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A Canadian Company Since 1908

  • History
  • Sustainability
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • History
  • Sustainability
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Over 100 years of small fish

(scroll Down To Learn)

EARLY 1900'S

A group of prominent Montreal businessmen start a social club called Club des Millionnaires.

EARLY 1908

The members of Club des Millionnaires decide to import Portuguese sardines, naming the brand after their club.

EARLY 1920’s

Harold T. Griffin begins to represent the Club des Millionnaires brand. The brand would eventually become a part of Harold T. Griffin Inc, which remained a committed leader in the Canadian food industry for four generations.

1939

Toronto, Ontario – Spring 1939. Notice the ad on the front of the streetcar!

The Fish...

A French buyer in Montreal comments to Harold T. Griffin, “The fish she is very small” and the brand’s slogan is born.

2018

Ocean Brands, part of The Jim Pattison Group, acquires the Club des Millionnaires brand.

Today

Club des Millionnaires is still an all-Canadian brand after all these years. To this day, we proudly maintain the same high quality and dedication to exceptional taste, sustainability, and the health of consumers.

Sustainability

Since 1908, Club des Millionnaires has offered sardines and anchovies of the highest quality.

As we are committed to high standards across every aspect of our business, we offer only wild fish that is caught in prime condition when their nutritional attributes are excellent. We only work with fisheries committed to using the best fishing practices to ensure our fish is sourced sustainably.

Responsible Fishing

Brisling sardines, which are the core of our business, are caught in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, around the Scottish and UK coast. We work with boats that are certified under the UK’s Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS). The fisheries would be considered artisanal fisheries under the governance of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

For brislings, the boats tend to single or pair trawl.

All other Millionnaires sardines, also anchovies are caught using purse seine fishing method.

Learn More

Plastic neutrality

Being plastic neutral means that for any amount of plastic we use in our operations, a measured equivalent of plastic waste is recovered and removed from the environment through recycling and/or waste management efforts. 

New Packaging
Cleanhub & Tridi Oasis
Fish Tracker Example Image

Ocean Brand Initiatives

Ocean Brands is a parent company that owns Millionnaires brand.

As a certified B Corp, Ocean Brands is committed to balance profit and purpose. Hence, we not only care about the environment, but we also take care of people and do our part in helping out in vulnerable communities. 

B corp
feeding the hungry
Ocean Brands

FAQ: Learn About
Sardines & Anchovies

What types of sardines come in a can of Millionnaires?

We understand, with 21 species of sardines, the world of tiny fish can be confusing and you want to know what you’re eating! So, let us demystify what you’ll find in a can of Millionnaires sardines. We use three species of sardines in our products:

  • Sprattus sprattus: Also known as brislings, you’ll find Sprattus sprattus in all our Brisling Sardine products. Sprattus Sprattus species are considered to be the smallest and most premium type of sardines.
  • Sardina pilchardus: Commonly called European pilchards, you’ll find Sardina pilchardus in our cans of Skinless Boneless Sardines.
  • Sardinops sagax: Sardinops sagax, or South American pilchards, are what you’ll find in cans of Millionnaires Wild Sardines in Olive Oil.
Are sardines and anchovies good for me?

You better believe it! Our tiny fish pack big nutrition benefits. They’re rich in vitamins B and D, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and calcium. Learn more here.

When sardines come in sauce are they still good nutritionally?

You bet! While their calorie contents might be slightly different, our flavoured sardines have all the nutritional benefits of those packed in oil. Find out more about each of our products by visiting their individual product pages.

Why should Millionnaires' anchovies be stored in the fridge?

The delicate texture of anchovies that you’ve come to love means they need a little extra care. Our anchovies are not processed in pressure cookers – that’s why placed in the cooler section of grocery stores and should be refrigerated when opened.

How do I store sardines and anchovies after opening?

If you’d like to store sardines or anchovies after opening the can, transfer them to an airtight glass or plastic container and store them in the fridge for up to three days. When it comes to anchovies, we recommend adding a bit of olive oil to the container to cover them.

If you’d like to store your sardines or anchovies longer than three days, you can also freeze them, which extends their life to three months. Just remember that they’ll last for three days after thawing and their texture will change after they’ve been frozen, so they’re best used for cooking.

Do your products contain allergens?

 The common allergens across the Club des Millionnaires portfolio are fish (sardines, anchovies) and soybean oil, which is used in our Wild Brisling Sardines in Soya Oil.
We encourage you to refer to the list of ingredients on each of our cans to ensure that ingredients you might be sensitive to aren’t present.

