Header 1-Our Story

1952-1980

Chris Kielbratowski moved from Poland to Nova Scotia in 1952, a young man eager to start a new life in Canada. He brought with him the knowledge of old world recipes and skill in the techniques of meat processing. In 1953, he and his brother Max opened a meat and deli shop called Atlantic Packers, on Gottingen Street in Halifax. In addition to working in the shop, Chris would sell his products door to door and at the Halifax Saturday Farmers’ Market.

From 1957 through the late seventies, Chris also operated one of the largest mixed farms in the Eastern Passage area of Nova Scotia. His farm operation was complimented by a small meat processing operation specializing in unique European smoked meat products.

Chris was a family man, who raised his children on the values of hard work, honesty and integrity. The family worked together to build the foundation of Chris Brothers and grow the reputation of their quality meat products. They operated several popular retail deli shops, where loyal customers regularly went for all their meat purchases. Max went on to open the successful Brother’s Meat Market, still in operation today on Agricola Street in Halifax.

Born in Zalno, Poland, September 26, 1924, Chris was well known throughout his life for his kindness, respect, generosity and concern for others. Over several decades Chris built a deli and meat business that stood for exceptional quality, taste and uniqueness.

While Chris Brothers were known for great quality products, they were most famous for their old-world style smoked pepperoni.

1980-2005

In 1980, the second generation of the Kielbratowski family, brothers Victor, David and Rick assumed ownership and management of the company. They continued to grow the business and expand their operations. A provincial processing facility fronted by an old-style service oriented, fresh meat and deli shop was built in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Twenty-two years later, in 2002, with nine international meat processing awards and a pepperoni reputation that stretched across Canada, Chris Brothers opened a federally inspected establishment. The Kielbratowski family continued to operate Chris Brothers until 2005.

Chris Brothers About Us-1-History

2005-Present

Bonté Foods Limited purchased the name, recipes and assets of Chris Brothers in 2005 and was proud to incorporate the company into the Bonté Foods facility in Dieppe, New Brunswick. Bonté continues to use the same recipe using naturally smoked wood, that was passed down to them by the Keilbratowski family.

In 2005 and 2006, the Kielbratowski family, Brenda, David and Ricky, worked tirelessly with Bonté Foods to ensure our product is exactly what made Chris Brothers pepperoni the best pepperoni on the planet. A well-loved product, Chris Brothers pepperoni became so popular it was often featured on episodes of the iconic Trailer Park Boys television series.

Bonté began operation in 1977 under the name Greco Foods Limited. The main purpose at that time was to produce and supply a growing number of Greco Donair Restaurants with donair and pizza products.

Our products now include all natural and shaved deli meats, beef, bologna, donair, pepperoni, salami, sausage, salt meat, and mustards. Chris Brothers products are gluten free.

Bonté Foods World Class Facility

Bonté continues to grow and after several expansions is now a 66,000 square foot facility. Today Bonté Foods is Atlantic Canada’s largest deli meat producer and its signature brand – Chris Brothers – is well known for being ‘Atlantic Canada’s Deli’.

Recent awards include NB Exporter of the Year, GMCC People’s Choice Award, Expansion Dieppe’s Business Excellence Award and GMCC Excellence in Business Award. In 2016 Bonté won the coveted Canada’s Best Managed Companies Award.

Bonté is Canada’s largest producer of donair products and is the country’s largest producer of donair and gyros ‘meat cones’.

In addition to being federally inspected, Bonté Foods is also BRC certified, HACCP recognized and has an on-site quality assurance lab for its own testing and R&D.

Every Atlantic Canadian knows that Chris Brothers stands for exceptional quality, taste and uniqueness. Today Chris would be proud to know we have never faltered from his legacy of quality, taste and value. That attention to old world recipes and amazing flavour has made Chris Brothers products famous across Canada.

Look for our products in a supermarket, restaurant or anywhere great meat products are sold.

About Us-3-Logos

Chris Cares

Chris and his family were community minded and giving people who contributed on a regular basis to charity and sport. Like Chris and his family, we at Bonté believe in giving back to our community.

Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen
In 2017 we started collaborating with the United Way. This collaboration led us to the Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen located in Moncton, New Brunswick. Each year we coordinate an annual fundraising campaign with our employees; our employees contribute through payroll deduction, our company matches the employee contributions. Together with the generosity and efforts of our employees, we donate annually to the Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen; in 2017 – $20,813, in 2018 – $24,916 and in 2019 – $21,833, a total of $67,562!

Garden of Hope
Each year during United Way’s Day of Caring in June, our employees volunteer to help prepare and plant vegetables at the Garden of Hope. The resulting harvest is donated to Ray of Hope Soup Kitchen and other deserving organizations.

Annual AED Giveaway
During Heart Month in February 2018 and again in 2019, we gave away an Automatic External Defibrillator to a deserving organization. How important are AEDs? Just ask Chris Bothers/Bonté Foods employees Bill Wiseman and Paul Sivret, they’ll tell you. Both men experienced cardiac arrest in the past few years and their lives were saved by an AED device. Bill while at a hockey rink and Paul while at work at Bonté Foods. It was Bill’s experience that inspired Bonté Foods to install the AED that helped to save Paul’s life. We believe AEDs need to be accessible. Learn more

About Us-Chris Cares