As I strolled through Aylmer’s Optimist Park last Saturday, the queue stretched longer than the voter lines I’d witnessed during last year’s municipal elections. This time, however, people weren’t waiting to cast ballots but to order from a bright purple food truck operated entirely by 13-year-old triplets.
“We sold out in under two hours,” Emma Fehr told me, wiping her brow after serving their final customer of the day. Her sisters, Sophie and Maddie, nodded in agreement as they cleaned up their workstations inside the truck they’ve dubbed “Triplet Treats.”
The Fehr sisters launched their venture this summer after months of planning and saving. What started as pandemic baking experiments has evolved into one of southwestern Ontario’s most talked-about mobile eateries, drawing crowds from London to Kitchener.
Their mother, Jennifer Fehr, watches from a distance. “We’re here for supervision and driving, but the business is entirely theirs,” she explained. “They developed the recipes, designed the truck wrap, and handle all customer service.”
The triplets split responsibilities based on their strengths. Sophie manages finances and inventory, Emma handles marketing and social media, while Maddie focuses on menu development. All three share cooking duties during service hours.
According to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, young entrepreneurs face fewer restrictions than employed minors, allowing the sisters to operate their business with parental supervision. The triplets completed food handler certification courses earlier this year through Southwestern Public Health.
Their most popular menu item, the “Triple Threat” – three mini-cupcakes with different flavors – typically sells out first. Other favorites include homemade ice cream sandwiches and specialty lemonades infused with locally sourced fruits.
“We wanted to create something that reminds people of childhood but with our own twist,” Sophie explained while restocking supplies. “Everything is made from scratch, and we source ingredients from farms around Elgin County whenever possible.”
Recent data from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce shows a 22% increase in youth entrepreneurship since 2020, with food services representing nearly a third of these ventures. What makes the Fehr sisters unique is their age and their commitment to community engagement.
The triplets donate 10% of monthly profits to local charities. In July, they contributed $750 to the Children’s Health Foundation in London, where all three received care as premature infants.
“They spent their first months in the NICU at Children’s Hospital,” Jennifer shared. “Giving back has always been important to them.”
Local business owners have taken notice. James Taylor, who operates Tasting Board Charcuterie in London, invited the triplets to participate in several food festivals this fall.
“These young women represent the future of entrepreneurship,” Taylor told me while purchasing a strawberry lemonade. “They understand both product quality and customer experience better than many adult business owners I know.”
The sisters attend Grade 8 at East Elgin Secondary School, where teachers have incorporated their business experience into practical learning opportunities. Their mathematics teacher uses their sales data for real-world problem-solving exercises, while their language arts assignments often center around business communication.
“School starts again next week, so we’ll scale back to weekends only,” Maddie explained. “We’re working with our teachers to balance education with entrepreneurship.”
Small Business Development Minister Vijay Thanigasalam highlighted similar youth ventures during a recent regional tour, though he hasn’t yet visited Triplet Treats. His office noted that young entrepreneurs like the Fehr sisters represent a growing demographic in Ontario’s economic landscape.
A recent survey from Junior Achievement Canada found that 68% of Canadian teens express interest in starting businesses, up from 59% in 2019. The pandemic appears to have accelerated this trend, with many youth developing entrepreneurial skills during lockdowns.
The triplets face challenges beyond their years. Supply chain issues have increased ingredient costs by nearly 18% since they began planning their business. Weather dependencies and transportation logistics create additional complications.
“Last week we had to cancel a scheduled appearance because our generator malfunctioned,” Emma said. “We learned quickly about having backup plans.”
The sisters maintain a robust social media presence, with over 5,000 followers tracking their weekend locations. Customer Christie Vandermeer drove 40 minutes from Stratford after seeing their TikTok video featuring seasonal berry parfaits.
“Worth every minute of the drive,” Vandermeer said, sharing her purchase on Instagram. “These girls are going to be running empires someday.”
As autumn approaches, the triplets are developing fall-themed offerings and planning holiday catering options. They’ve already booked appearances at harvest festivals across southwestern Ontario.
“We’re experimenting with pumpkin spice cupcakes and apple cider donuts,” Maddie revealed, showing me her recipe notebook filled with detailed illustrations and flavor combinations.
The sisters hope to expand next summer, possibly adding a second truck operated by their cousins. For now, they’re focused on building their savings and refining their business model.
Before packing up for the day, Sophie handed me their signature dessert – a Triple Threat cupcake sampler. “Tell us what you think,” she said confidently. “Customer feedback shapes our next menu.”
As I walked away from the purple truck, watching the sisters high-five after another successful day, I couldn’t help but think about the future of entrepreneurship in our province. If these 13-year-olds represent the next generation of business leaders, Ontario’s economic outlook seems sweeter than even the best Triple Threat cupcake.
