Did you know that Jean Cusson, President and founder of William J. Walter, Inc. was once a brilliant hockey player and member of the Canadian National Olympic hockey team, managed by Father Bauer in the late 60’s?

While a student at Collège Ste-Marie, then later, at Université de Montréal, in the early 60’s, Jean Cusson is spotted by scouts for his remarkable talent as a hockey player.

Following an internship with the National team, and a short stint with the Oakland Seals hockey team, Jean opts for a hockey coaching career. He accepts an irresistible offer to become a player-coach in Switzerland, a life experience that would last over a decade. In 1985, Jean returns home with his family to his native Montréal permanently.

An interesting idea

Upon his return to Montréal, Jean’s brother Paul, a professor lecturer at Université du Québec à Montréal and a creativity consultant, presents a marketing concept to Jean and brother Robert: The production and sale of gourmet sausages, a concept inspired by European butcher shops, which Jean experienced during his stay in Switzerland.

In 1987, Jean and his brothers launch what was to become the William J. Walter, Inc. sausage company, featuring original and innovative sausage flavours. “When we opened the store at the Marché 440, in Laval, my brother Robert was the majority stock holder. He was also a professor of creativity at Université de Québec à Montréal, and subsequently, a Special Education teacher at Cegep St-Jérome. When he died in August 1998, I inherited the business”. In those days, the store offered but 20 varieties, including the traditional German, Toulouse and Italian flavours.

Original flavours

Fifteen years later, Jean has become the largest manufacturer of trendy flavored sausages in Québec. He remains at the forefront of the industry, offering over 50 gourmet sausage flavours to an ever expanding customer base. “We have to stay on our toes and keep up with today’s food trends.” Says Jean, adding that his most recent creations are a citrus and pepper sausage and a tropical and rum (papaya-pineapple-coconut) sausage.

Take a closer look at his colorful sausage counters and you will understand why his loyal customers never seem to get tired of experimenting with so many different sausage styles.

William J. Walter, Inc. also offers other quality products that complement the sausages. Jean’s now famous sauerkraut and a variety of imported mustards only add to the pleasure a sausage meal can bring.

When asked why he did not use his own name when he launched the company in 1987 (Jean was quite famous in those days), Jean replies, "William J. Walter was another of my brother Paul’s ideas. It hit him during a hockey match. This way, all three brothers’ names would be included ". He adds, "Besides, William J. Walter sounds more German, more European, more … sausage-like".

Looking back at the years of hard work and sacrifices that were made, and of Robert’s great devotion to the project, elements that made the company the success story it is today, Jean says he will always look to improve the company in any way he can.

Today, Jean Cusson and his son, Vincent having outsourced the sausage fabrication, manage the corporate family business, overseeing a chain of fifteen stores in the Greater Montreal region.