08/23/2026
A Dream Born on the Road
The story of Don Ramón began in 2023, when I was living in Prince Rupert, a small city of fewer than 10,000 people in Northern British Columbia.
At the time, Latin American families in the region had very few options when it came to finding ingredients from our home countries. Terrace, the nearest city with a wider variety of products, is approximately an hour and a half away. Even there, however, many ingredients were simply unavailable.
One day, I needed guajillo peppers and a few spices that I could not find anywhere in the region. I decided to do something that many people would have considered crazy: drive approximately 17 hours to Vancouver to find them.
I did not know it yet, but that journey would mark the beginning of a dream that, over time, would become a necessity and a priority for many families and businesses across Northern Canada.
I would finish work at five o’clock on Friday afternoon and begin the drive to Vancouver. After driving through the night, I would arrive at around eleven o’clock on Saturday morning. I would buy the products I needed, pick up a few small orders, and immediately begin the long journey back to Prince Rupert.
The distance was enormous, but it was never a limitation. Neither was the snow.
During one of those trips, while I was driving back with the vehicle fully loaded, one of the rear tires blew out. I did not have a spare tire, a jack, or enough money to solve the problem.
I called my friend Mauricio and explained what had happened. He trusted me and lent me the money I needed to buy a tire and make it home. I had to pay for the tow truck, along with an additional $200 because it was eight o’clock on a Sunday morning, and the only person available sold me the tire for nearly twice its normal price.
Despite everything, I made it back to Prince Rupert with the products that same night.
Everything sold.
I recovered my investment and was able to repay Mauricio part of the money he had lent me. That was the moment when Don Ramón was truly born—not in an office or a large store, but on the road, after a difficult night, and thanks to the trust of someone who decided to help me.
The Origin of the Name
The name Don Ramón also has a very special story.
I have deep admiration for my wife, Montserrat, the mother of my daughter and an essential part of both my life and this project. The name was created by combining “RA,” from Rafael, with “MON,” from Montserrat.
That is how RAMÓN was born.
In addition to representing our names, Don Ramón has a warm, strong, and proudly Mexican identity.
From Prince Rupert to Northern Canada
In British Columbia, I obtained the permits required to operate the business formally. Later, my work brought me to Alberta, although for some time I continued serving only customers in British Columbia.
I learned that trust must be supported by proper processes, accountability, and supervision. Most importantly, I confirmed that Don Ramón’s reputation had to be built by doing things the right way.
That is why we now have a very clear commitment: to offer only products that we would proudly bring to our own table and share with our family.
We do not sell expired products. We honour our delivery commitments, offer fair prices, and deliver directly to our customers at no additional charge.
132,000 Kilometres of Commitment
Today, I continue to personally travel the highways of Northern Canada.
In just one year, my truck has travelled more than 132,000 kilometres. Every kilometre has been worthwhile because each one represents a family that was able to reconnect with a flavour from home, a store that received the products it needed, or a restaurant that was able to serve an authentic recipe.
Today, Don Ramón serves four major regions:
- Northern Alberta
- Northern British Columbia
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
We also supply Latin American stores throughout these regions and provide ingredients to leading Mexican restaurants in Grande Prairie.
However, our greatest achievement is not measured only in kilometres, products, or customers.
Our true source of pride is that people now know Don Ramón as someone who keeps his word, delivers products on time, and continues moving forward regardless of the distance, the snow, or the road conditions.
Don Ramón was born from the simple need to find guajillo peppers and spices far from home. Today, it represents much more: hard work, perseverance, trust, and a commitment to bringing the flavours of our countries to every corner of Northern Canada.
Because wherever there is a Latin American family, Don Ramón will be there.
