Freshslice Pizza
 | |
| Locally owned subsidiary | |
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada |
Key people | Ray J. Russell (founder and CEO) |
| Products | Pizza, pasta |
| Website |
www |
Freshslice Pizza is a Canadian franchised pizza chain in restaurants located throughout British Columbia, and one location in Toronto as of 2016.[1] The first restaurant opened in 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Today, Freshslice Pizza is the second-largest pizza chain in British Columbia behind Panago in terms of locations open. This franchise has seen steady unit growth and has embarked on an aggressive growth strategy. Single and multi unit franchise are currently available as is Master Franchisee opportunities across Canada. Inquires can be made in the franchise section of their web site.
Ray J. Russell established Freshslice Pizza with a purpose of developing a new fast-food concept. His goal was to combine pizza delivery with self-serve dining.[1] The Freshslice franchising model is unique in that franchisees pay 0% royalty rates and 0% marketing royalties.
Freshslice was awarded the Consumer Choice Awards for Business Excellence in 2007, 2008 and 2009.[2][3] In 2013 it was awarded the Best By The Slice in Vancouver by Georgia Straight Magazine.
The chain is currently upgrading all existing locations with a new interior look, "Vision 2020".
Controversy and legal issues
In 2011 the company was issued a court order to pay $44,000 for hiring illegal workers.[4] Companies owned by Freshslice Pizza founder Ray Russell, his wife Isabella Flores and corporate employee Bahman Afshari were all charged by the Canada Border Services Agency after a tip led to the discovery that over a dozen undocumented refugees were employed at Freshslice locations in Vancouver. Afshari was also personally charged. In 2012, JM Food Services, a company operating under Ray Russell, was involved with legal action against a former multiple-unit franchisee, Canada Businet Co. LTD regarding their closure of multiple Freshslice Pizza locations located in both British Columbia and Ontario. In 2013, Ray Russell was found liable for over $40,000 for damages related to unpaid rent and related costs to R.T.M Holdings LTD. During the court proceedings it was also reveled that a corporate location owned by Mr Russell remained in operation to the public despite sewage repeatedly backing into the restaurant. In 2014 Russell was found guilty by the B.C Supreme Court of wrongful dismissal of a corporate employee. The courts ordered a judgement of over $40,000 to the former employee.[5]
References
- 1 2 Store Locator
- ↑ "Company Background". Freshslice Pizza. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ↑ "Vancouver". Consumer Choice Award. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ↑ "Company Background". Freshslice Pizza. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ↑ "FreshSlice Pizza owner had affair with employee before she was fired, judge rules", Metro Vancouver, retrieved 2014-10-14