Kentucky Fried Chicken

Name: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

Type of Food: Fried Chicken

Interesting Fact:Wendy’s restaurants founder Dave Thomas operated several Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises before starting Wendy’s restaurants. He also invented the rotating-bucket-of-chicken sign that at one time was outside every KFC.

History: In the midst of the depression, Harland Sanders opens his first restaurant in the small front room of a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. Sanders serves as station operator, chief cook and cashier and names the dining area “Sanders Court & Café.” In 1936, Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon makes Harland Sanders an honorary Kentucky Colonel in recognition of his contributions to the state’s cuisine. In 1952, “The Colonel” begins actively franchising his chicken business by traveling from town to town and cooking batches of chicken for restaurant owners and employees. The Colonel awards Pete Harman of Salt Lake City with the first KFC franchise. A handshake agreement stipulates a payment of a nickel to Sanders for each chicken sold. You can read more history here. Today there are over 32500 KFC restaurants in more than 82 countries around the world

Website: www.kfc.com

View the menu here

Find your local Kentucky Fried Chicken: in the USA here in Canada here

Specials: -Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons

Boston Pizza

Name: Boston Pizza

Type of Food: 25 varieties of gourmet pizza as well as pasta, baby back ribs, chicken, seafood

Interesting Fact: Despite its name, Boston Pizza was not founded in Boston, and as yet has no locations in Boston or even Massachusetts. The company is Canadian! The name Boston was chosen because it was a considered a recognizable and established name.

History: 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.

The company started franchising in the 1960s; Gus’ two younger brothers, Nino and Trifon helped found the first restaurant in Edmonton and each started a franchise in Saskatoon and Regina, respectively. When the company and its franchise rights were sold, Nino and Trifon established pizzerias under new names: Nino’s Pizza and Trifon’s Pizza still exist in these cities. Six years after opening, Gus had 17 locations (two corporate and 15 franchised) in operation across Western Canada. In 1978 Agioritis sold the company to Ron Coyle.

In 1983, Jim Treliving, a former RCMP officer who was one of the original franchisees (who had opened his first restaurant in 1968 in Penticton, British Columbia), along with business partner George Melville, bought the chain. By 1995, the company boasted 97 restaurants in Western Canada.

The first U.S. restaurant opened in 1998 under the name “Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza”. Today there are over 350 restaurants in North America and Mexico combined. Jim Treliving, Chairman and Founder of Boston Pizza Restaurants L.P. is looking towards expansion into Australia, the United Kingdom and eventually Asia.

Website: www.bostonpizza.com

View the menu: here

Find your local Boston Pizza in Canada here and Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza here

Specials:
-Newsletter – Gift Card – Coupons Boston Pizza

-Newsletter – Gift Card - Coupons Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza