SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - They claim to have been its biggest fans. Now they own it.

Barry and Carmen Bessette recently acquired the Yellowknife's M&M Meatshop business from outgoing owners Jeff and Meredith Seabrook, Brand Anstey and Susie Relucio.

Barry Bessette is the new owner of M&M Meatshop, with his wife Carmen. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Bessette said he and his wife first encountered M&M when on holiday in the south and since then have become big fans of the chain.

"We were one of the larger customers here at the store," he said of the Old Airport Road location, adding the frozen chicken breasts became a staple in his household. "When the opportunity became available it kind of seemed like a natural fit to look into it further and see what we could do to purchase it."

Bessette said it's the quality food and product that drew him.

"They've got quality products," he said. "The process by which they are frozen to get that quality, flash freezing, that's one of the things people have come to know about M&M and keeps them coming back.

"We strive to provide excellent customer service above and beyond what they expect."

He said moving from the independent business world, which he has been a part of in Yellowknife in the past, to a corporate business has been smoother than he expected.

"It's everything you could hope for because the head office all the way down to (Yellowknife) there is tremendous support," he said. "They've been franchising since 1981 so they've got the process down pat."

"They are there for you for anything you may need help with, large or small, whether it's marketing or system failures, whatever the case may be."

He said while the corporation has been helpful in dealing with any kinks he's encountered, he said there are still challenges.

"Anytime a person goes into a business venture, the numbers may just be great and work perfect but reality is what is it really going to be like," he said.

Bessette added he wants to make sure they are always fully stocked with the 350 products offered by company, and "ensure we never run out of product and not only for the ones we currently carry, but also the ones that are coming on stream and to acquire them and get them into the store.

"We want to get out in the community. It's a big part of M&M philosophy, to be a part of the community. We're going to continue what has already been in place and go a little further with that."