We are very excited to be launching a new blog series – Inside Source. In this series, we will be introducing you to members of our talented team. As a “One-Stop-Solution” we are host to a diverse team of individuals with a vast variety of knowledge. As a company we wanted to introduce you to the diversity that we are so proud of, with this personalized look into our team.
It only seems fitting to start this series off with our company president and founder, Bernie Desgagnés.
Bernie Desgagnés founded Source Nutraceutical after seeing the stress and confusion many American companies faced trying to navigate the rules and regulations of the Canadian market. His experience working as an Executive for a major Canadian natural health product distributor, work in distribution for sports nutrition/supplements as well as his 18 years with the Government of Manitoba provided Bernie with the immense wealth of knowledge in Canadian regulatory affairs to help make this a reality.
Bernie fancies himself a bit of a prankster and although he’s all business when it comes to running Source Nutraceutical, you truly see “the real Bernie” when you see him interacting with the rest of the team. He is also well-known by the Source Nutraceutical staff for his love of protein shakes, his French sayings that rarely make any sense, and his great love for animals (in fact, you can often see his rescue dog, Willie around the office).
We sat down with Bernie for a one-on-one interview.
What is your proudest moment as the CEO of Source Nutraceutical?
[Bernie Desgagnés] I’m very proud to say that a high percentage of our clients have been our clients for several years. To me, having long-term clients is an essential factor in being able to deliver the high quality of work that we work so hard to achieve. The good thing about having long-term clients is the fact that they’re not as worried about giving us constructive feedback. The more feedback we can get the better job we can do. So, the longer we work with someone, the better everything gets.
What puts Source Nutraceutical ahead of its competitors?
[Bernie Desgagnés] Providing a full suite of professional services under one roof and the responsiveness to our clients’ need is what differentiates us for our competitors.
How do you define the culture of Source Nutraceutical?
[Bernie Desgagnés] A team-based culture with a focus on finding solutions for our clients’ needs.
What inspired you to start Source Nutraceutical?
[Bernie Desgagnés] Having worked as an importer and distributor of consumer products for many years, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge about the marketplace not just the regulatory requirements. It was evident to me at the time that most regulatory affair consultants had little to no market experience. They understood regulations but that was about it. The added value of understanding the marketplace along with the regulatory expertise to minimize the risk while in the market is what inspired me to create Source Nutraceutical.
What qualities does your staff possess that backs up the one-stop-solution mentality?
[Bernie Desgagnés] Our staff is highly educated but more importantly comes with a real world business background.
Source Nutraceutical prides itself on providing creative solutions, as each customer brings a unique “problem” to the table, how do you decide what solution is best for their company and/or product?
[Bernie Desgagnés] You must first listen to your client and clearly understand the problem. What’s the source of the problem? What’s their market exposure? What are the risk levels? The key is to work together as a team and understand their market needs and then we come up with a solution.
What has been your most challenging moment as the CEO of Source Nutraceutical?
[Bernie Desgagnés] I would say the lack of a level playing field for all stakeholders involved in the game.
Where do you see Source Nutraceutical in 5 years? 10 years?
[Bernie Desgagnés] The goal for the next 5 years is to be globally recognized as the leading source for Canadian market entry services for natural health products, supplements, drugs, foods, cosmetics and medical devices. As for the goal for the next 10 years, is to be globally recognized as the leading source for other market entries such as the USA, EU and Australia.
What is the biggest piece of advice you’d give companies who are considering bringing their products into the Canadian market?
[Bernie Desgagnés] The Canadian market is complex but yet a great market to enter. My advice is do it right the first time, otherwise the consequences could be very painful. So seek the help of a professional firm but make sure they are qualified in those areas.