Do your cans have BPA?

Although Health Canada states that dietary intake of Bisephenol A (BPA) via food packaging doesn’t currently pose health risks to the general population, we’re proud to state that our can suppliers do not add BPA to cans during the production stage.

Where do Millionnaires sardines and anchovies come from? And how are they sourced?

At Millionnaire’s we’re passionate about the environment and the health of
our oceans. We’re also wildly passionate about bringing you the best tiny fish
available. All our sardines and anchovies are wild caught, not farmed, and
responsibly sourced.

Do you supply coupons?

Subscribe to our newsletter not to miss coupons and special offers!

Where can I buy Club des Millionnaires products?

Please visit the page of the product you are interested in to find out where to buy.

Have More Questions?

We have answers and we’d love to hear from you!

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responsible fishing methods

Hidden tab
Single or pair trawl used by Brislings’ artisanal fisheries



Image credit msc.org

Our boats tend to single or pair trawl using pelagic fishing nets which skim the top level of the sea, specifically not interfering with the sea bed.

Pelagic, or midwater trawls have a cone-shaped body and a closed ‘cod-end’ that holds their catch. They are designed to target fish in the mid- and surface water.

Midwater trawls have no contact with the seabed. Fisheries take measures to minimise bycatch through the use of specific mesh sizes, exclusion devices and acoustic deterrents such as ‘pingers’.

Purse Seine Fishing



Image credit msc.org

Purse seine fishing is used in the open ocean to target dense schools of pelagic fish, so by-catch is minimal. Using this method, fishermen surround the school of fish with a vertical net ‘curtain.’ The bottom of the net is drawn together, much like tightening the cords of a drawstring purse, to enclose the fish.

fishing areas

Millionnaires’ Brisling sardines are the Sprattus Sprattus species and are caught during the October-November fishing season in the North-east Atlantic Ocean. The skinless boneless sardines are the Sardina Pilchardus species, caught during the July-August fishing season in the Eastern Atlantic Sea. The Sardinops Sagax species are caught during the April-July fishing season in the Pacific North-West Sea.

Traceability

Committed to transparency, we can trace information on all our products throughout the supply chain. Find out where your fish came from with our fish tracker! Want to know more about where your fish comes from?

Email us at talktous@oceanbrands.com for more information!

new packaging

In 2020 we have executed a full relaunch of Millionnaires, eliminating all the plastic. We have replaced single cans foil wrap with carton boxes and got rid of plastic shrink-wrapping for the outer cases, so Millionnaires packaging is fully recyclable now.

Cleanhub & Tridi Oasis

Ocean Brands (a parent company that owns Millionnaires) is striving to achieve plastic neutrality, aiming to remove as much plastic from packaging as possible and offsetting what can’t be removed.

Ocean Brands choses to work with Cleanhub, a company that collects and repurposes plastic waste before it enters the ocean. Through Cleanhub, Ocean Brands has partnered with Tridi Oasis, a female-led company. The company’s founders, Dian and Dinda grew Tridi into a company that employs around 100 people and recycles 750 metric tonnes of plastic bottles a month. 

Learn More

B Corp

B Corps are a community of companies who are committed to using business as a force for good. As leaders of this global movement, B Corp brands look beyond profits to support social and environmental goals.

To become B Corp certified, our business was assessed for its impact on our workers, community, customers, and the environment. Meeting the highest standards, we are committed to supporting the positive impact we’re making by remaining transparent and considering all of our stakeholders in every decision we make.

As a consumer, you have a voice and immeasurable power. Each dollar you spend is a vote: a vote for product excellence, a vote for strong brand values, a vote for good business practices. By choosing B Corp brands like ours, you vote to support our commitment to make decisions that positively impact our workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. 

Learn More

Feeding the Hungry

We are committed to supporting our communities by feeding those in need.

Partnering with Food Banks Canada, Backpack Buddies, I Can for Kids, Richmond School District, Coquitlam School District, and Lotus Light Charity, we work to provide nourishment to the most vulnerable members of our communities.

We continue to lean into our commitment to feed the hungry in communities across Canada now and in the future. We hope you’ll join us in supporting your own community by donating your time, food, or money to organizations dedicated to fighting hunger.

Contact Us

Email

talktous@oceanbrands.com

Phone

1-877-506-1294

Address

Suite 100 – 3600 Lysander Lane

Richmond, B.C. Canada V7B 1C3

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