Nobody will ever accuse Randy Coady or Andre Proia of easing into retirement. A chance meeting of the two men who went to high school together, but hadn’t seen each other for 40 years, has led to the launching of Alfredo Pasta Boutique in Sarnia. Alfredo’s is a gourmet boutique offering fresh and frozen pasta, gourmet sauces, imported dry pasta including gluten-free, specialty condiments from Sicily, award-winning olive oil, and more.

“Randy and I went to St. Patrick’s High School and one day he and his future wife (Nicole) happened to come into Maran Fashions, which my wife and I own, and I said, ‘Hey, I haven’t seen you in a long time. What have you been up to?’” Andre shares. At the time, Randy was retired and driving a school bus to occupy his time. When Andre asked if Randy was interested in doing something different, the two got together. “We got together because we wanted to do something in our retirement. It wasn’t so much to make money as it was to do something we enjoy.”

That was five years ago. Randy had some experience working with food as a meat cutter in the 1970s and 1980s and has taken the Hospitality and Tourism Management course at Lambton College. “I have some French blood in me and there is culinary in the family,” Randy says. Randy came from a locomotive engineering background, so he has had to learn the business side of running Alfredo’s as operating Manager. “Right off the bat there was a lack of experience,” Randy says. “Within the last five years, the experience has grown where I have a good feel for every aspect of the business now.”

Randy and Andre started with all new equipment to produce quality products. “Our business model was basically if we were doing this in Toronto, where would we do it?” Andre says. “We would do it in Yorkville and as far as what would the expectations be if we were in Toronto, well, that is exactly what we brought to Sarnia – big city expectations.” Those big city standards can be seen from their kitchen to the food they serve. “The presentation is high-end, but it’s not like our product is super expensive. Our plan was to bring the best we can to our community and that is exactly what we did,” shares Andre. The meals at Alfredo Pasta Boutique are prepared in a small kitchen in the back of the boutique – family meals and single-serving takeaways. “We bake our bread there, as well as prepare Italian Style Meatballs and our house-made Alfredo Sauce,” Andre says. “Right now, it is all about convenience. We have frozen entrees and meals that are ready to go into the oven and that has really taken off.”

In addition to supplying a few local businesses, Randy and Andre say their goal is to offer food that people can’t get elsewhere. Alfredo’s offers a variety of stuffed products including, leek and mushroom, lobster, asparagus, butternut squash, sweet potato, prosciutto, asiago, ricotta & spinach, and much more. Their line of gourmet products is meant to be purchased dry, fresh, or frozen, paired with one of Alfredo’s gourmet sauces or condiments. “In a limited number of steps, you’ve got yourself a meal."

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