Today, president of the April Group, Nathaly April was not originally destined to take over the company founded by her father in 1980. A chiropractor by training, she practiced for 12 years before feeling the need to honour her father’s unwavering support in 2002. That decision led her to join the family business. 

There, she built her credibility in a predominantly male industry, convinced that “you can learn anything” when the determination is there. 

A Company Driven by Human Values 

The April Group brings together three complementary entities: April Super Flo (distribution), Verco International (manufacturing), and Teklub Canada, holder of the Gulf brand rights in Canada. For Nathaly, these three pillars form a coherent ecosystem entirely focused on quality and innovation. 

She points out that “…what truly sets the company apart in a market dominated by multinationals are its human values.” The customer relationship, inherited from the founder’s vision, remains at the heart of her priorities. 

She personally knows all of her employees, whom she considers “an extended family.” Transparency, empathy, and closeness guide her management style, especially during crises such as supply chain disruptions linked to the situation in Iran. For Nathaly, her most significant contribution lies in building a strong team, paving the way for sustainable growth. 

The Standards Transition 

In 2025, Nathaly April detailed the transition from API SP to API SQ standards and from ILSAC GF-6 to GF-7, a major change aimed at improving engine cleanliness, fuel economy, and protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) in turbocharged GDI engines. Under her leadership, the company’s PRO, SYN, and DEX product lines were upgraded to meet these new requirements, confirming April Super Flo’s commitment to remaining competitive in a market driven by technological innovation. 

At 84 years old, her father can see that his life’s work continues with integrity. Nathaly, now a role model for young people and women entrepreneurs, embodies the next generation he had hoped for. 

LUCIUS APRIL 

A Visionary Entrepreneur Forged by Necessity 

When Lucius April founded his company in L’Isle-Verte in 1980, it was, as he puts it, “out of a survival instinct.” Denied access to bank loans, he nevertheless launched his lubricant products business from his own home, using his $20,000 in savings and favourable payment terms offered by a supplier who chose to believe in his potential. 

The Influence of a Mentor and an Unshakable Work Ethic 

Throughout his journey, Lucius has met influential figures, including publisher Pierre Péladeau, who shared a simple rule with him: “To succeed, you need hard work. You need to work smart. Then you need even more hard work.” Added to this ethic was a fundamental value: honesty. For him, customer trust is a more valuable asset than anything else. He also learned to stand out by adopting methods different from those of his competitors. 

The Evolution of a Family Business 

The company took a decisive turn when Nathaly joined the business in 2002. Thanks to her technical knowledge, particularly in chemistry, she helped develop their own products, giving birth to the Superpro brand, which later became April, and transforming the family business into a true manufacturing player. 

Lucius’s story is that of a man who built his company the way you build a house in the middle of a storm: with determination, caution, and an unwavering belief in the value of hard work. 

Picture credit : April