Turkey Hill Sugarbush awarded FDFA’S Best Product and Supplier of the Year
Gold Standards Awards puts them in the big league at international level
Turkey Hill Sugarbush Limited ran away with two prestigious awards at the 2017 Frontier Duty-free Association’s (FDFA) Gold Standards Awards last week. For the sixth year consecutively, the family-owned company ran away with “Best Product” and then won for the eighth time since 1998 “Supplier of the Year.”
Brian Herman and his wife Donna and brother Michael Herman may not have tapped their maple trees since 1984 but they have tapped into the tourist market when it comes to the most popular souvenirs people buy in the dutyfree stores across the country when leaving Canada. With more than 100 maple products wrapped in everything flaunting the Canadian maple, including the shape of many of the containers, the company showcases Canada’s most sought-after brand on the international market. Brian Herman says that maple syrup has become a Canadian icon. It and ice wines are the top two Canadiana products being purchased from the duty-free shops
The FDFA Gold Standards Awards serve to recognize excellence in Canadian duty-free retailing. The association is at the centre of promoting the development of Canada’s land border dutyfree industry. Advocating as a voice and business resource for member stores, the FDFA is the liaison between active members and the federal government’s Dutyfree Shop Program. It also represents its members with the other industry related associations related to Canadian tourism, the Retail Council of Canada and Tourism Industry Association of Canada. The FDFA recognizes the significance of duty-free shops as “an integral part of the Canadian tourist industry that act as ambassadors to Canada’s visitors. In particular, the FDFA has always promoted fine Canadian-made products including brand name fashions, jewellery, leather goods, crystal, wine and spirits, perfumes, and much more.
Brian Herman, the CEO of the company, is thrilled with both prizes. He says that originally considered a small supplier, they have attained the ranks of a large supplier. “We are now competing against the multinationals. We are up against liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, and perfume. The small supplier this year was Bulova Watches.” He attributes the success largely to their staff of 35 who are the backbone of the company. “It’s about product quality, packaging, accurate invoicing, friendly and efficient shipping.”
Of the 42 years since their father, Lloyd Herman, established Turkey Hill Sugarbush, the Herman family has been in duty-free for 40. “I find that they are wonderful people to work with. The FDFA represents all the duty-free shops across Canada and have expanded to the airports as well,” explained the CEO.
Herman recounted the early days after his parents, Lloyd and Stephanie, who had both been working for the United Nations, bought two adjacent farms on Turkey Hill, an area of Sutton that flows into TBL’S East Hill. They became the pioneers of the pipeline maple syrup production with central boiling. “Our parents did not want to compete
with the local producers. That’s why Dad went to Montreal and hooked up with Shenley Alcohol to produce maple liqueur.” It was Lloyd who invented the very first maple chocolates. Splendid Chocolates added the liquor to its line of liqueurfilled chocolates for almost 35 years. In recent years Turkey Hill’s chocolates have been produced by Laura Secord. Lloyd Herman had created a niche market by selling in stores that attracted tourists. Although he died in 1991, Herman maintains that everything they do is still based on his mantra, “There will always be a market for the very best.”
Turkey Hill Sugarbush Ltd. strives on excellence and has been a leader in Canada’s Maple Syrup industry since 1976. Its bottling and distribution plant is inside a 45,000 square-foot building in Waterloo.