Heart of Orléans BIA

BIA Faces of Business: SupperWorks

The Interview

1. Business Name:

SupperWorks ORLEANS AND NEPEAN

2. Your Name:

Alison Kelly-Quesnel

3. How long have you been in business? 

SupperWorks has been in Orleans over 12 years 

4. What made you choose your current location? What do you love most about Orléans?

As a franchise we wanted to cover all of Ottawa- Orleans and Nepean compliment each other.

When SupperWorks Orleans opened it was the first SupperWorks in Ottawa

Happy to be here for over 12 years helping busy people eat well and taking the work out of supper!

 5. Tell us about your business. Here are some questions that will help you respond.

  1. How did you get the idea or concept for the business? 

Women owned and Canadian franchise established in Oakville

2. What made you choose this type of business? 

Believed meal assemble service made sense for busy families like mine. Loved the idea of coming home and having an idea and all the ingredients for supper

Canada’s Original Assembly Kitchen

Since 2005, SupperWorks has been offering its customers an easy and affordable way to prepare delicious meals without the hassle of researching recipes, shopping or prepping ingredients. We’re an established company that’s been in business since before the craze of meal kit delivery companies or restaurant delivery services.

The SupperWorks Story

Joni Lien was a busy mom in Oakville when she heard about meal assembly kitchens, which were gaining popularity in the US. She was intrigued by the concept and although she was not the entrepreneurial type, she took a leap of faith and opened the first SupperWorks location in November 2005. Orelans was the first in Ottawa March 20006.

SupperWorks continues to help people meal plan and prep healthy, homemade meals.

What problem does your business solve? 

Eating Healthy, We give people time, provide a variety of meals

How many employees do you have?

8 employees

What is your favorite part of your business? 

Flexible Meal Process

Talking with customers and feeling you have helped provide a solution

What service(s) or product(s) do you offer/manufacture? 

Flexible Meal Process

You Prepare: Enjoy a premium SupperWorks experience as you travel from station to station assembling the meals of your choice. All the recipes, freshly-prepared ingredients, kitchen tools, containers, and easy cooking instructions will be ready
and waiting for you.- NOT DURING COVID_

We Prepare for Pick Up: Order from our monthly menu and we’ll prepare the dishes you’ve selected and have them ready for pick up.- CURBSIDE CURRENTLY

We Prepare and Deliver: SupperWorks food delivered straight to your door. We’ve already done all the work with fully prepped meals and side dishes ready to cook or pop in the freezer.

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Main Dishes: Each of our main dishes contain 6 servings, which is perfect for families. You also have the option to split orders into two three-serving portions for no additional charge.


Side Dishes and Desserts: The perfect complements to SupperWorks main courses, we have a variety of hand-prepared side dishes and desserts to your order.


Meals for One: SupperWorks favourites, ready in only 5 minutes. A perfect lunch or dinner for students, singles, seniors or people on the run.


Package Meals: Seasonal packages for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter in addition to summer cottage and picnic packages.

Curbside pickup and delivery – meals for 6 people, 3 people or 1 person. Holiday packages, sides and desserts

6. Why is your business important to you? What are you most proud of?

I am proud to be to run my own small businesses -SupperWorks Orleans and Nepean.  This opportunity has pulled to together my past work experiences in the hospitality industry – sales and operations as well as my education- B comm in Hospitality and Food. With the help of all my wonderful staff we provide an exceptional service to our customers.

7. To what do you attribute your success?

Never give up- just keep working hard. Surround yourself with a supportive family and dedicated team members.  

8. What inspires you? 

Other women entrepreneurs.

9. If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

Make sure you are passionate about what you are offering.  Be ready to be jack of all trades. 

10. What is the most interesting thing about you personally that no one would know, that you don’t mind sharing? E.g. What do you do when you are outside the office? Do you have a hidden talent?

I grew up in rural Ottawa and still live in the same area. I love to golf, curl, being outside and watch the RedBlacks!! My family is active in our community – hockey, ringette, 4-H. My husband, who is a Firefighter with the City of Ottawa and I along with our 2 teenage children own a maple bush in Lanark county. Quesnel Maple is my husband’s hobby that has turned into a business.