(Submitted by Jackie)Boston Pizza  

The Boston Pizza concept began in Edmonton, Alberta in 1964 when Greek immigrant Gus Agioritis opened “Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House”. Although he lacked any significant restaurant experiences, Agioritis achieved success by combining hard work with a business strategy that included a focus on growth through franchising. This strategy established the early success of the Boston Pizza chain, and by 1970 Boston Pizza had 17 locations throughout Western Canada, of which 15 were franchised.

One of the first franchisees attracted to the Boston Pizza concept was an RCMP officer named Jim Treliving. Treliving noticed the growing popularity of Boston Pizza and in 1968 opened his first franchise restaurant in Penticton, British Columbia. In Penticton, Treliving met George Melville, a chartered accountant and then manager of the local Peat Marwick office. Melville acted as Treliving’s business consultant for four years before becoming his partner in the business in 1973. Over the next 10 years the two men built a chain of 16 restaurants throughout B.C., giving them the hands on experience that would prove invaluable in their future position as the franchisor of the Boston Pizza concept.

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