50 years in the making

2011: Opening of our new distribution center in Mercier and the birth of the first members of Groupe Richer's 4th generation.
2010: 1 out of 10 ft² is now installed by our professional sod installation teams
2009: Official launch of our rewards program, “Points Verts”
2008: Gabriel joins, full-time (Grandson of founder, Jean-Guy and Julien's little brother)
2007: Cultivated areas have increased by over 10% this year (2560 acres)
2006: Julien joins, full-time (Grandson of founder, Jean-Guy Richer)
2005: Acquisition of a third automated robot harvester
2004: Acquisition of our two first fully-automated robot harvesters
2003: Opening of our Laprairie distribution center on Montreal's South shore
2002: We've grown to sixty employees and 100 million ft² of sod sold.
2001: We now have 10 delivery tractor-trailers
2000: The size of the company now justifies hiring a full-time agronomist
1999: Expansion of our Sainte-Julie distribution center (180,000 ft²)
1998: Launch of our brand name: Green For Life^TM Sod in a variety of application formats
1997: Offering of our sod installation services on a large scale
1996: Now offering sports field renovation service: RÉNO-GAZON SPORTIF^TM
1995: Important merger between Gazonnières Richer (Qué.) & Pelouses Boulet (Qué.)
1994: Production of all new GAZON GÉANT^TM
1993: Important investment towards the purchase of 5 “Traveller” type irrigation guns
1992: Start of crop rotation, corn, peas, soybean, etc.
1991: The company diversifies by offering, pavers, walls, slabs, soil, stones and mulch
1990: Co-founder of Québec's first research center for grass (Univ. Laval)
1989: Massive investments toward tractors and diverse equipment
1988: Acquisition of the ‘world's largest lawn mower' (58 ft.)
1987: First sowing of hyper-efficient and exclusive sod variety “ABLE 1”
1986: Start of production of sod sown from “pure Kentucky"
1985: Invention of delivery system without skids (Canadian and U.S. patents)
1984: Robert joins, full-time (Son of founder, Jean-Guy Richer)
1983: Opening of our Sainte-Julie production farm on Montreal's South shore
1982: Launch of our toll-free phone line: 1-800-363-5333
1981: Despite the economic downfall, sod is still very popular
1980: Acquisition of an important producer: Les Gazons Nick Cinquino (Saint-Constant)
1979: Acquisition of a producer: Gazons Scallen (Ancienne-Lorette)
1978: Major grading operations are done to our fields
1977: Disastrous year: 75% of crops are lost due to ice
1976: Acquisition of an important producer: Fermes Les Arpents Verts (Lacolle)
1975: Unprecedented production thanks to a single contract: "The Montreal Olympics"
1974: Acquisition of the first "Spider" in Quebec (skid unloader)
1973: Acquisition of the first of 8 semi-automated sod harvesters
1972: Opening of our production farm in Québec “Les Gazons Richer”
1971: Rise in popularity of the "Merion" variety of sod, now obsolete
1970: Acquisition of a producer: Gazonnières Desrochers (Coteau-Station)
1969: Prisoners go to work every day at Les Coteaux (shortage of manpower)
1968: Construction of major facilities in Les Coteaux replaces a small roadside kiosk
1967: First major event that requires a lot of sod, “Expo 67”
1966: Acquisition of our first delivery truck
1965: Introduction of the wooden pallet (skid)
1964: First harvest of 9 ft² rolls, harvested and stacked by hand
1963: The only year without harvest (sod production requires 2 years maturity)
1962: Gazons Fairlawn, now known as Groupe Richer (founded by Jean-Guy Richer)