

Mandy : Rebecca is the more adventurous of the two of us. She is colorful and spirited. The decor of the restaurants really reflects her personality. She has always been an inspiration to me to be bolder and try new things.

Rebecca : Mandy is five years older than me. She has always been protective, caring and loving. We were raised with the same values and this translates into our decision making as we have absolute trust in each other. We know that every decision is made with the right intention.

THE FAMILY

What are these values?

Mandy : Family first. Then loyalty, honesty, respect, good work ethic. Kids are the priority. When we started our business, we weren't moms. Now, between the two of us, we have seven kids.

Rebecca : Compassion is another one. When I'm asked what makes a woman-owned business different in 2020, I say that those elements of compassion, kindness, and love are very present. And more businesses should be run that way.

Two sisters at the head of a company, does that necessarily make it a business on a human and family scale?

Mandy : Absolutely. We are a big family with our employees. We try to offer them comfort, empowerment, trust and a safe environment, like in a healthy family. We want them to know that we have their best interests at heart.

THE CHALLENGES

As the company grows, is this family dynamic difficult to maintain?

Rebecca : Definitely. Mandy and I are people pleasers. We almost always say yes. When we had a few employees to manage, we were fine. No matter what they asked for, from a raise to extended family vacations, it was always yes. Now that the company has grown, we have had to implement employee management policies. It has been a difficult adjustment for Mandy and me, but it was inevitable.

Mandy : When we opened our first restaurants in 2015, we knew every employee's name, their field of study, even the name of their pet! All the Christmas parties were at Becca's. Now, we have 350 employees and it's hard to stay close to each of them. When you go from working in the company to working on the company, the challenge is finding trusted managers who will be just as dedicated and committed as the founding team.

THE FLOWERS

How do you help each other be better people?

Mandy : She pushes me to always do better. Rebecca has this aura. In many situations, I ask myself: What would Rebecca do? Because I know she would do it well. She always does things right, all the way, without cutting corners. She is very positive, looks for the good in everything and focuses on those.

Rebecca : Mandy is the most spiritual, open-minded, and enlightened person I know. She is constantly working on herself and as a result, has a positive impact on everyone around her. I look to her for all the ways to elevate and improve myself. She is very sensitive, understanding, and a good listener. One day, she will definitely write a book on how to make the world a better place.

After opening their eighth restaurant in Laval, the Wolfe sisters are now setting out to conquer Toronto. In May, they will be releasing their first cookbook. Over the next few years, they would like to continue sharing the Mandy's experience across Canada and even in some American cities.