Boston Pizza
Encyclopedia
Boston Pizza is a Canadian
-based restaurant
chain which owns and franchises locations in Canada
, the United States
and Mexico
.
, Alberta
on August 12, 1964 when Greek immigrant 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. In 1968 he had noticed the growing popularity of Boston Pizza and purchased the rights to open a restaurant in Penticton, British Columbia
. While in Penticton he met up with George Melville who was a chartered accountant. He acted as Treliving's business consultant for four years then in 1973 became Treliving's partner in the business. Over 10 years, they built 16 restaurants in BC.
In 1983, Treliving and Melville acquired the Boston Pizza chain from then owner 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 designed to standardize company operations. In 1986 Boston Pizza became the official pizza supplier for Expo 86
in Vancouver
. This was a major success for the company - in the next two years it would lead to another 17 franchises.
By 1995 the chain had grown to 95 restaurants in Western Canada with sales in excess of $110 million . Over the many years the restaurants had become a success, more sports bars had been established as an integral part of the business.
Boston's is the US 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. Boston's currently has 51 units in the US franchises and 3 in Mexico.
, when the Boston Bruins
played the Montreal Canadiens
, the company temporarily rebranded their Montreal
locations as "Montreal Pizza". In the final round of the playoffs
in that same year, when the Bruins played the Vancouver Canucks
, the company temporarily rebranded each of its British Columbia
locations as "Vancouver Pizza".
in the Federal Court of Canada
over the trade-mark
use of the word "Boston" in Canada. In its defence, Boston Market alleged that Boston Pizza's trade-marks were invalid because it described a style of pizza from a specific area. The dispute continued after Boston Market ceased operations in Canada in 2004. 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 will not challenge Boston Pizza's use in Canada of any trademark that uses the words "Boston" or "Boston Pizza" (with certain exceptions).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-based restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
chain which owns and franchises locations in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
History
Boston Pizza began in EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
on August 12, 1964 when Greek immigrant Gus Agioritis opened Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House. By 1970, Boston Pizza had 17 locations in Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, 15 of which were franchised.
One of the first franchisees was Jim Treliving
Jim Treliving
W. James "Jim" Treliving is a Canadian businessman who, with George Melville, owns the collective investment portfolio T&M Group of Companies. Treliving has stepped into the public eye in recent years as one of the "dragons" on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den.-Career:Treliving began his...
, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
officer. In 1968 he had noticed the growing popularity of Boston Pizza and purchased the rights to open a restaurant in Penticton, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. While in Penticton he met up with George Melville who was a chartered accountant. He acted as Treliving's business consultant for four years then in 1973 became Treliving's partner in the business. Over 10 years, they built 16 restaurants in BC.
In 1983, Treliving and Melville acquired the Boston Pizza chain from then owner 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 designed to standardize company operations. In 1986 Boston Pizza became the official pizza supplier for Expo 86
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. This was a major success for the company - in the next two years it would lead to another 17 franchises.
By 1995 the chain had grown to 95 restaurants in Western Canada with sales in excess of $110 million . 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 bring the chain to more eastern areas of Canada. The first eastern location opened in OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in September 1998. The company later opened a regional office in Laval, QuebecLaval, QuebecLaval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
in April 2004. Today there are 334 Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada.
Boston's
Promotional branding
During the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs2011 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 13, 2011, after the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL regular season. Game 1 of the Finals was held on June 1, while Game 7 was held on June 15...
, when the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
played the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, the company temporarily rebranded their Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
locations as "Montreal Pizza". In the final round of the playoffs
2011 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League , and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was the 118th year of the Stanley Cup's presentation. The Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference Champion Vancouver...
in that same year, when the Bruins played the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, the company temporarily rebranded each of its British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
locations as "Vancouver Pizza".
Trade-mark dispute
In 2002, Boston Pizza commenced a lawsuit against Boston MarketBoston Market
Boston Market, known as Boston Chicken until 1995, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is a chain of American fast casual restaurants. It is owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.-History:...
in the Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court of Canada
The Federal Court of Canada was a national court of Canada that heard some types of disputes arising under the central government's legislative jurisdiction...
over the trade-mark
Canadian trade-mark law
Canadian trade-mark law provides protection to marks statutorily under the Canadian Trade-marks Act and also at common law. Trade-mark law provides protection for distinctive marks, certification marks, distinguishing guises, and proposed marks against those who appropriate the goodwill of the mark...
use of the word "Boston" in Canada. In its defence, Boston Market alleged that Boston Pizza's trade-marks were invalid because it described a style of pizza from a specific area. The dispute continued after Boston Market ceased operations in Canada in 2004. 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 will not challenge Boston Pizza's use in Canada of any trademark that uses the words "Boston" or "Boston Pizza" (with certain exceptions).