Boston Pizza

Last updated
Boston Pizza
Company typePublic
TSX:  BPF.UN
IndustryPizzeria
Founded1964;60 years ago (1964) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Headquarters
Richmond, British Columbia
,
Canada
Number of locations
395 restaurants (2022) [1]
Areas served
 Canada, United States, and Mexico
Products Pizza, Pasta, Ribs, Hamburgers, Salads and Entrees
RevenueIncrease2.svgCA$1.2 billion (2023) [1]
Owner Jim Treliving
George Melville
Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund
Website bostonpizza.com

Boston Pizza (BP), known as Boston's The Gourmet Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar outside of Canada, is a Canadian multinational restaurant chain that owns and franchises locations in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Contents

History

Boston Pizza in London, Ontario BostonPizzaLondon.JPG
Boston Pizza in London, Ontario

Boston Pizza began in 1964 in Edmonton, Alberta, when Gus Agioritis opened Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House. By 1970, Boston Pizza had 17 locations in Western Canada, 15 of which were franchised.

One of the first franchisees was Jim Treliving, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who lived down the street from the original location and was a regular customer. [2] In 1968, he noticed the growing popularity of Boston Pizza and purchased the rights to open a restaurant in Penticton, British Columbia. While in Penticton, he met George Melville, a chartered accountant. He acted as Treliving's business consultant for four years, and, in 1973, became Treliving's business partner. Over 10 years, they opened 16 restaurants in British Columbia.

In 1983, Treliving and Melville acquired the Boston Pizza chain [2] from Ron Coyle, who had acquired the company from Agioritis in 1978. The two divested 15 of their restaurants to other franchisees, converted one restaurant to a corporate training restaurant and set about establishing systems and operating standards to standardize company operations. In 1986, Boston Pizza became the official pizza supplier for Expo 86 in Vancouver. This major success for the company led to expansion in Eastern Canada, with the company opening three stores in Southern Ontario in 1989. [3] [4] Problems arising from a lack of local management led all three stores to close by the mid-1990s, putting a temporary halt on the company's eastward expansion. [4] [5]

By 1995, the chain had grown to 95 restaurants in Western Canada with sales in excess of $110 million (CAD). Over the many years, the restaurants had become a success, more sports bars had been established as an integral part of the business.

In 1997, Mark Pacinda was hired to attempt a further expansion into Eastern Canada. A regional office and restaurant were opened in Mississauga in 1997, followed by another restaurant in Ottawa in September 1998. [4] The company later opened another regional office in Laval, Quebec, in April 2004. As of December 2023, there are 372 Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada, and over 50 Boston's restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico. [1] [6]

Boston's

Boston's chain logo used in the United States and Mexico Boston'sbanner.png
Boston's chain logo used in the United States and Mexico

Boston's is the U.S. and Mexican version of the Boston Pizza franchise. In 1998, a U.S. headquarters was set up in Dallas, Texas. The Boston Pizza name was changed to Boston's The Gourmet Pizza, Restaurant and Sports Bar that same year. Boston's had over 30 stores in the U.S. and 22 in Mexico. [1] [6]

Promotional branding

As part of an advertising campaign during the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Boston Bruins played the Montreal Canadiens, the company temporarily rebranded its Montreal locations as "Montreal Pizza". [7] [8] In the final round of the playoffs, when the Bruins played the Vancouver Canucks, the company temporarily rebranded its British Columbia locations as "Vancouver Pizza". [7] [8] [9]

Trademark dispute

In 2002, Boston Pizza commenced a lawsuit against Boston Market in the Federal Court of Canada over the trademark use of the word "Boston" in Canada. [10] In its defence, Boston Market alleged that Boston Pizza's trademarks were invalid because they described a style of pizza from a specific area. [11] The dispute continued after Boston Market ceased operations in Canada in 2004. [12] The parties settled the dispute in 2008 under an agreement that Boston Market would not use the words "Boston" or "Boston Market" in Canada for five years for restaurants or any food or drink products (other than pre-packaged food products, but not including pizza and lasagna). Boston Market also agreed that it would not challenge Boston Pizza's use in Canada of any trademark that uses the words "Boston" or "Boston Pizza" (with certain exceptions). [13] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizza Hut</span> American multinational restaurant chain

Pizza Hut, LLC is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain and international franchise founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas by Dan and Frank Carney. The chain, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates 19,866 restaurants worldwide as of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa John's</span> Pizza restaurant chain

Papa John's International, Inc., d/b/a Papa Johns, is an American pizza restaurant chain. It is the fourth largest pizza delivery restaurant chain in the United States, with headquarters in the Louisville, Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizza Pizza</span> Canadian pizza restaurant chain

Pizza Pizza Ltd. is a franchised Canadian pizza quick-service restaurant with its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. Its restaurants are mainly in the province of Ontario while others are located in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and western Canada. Franchises in western Canada are mostly run through Alberta-based subsidiary Pizza 73. It has over 500 locations, including over 150 non-traditional locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Market</span> Chain of American fast casual restaurants

Boston Market Corporation, known as Boston Chicken until 1995, is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Newtown Township, Pennsylvania. Since 2020, it has been owned by the Rohan Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino's</span> American multinational pizza restaurant chain

