Canada's BeaverTails a Hit With Olympic Visitors

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Faster, Higher... Sweeter

February 16, 2010 // Franchising.com // Whistler, B.C. - Canada's signature BeaverTails® pastries have become a hit with curious international visitors attending the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in British Columbia.

Grant Hooker, co-founder of BeaverTails Canada Inc., said the reaction of first-time customers "has been very positive and many Canadians at the Olympic Games seem to be taking great pride in introducing foreign visitors to this treat that has become a Canadian culinary icon."

Hooker said staff members at the company's stores in Whistler and Vancouver have also witnessed some interesting reactions from Olympic visitors who did not know quite what to expect.

The Swiss Olympic Team doctors said Canada is famous for wildlife, but they had to dare each other to try a BeaverTail pastry. After biting into his first, the bobsled team's physiotherapist, Simon Heinis, stated, "I enjoy it, especially with the apples. It is so fresh."

Korea's Olympic Halfpipe Snowboarder, Hojun Kim, visits Canadian ski hills every year and regularly eats BeaverTails. He explained to his apprehensive coach, Soochul Kim, "This is delicious. Doesn't matter name." After having one, the coach's assessment was positive. "It is good. You ski. You get tired. You eat BeaverTail." He gestures by flexing muscles and adds, "Then you can ski more and more."

Autumn Ellenson is visiting from Portland, Oregon, to watch the luge and ski jump events. After finishing a cinnamon and sugar BeaverTail, she said, "It melts in your mouth. Next time I'm going to have the maple because I'm here in Canada."

Brian Jones, of Squamish, B.C., explains his theory on the heightened interest in BeaverTails. "It is a treat. Beavers are kind of a Canadian symbol. That is the main thing."

BeaverTails are popular across Canada and a must-have treat for foreign visitors, including U.S. President Barack Obama who made a point of stopping for a BeaverTail during his visit to Ottawa in February, 2009.

BeaverTails are deliciously addictive, traditional whole-wheat pastries stretched by hand to resemble the tail of a beaver, one of Canada's best-known national symbols. The pastries are then float cooked on high-quality canola oil and served piping hot, topped with butter and a choice of delectable flavours.

BeaverTails Canada Inc., based in Montreal, consists of over 80 company-operated, franchised and licensed locations across Canada, two outlets in Saudi Arabia, and stores at Breckenridge and the Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado's ski country.

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