Litho Québec: 55 Years of Entrepreneurship, Growth and Passion

Litho Québec: 55 Years of Entrepreneurship, Adaptation and Passion

From a small commercial print shop to a recognized folding carton manufacturer: a look back at the journey of a family business that helped shape Montréal’s printing industry.

A Family Story

It all began in 1971, when John Zacard, a Montréal entrepreneur of Lebanese origin, founded a small printing company with a simple idea: to deliver quality service and build lasting relationships with customers.

A few years later, his sons Gary and Bruce joined the family business after finishing high school. Together, they would dedicate their careers to growing the company, taking it from a modest 1,500-square-foot space to a facility of more than 40,000 square feet in Pointe-Claire, where the company moved in 1992.

Through that growth, one belief remained constant: a company’s success depends first and foremost on the people who bring it to life. Employees, customers and partners have always been central to the organization’s story.

The Art of Reinventing Itself

Like many printers of its time, the company first made its mark in commercial printing before developing recognized expertise in business forms.

But Gary and Bruce quickly understood that a company must evolve with its market.

In the mid-1990s, the Zacard brothers made a strategic shift into folding cartons. That decision marked an important turning point in the company’s history and became one of its main growth drivers.

Over time, new equipment, technologies and capabilities continued to expand the company’s offering. The business developed recognized expertise in packaging and folding cartons for the food, cosmetics and consumer goods sectors. In 2020, the addition of large-format printing further broadened the possibilities available to customers, while preserving the versatility that had always been one of the company’s strengths.

This ability to anticipate change, invest at the right time and stay close to market needs became one of the defining features of its journey.

A Reputation Built on Relationships

Equipment evolved. Markets changed. Technologies transformed.

One thing, however, remained constant: the relationship with customers.

“We do everything for the customer,” say Gary and Bruce in unison.

That simple philosophy guided the company for more than five decades. It helped build a reputation rooted in trust, proximity and the willingness to find solutions.

In the same spirit, the company also supported many community initiatives. For more than 50 years, it has supported the Cedars Golf Classic, a fundraising tournament that helps advance cancer research and oncology care at the McGill University Health Centre. Gary and Bruce have also been involved in numerous community and philanthropic initiatives, particularly in support of healthcare institutions and organizations in Montréal’s West Island.

Photo credit : Cedar Golf Classic and Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation (Studio Cookie) website.

Over the years, these commitments reflected the same values that guided the company: being present, getting involved and contributing to something beyond business.

A New Chapter

After more than 55 years of history, Gary and Bruce Zacard chose, in January 2026, to entrust the next chapter of this journey to the Labelink Group.

Today, the story continues under a new banner. The expertise developed over more than half a century, the teams that built it and the values that guided it continue to live on within l’Empreinte.

Companies evolve. The commitment to work well done and customer satisfaction remains.