Meet Our Client of the Month, César González – Building and Scaling a CFIA-Certified Food Business
Meet César González and discover the entrepreneurial journey behind Txistorras MTL, a Montreal-based food company specializing in high-quality Spanish chistorra. Produced locally under federal (CFIA) certification, Txistorras MTL supplies both the restaurant (HoReCa) sector and the retail market across Québec, with recent expansion into Ontario through a small distributor of Spanish products. The company’s focus is on authenticity, consistent quality, and scalable production.
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
When did you start your entrepreneurial journey, and what were some of your goals when you started?
My entrepreneurial journey in Montreal began in 2012, although the foundation goes back much earlier. I grew up around business in Caracas, helping with my father’s commercial ventures from the age of fifteen. Later, studying corporate law strengthened my understanding of administrative procedures, compliance, and business structure.
My initial goals were to build something of my own in Canada, navigate regulations effectively, and validate business ideas through real market experience rather than intermediaries. Over the years, this journey evolved into the creation of Txistorras MTL, combining culinary tradition with scalable production.
Current Stage and Achievements
What stage are you at now? What have been your greatest achievements?
Txistorras MTL is now in full commercial operation. We supply restaurants and independent retailers across Québec, and we recently expanded into Ontario.
Key achievements include developing federally certified (CFIA) products for both HoReCa and Retail, scaling production through a manufacturing partner, building a growing client base in two provinces, completing our first large-scale production batches in 2025, and implementing clear systems for sales, logistics, distribution, and inventory management.
The company is now positioned for continued regional expansion.
Challenges Along the Way
What were or are your biggest struggles?
Some of the major challenges included navigating the regulatory landscape of food manufacturing, identifying a production partner capable of scaling while maintaining quality, undergoing a long and detailed recipe development process, and balancing limited resources while launching simultaneously into HoReCa and Retail.
These challenges ultimately strengthened the project and clarified the direction forward.
Working With YES
What was the problem you were experiencing before you came into YES?
Before coming to YES, I was not lacking ideas or entrepreneurial structure. I had been involved in business since my teenage years, and my background in corporate law provided a solid understanding of administrative and legal procedures.
What I needed was local insight: guidance on how the Canadian food-production ecosystem works, help validating assumptions specific to this market, and a structured environment to pressure-test decisions during the early stages of the project.
YES also helped me refine key points in my NDA and provided valuable connections with other entrepreneurs in the same sector, which was extremely useful for sharing and validating information.
What did you find as a result of using our services?
YES provided clarity and reassurance as the project evolved. The ability to discuss ideas openly and analyze decisions from a business perspective specific to Canada was very helpful. Being connected with other entrepreneurs in the industry also added valuable perspective.
How do you feel about the service you have received from YES?
The service has been supportive, accessible, and consistent. It provided guidance at important moments and contributed to creating a clear direction during the development of the project.
Final Thoughts
Entrepreneurship is a long and often solitary process. Having access to a resource like YES makes it more structured and less isolating. The support — from scalability discussions to networking opportunities — has played a meaningful role in the evolution of Txistorras MTL.
To learn more about our services for entrepreneurs, click here.