Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate Brings a French Craft Lineage to Kelowna
From a first Kelowna café in 2004 to two current shops and an airport dispenser, Sandrine Raffault’s business shows how a specialist food maker can grow while keeping its point of view close to the work.
September 1, 2026 · By Justin Plosz · Kelowna, British Columbia · Business · 5 min read read
A Kelowna Story That Begins With a Move From Beaujolais
The company identifies Sandrine Raffault as a third-generation artisan chocolatier and French pastry chef from Beaujolais, France, near Lyon, where it says she was born, raised and trained.
Its history says Raffault and her family arrived in Kelowna in 2004 and opened La Boulangerie Gourmet Cafe that year. It dates the opening of Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate in Orchard Place to May 2010. The homepage’s “founded in 2004” language can reasonably describe the beginning of the Kelowna business story, while the named shop has the more specific 2010 opening date.
That distinction acknowledges continuity without turning a lineage into a loose claim.
French Technique Meets an Okanagan Context
The official shop presents pastries, cakes, macarons, chocolates and savoury items, along with gelato, sorbet and jams. It says pastries are baked in-house daily and describes its gelato, sorbet and jams as Okanagan-inspired. Its statement that it uses local and organic ingredients where possible is a sourcing description, not a certification claim.
The range can meet several needs, from a morning croissant to a celebration cake ordered in advance. Customers should use the live menu and ordering pages for current products, dietary information, prices and lead times. The homepage says online orders require 48 hours and directs customers to call for earlier needs; availability can change.
Two Current Kelowna Retail Locations
Sandrine’s official Find Us page lists two Kelowna locations: 1865 Dilworth Drive in Orchard Place and 3275 Lakeshore Road near the Lanfranco and Lakeshore intersection in Lower Mission. It publishes separate regular hours for each location.
A May 2025 KelownaNow Community Spotlight, labelled sponsored content, identified Raffault and Elyse Wright as the pair behind the business and reported plans for the Lakeshore Road location. Because that item was sponsored and forward-looking, the official site’s current two-location listing is the stronger present-tense confirmation.
Growth here has not required shedding the founder’s specialty: the public-facing story remains tied to cakes, pastries, macarons, chocolates and café service.
Extending the Brand to Kelowna International Airport
In August 2024, Kelowna International Airport announced that Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate had added a “bakery ATM” in the arrivals area near baggage claim. YLW said the automated dispenser was restocked daily and would carry macarons, cakes, fresh pastries, croissant sandwiches and chocolate products.
The airport described the offer as an extension of the Dilworth Drive shop and called the company family-owned, with 20 years of business in Kelowna at the time. A dispenser is not the same as a third café, and that distinction matters. For current airport availability and selection, visitors should confirm with YLW or Sandrine directly.
Key takeaways
- Sandrine Raffault is identified by the business as a French pastry chef and third-generation artisan chocolatier from Beaujolais.
- The official history separates a 2004 Kelowna café opening from the May 2010 Orchard Place opening.
- The business lists two Kelowna retail locations: Dilworth Drive and Lakeshore Road.
- Published product categories include pastries, cakes, macarons, chocolates and savoury items, as well as gelato, sorbet and jams.
- YLW announced a self-serve bakery ATM in its arrivals area in August 2024.
- Hours, stock, airport availability and online-order timing should be confirmed through official channels.
Frequently asked questions
- Who owns or leads Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate?
- The official site identifies Sandrine Raffault as a third-generation artisan chocolatier and French pastry chef from Beaujolais, France.
- When did the business open?
- The company says its family opened La Boulangerie Gourmet Cafe in Kelowna in 2004 and Sandrine French Pastry and Chocolate in Orchard Place in May 2010.
- Where are the Kelowna locations?
- The official Find Us page lists 1865 Dilworth Drive and 3275 Lakeshore Road. Confirm current hours before visiting.
- Is Sandrine available at Kelowna International Airport?
- YLW announced in August 2024 that a Sandrine bakery ATM was in arrivals near baggage claim. Check YLW or the business for current status and selection.
- What does Sandrine sell?
- The official site lists pastries, cakes, macarons, chocolates and savoury items, plus gelato, sorbet and jams. Check the live site for current selection and dietary details.
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