Domino's Pizza, Inc., commonly referred to as Domino's, is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1960. and led by CEO Russell Weiner. The corporation is Delaware-domiciled and headquartered at the Domino's Farms Office Park in Ann Arbor Township, near Ann Arbor, Michigan. As of 2018, Domino's had approximately 15,000 stores, with 5,649 in the United States, 1,500 in India, and 1,249 in the United Kingdom. Domino's has stores in over 83 countries and 5,701 cities worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uno Pizzeria & Grill</span> American pizza restaurant chain - the Birthplace of Chicago deep dish pizza

Uno Pizzeria & Grill, or more informally as Uno’s, is a United States-origin franchised pizzeria restaurant chain under the parent company Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation. Uno Pizzeria and Grill is best known for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Ike Sewell opened the first Pizzeria Uno in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Robin</span> American casual dining restaurant chain

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., more commonly known as Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews or simply Red Robin, is an American chain of casual dining restaurants founded in September 1969 in Seattle, Washington. In 1979, the first franchised Red Robin restaurant was opened in Yakima, Washington. Red Robin's headquarters are in Greenwood Village, Colorado. As of August 2020, the company had over 570 restaurants in operation with 90 being operated as a franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Wild Wings</span> American sports bar and restaurant chain

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States, India, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates which specializes in Buffalo wings and sauces.

MR MIKES SteakhouseCasual is a casual dining chain which operates across Canada. The brand is owned by RAMMP Hospitality Brands Inc. with its headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rax Roast Beef</span> American fast food chain, founded 1967

Rax Roast Beef is a regional U.S. fast food restaurant chain specializing in roast beef sandwiches. The company has been through many iterations, declaring bankruptcy more than once, rising to as many as 504 locations in 38 U.S. states in the 1980s and falling to fewer than 20 locations on more than one occasion. As of 2024, Rax is based in Ironton, Ohio, and has only six franchisee-owned restaurants still in operation in three states.

Panago is a privately held Canadian pizza delivery and takeout chain with approximately 200 locations across six provinces. It was founded in 1986 by the Rooke family. Panago is a franchise business with each location being franchisee-owned and operated. In 2015, Panago generated over C$150 million in sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry's Subs & Pizza</span> American fast casual restaurant chain

Jerry's Subs & Pizza is an American fast casual sandwich and pizza restaurant chain based in Maryland; it has 3 open locations as of July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco's Pizza</span> American pizza restaurant chain

Marco's Pizza, operated by Marco's Franchising, LLC, is an American restaurant chain and interstate franchise based in Toledo, Ohio, that specializes in Italian-American cuisine. The first store was opened in Oregon, Ohio, on Starr Avenue. It was founded by Italian immigrant Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco on February 18, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Treliving</span> Canadian businessman and TV personality (born 1941)

Walter James Treliving is a Canadian businessman and TV personality who co-owns Boston Pizza. From 2006 to 2021, Treliving was one of the investor "dragons" on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl's Jr.</span> American Fast food chain

Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC is an American fast-food restaurant chain owned by CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc., who also owns Hardee's, with franchisees in North and South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOD Pizza</span> American fast-casual pizza chain

MOD Pizza is an American fast-casual pizza restaurant chain based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2008, MOD has more than 560 locations as of December 2023 in the United States and two locations in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Pollo Loco (United States)</span> Restaurant chain

El Pollo Loco, Inc., is a restaurant chain based in the United States, specializing in Mexican-style grilled chicken. Restaurant service consists of: dine-in and take-out, with some locations offering drive-through options. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and operates about 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants in the Southwestern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">&pizza</span> Pizza chain

&pizza is an American fast casual pizza restaurant chain, with 55 locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The restaurant sells personal and customizable oblong-shaped pizzas. They tailor each location to its neighborhood, with local artists designing the interiors. Some locations serve beer, wine, and cocktails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieology</span> American pizza restaurant chain

Pieology Pizzeria is a Tustin, California-based pizza chain within the fast-casual dining restaurants category. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, the brother of former tennis player Michael Chang, Pieology's mission is to "turn one of America's favorite food into an affordable and interactive experience". Pieology's main rivals are Blaze Pizza and MOD Pizza. By October 2018, Pieology had a single unit in Mexico plus approximately 140 units in 23 American states and territories with more than half of those restaurants located in the state of California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Annual Report 2023 (PDF), Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund, February 2024, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2024
  2. 1 2 Sadava, Mike (2 March 2012). "Origins of Edmonton Chain Restaurants". Edify Edmonton. Odvod Publishing. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Fries, Joe (24 July 2015). "Boston Pizza franchise built from Penticton". The Daily Courier . Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Kane, Josh (23 May 2013). "Boston Pizza rebounds after crash-and-burn expansion effort". The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Breaking out: How Boston Pizza ceased to be a western brand". Financial Post . 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Acerca de Boston's" [About Boston's]. Boston's Mexico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. 1 2 Dhillon, Sunny (29 May 2011). "Vancouver Pizza: A winning brand". The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  8. 1 2 Horn, Jennifer (3 June 2011). "That's Vancouver Pizza to you". Media in Canada. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Ng, Jennifer (28 May 2011). "Brilliant marketing: How Boston Pizza became Vancouver Pizza". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Boston Pizza battles Boston Market over name rights in Canada". Pizza Marketplace. 11 October 2002. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  11. ↑ Smith, Charlie (17 March 2005). "Pizza chain battles McDonald's over name". The Georgia Straight . Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Boston Pizza settles dispute with Boston Market over the name Boston". Welland Tribune. 2008. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Boston Pizza settles name dispute with Boston Market". SaltWire. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund and Boston Pizza International Inc. announce second quarter sales results and July distribution to unitholders" (PDF). Boston Pizza. 7 August 2008. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.