He opened a grocery store in 1919 to sell specialty items but soon found particular success with gourmet coffee roasting.

In 1980, the family business evolved into a corporation known as A.L Van Houtte Inc., led by Paul-André Guillotte and Benoît Beauregard.

[5] Van Houtte also supplies and supports coffee sales for cafeterias, grocery and convenience stores, restaurants and hotels.

Van Houtte still sells coffee directly to customers through its chain of cafés throughout Quebec and two in Ontario (Ottawa).

In May 2007, U.S. private equity firm Littlejohn & Co. announced a $600 million deal that will take Van Houtte ownership out of Canadian hands, although the coffee company will continue to have headquarters in Montreal under its existing name and have the leadership of its current management team.