The son and grandson of plumbers, Mario Bélisle was himself one for more than a quarter of a century. As he had an entrepreneurial streak, he founded a distribution company called Sélection 25 in 1995. In 1999, Mario acquired Toronto-based Baldwin Faucets and the company’s focus gradually shifted from distribution to the design and creation of faucets and shower systems. Business opportunities multiplied because customers appreciated the high-quality products and sales increased dramatically. So, in 2002, the company moved to its current, spacious location in St. Jérôme and renamed itself Riobel, a contraction of the founder’s name, MaRIO BELisle. Over the next few years, Sélection 25 continued expanding outside of Quebec by making inroads into the Atlantic provinces and Western Canada. With seasoned and devoted professionals, Riobel soon reached new heights. Riobel’s designers, engineers and technicians work on creating innovative products: they develop 3D models, test faucets on various test benches and at the technical centre. They analyze competing products to ensure that Riobel products are always a notch above in appearance and functionality. After the design and intensive testing phases, these products are sent to the assembly, packaging and distribution teams.
