Boston Pizza awarded 2007 Pinnacle Award for Franchise Excellence

Date

Dec 07, 2007

December 06, 2007 // Franchising.com // TORONTO,- Boston Pizza International Inc. has received the prestigious 2007 Pinnacle Award for Franchise Excellence (National), recognizing excellence and leadership in the foodservice and hospitality industry. The award was presented at a luncheon ceremony at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on Monday, December 3, 2007.

The Pinnacle Awards, presented by Kostuch Publications Ltd. (publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality), is the only national awards program to honour achievement in Canada's $51.5 billion dollar foodservice and hospitality industry.

"The standards for the Franchise Excellence award are set very high," says Rosanna Caira, editor of Foodservice and Hospitality. "We applaud Boston Pizza for its leadership in operating an outstanding foodservice business and for its commitment to community involvement."

Pinnacle Award winners are selected by Foodservice and Hospitality's editorial advisory boards and are distinguished for their contributions to the public image of the industry through civic, educational and community involvement, as well as their efforts in establishing innovative concepts in the area of foodservice or hotel management.

"This award is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees and franchisees who strive every day to make Boston Pizza the best casual dining experience," says Mark Pacinda, president of Boston Pizza International Inc. "We are most proud of the important work we do with schools, sports teams and charities in every community we serve right across Canada and we thank our franchisees for supporting these initiatives.

In 2006, Boston Pizza International generated sales of $647 million and industry-leading same store sales growth of 6.5 per cent, well above the industry average of 2.7 per cent. Boston Pizza opened 33 new stores in 2007 and plans to open 30 - 35 new locations a year over the next five years.

This year Boston Pizza launched a successful BPI Scholarship Program where 33 restaurant employees from across Canada were awarded scholarships for $1,500 each to be used for higher education opportunities.

Boston Pizza created the Boston Pizza Foundation in 1990 to raise funds for charities across Canada including Kids Help Phone, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and many more. Since its inception, the Boston Pizza Foundation has raised more than $7.2 million, helping thousands of children and families in communities across Canada.

About Boston Pizza

Boston Pizza International Inc. is Canada's No. 1 casual dining brand with more than 290 restaurants in Canada and 2006 sales in excess of $647 million. The company has been recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies since 1993. Boston Pizza International Inc. is headquartered in Richmond, B.C., and has regional offices in Mississauga, Ontario, and Laval, Quebec, to support its expansion.