Coco Pralin: kosher food, personal service and a customer base that feels like family

TL;DR

•     Inon Cohen opened Coco Pralin in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec in 2014 as a kosher bakery
•     The business now offers fish, meat, pastries, prepared meals and full catering
•     Customers return for the spicy tuna Tunisian baguette and personal service
•     Coco Pralin uses UEAT online ordering from Moneris to put its menu in front of more people
•     Next up: new catering packages and a sandwich bar

In Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec owner Inon Cohen greets regulars on every visit. "We know many of our customers by name," he says. "Some have been coming to us for years, so we have developed genuine relationships with them. It feels like one big family."

How did Coco Pralin start?

Inon opened Coco Pralin in 2014. The West Island wanted high-quality kosher food and great service, so he built a bakery to provide both.

The first years were small. He worked with a few employees, and the menu focused on baked goods. Over time, the shop added catering and a wider range of prepared foods. "Our goal has always been to provide quality food and excellent service to our community and neighbours," he says.

Today, Coco Pralin sells fish, meat, baked goods, pastries and prepared meals. The kitchen holds MK Montreal Kosher certification for meat, dairy, pareve and fish. 

What is Coco Pralin known for?

Ask regulars what to order and many name the Tunisian baguette. It layers spicy tuna, sliced egg and black olives on fresh bread. Inon calls it one of the shop's best sellers. 

The counter offers more. You will find cakes, baguettes and pastries made in-store, along with chicken dishes, grilled items and homemade salads. Many dishes draw on Eastern European and Middle Eastern cuisines. Reviewers also mention potato kugel and General Tao chicken. 

What catering does Coco Pralin offer?

Coco Pralin caters family gatherings, Shabbat celebrations and bar mitzvahs. Offices and businesses order too. Menus are online, and the team adjusts them to fit your event.

One customer chose Coco Pralin for her parents' 50th anniversary. She described fresh food, on-time delivery and impeccable service at a reasonable price. 

How does online ordering help Coco Pralin reach more customers?

Coco Pralin runs on UEAT online ordering from Moneris. The full menu sits online with an efficient ordering system, and the Moneris team helped set up the website, from the technical details to the design.

UEAT lets restaurants take orders on their own website and app, commission-free. Bilingual support is available 24/7. 

For Inon, the result is simple. "Thanks to our online presence, our products are now accessible to many more people," he says. Customers find the shop faster, browse the menu and place an order.

What is next for Coco Pralin?

Inon plans new catering packages to simplify ordering. A new sandwich bar will join the online menu soon. He also wants to improve how products appear online and add more choices.

What does Inon want people to remember?

"Coco Pralin is first and foremost about quality food and excellent, personalized service," Inon says. He wants customers to find great products at reasonable prices in a friendly, welcoming shop. His three words for the business: authenticity, community and service.

What small businesses learn from Coco Pralin

•     Learn your customers' names
•     Grow your menu around what people ask for
•     Put your full menu online so customers order any time
•     Keep your offer flexible so you tailor each order

A neighbourhood shop worth the visit

Twelve years in, Coco Pralin runs on the same idea: quality food, fair prices and a warm welcome. Stop by 11 Rue Sunnydale in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, pick up a Tunisian baguette and say hello to Inon. Prefer to order from home? Browse the full menu at cocopralin.com.

Want to take orders on your own website? Talk to a Moneris expert about UEAT online ordering.