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Pita Pit

Pita Pit is a quick-service restaurant franchise serving pita sandwiches with fresh vegetables, grilled meat and sauces. Worldwide, it has two separate owners. Its franchising rights for the United States and its Territories are owned by Pita Pit USA 4.0, Inc.,[2] headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.[2] The remainder of the franchising rights (for Canada and the rest of the world, excluding the US) are owned by Foodtastic, which is headquartered in Kingston, Ontario.[3]

History

The first shop was opened by Nelson Lang and John Sotiriadis in 1995 near Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.[4] The restaurant was located near the university and aimed at students in the hopes it would be "recession-proof".[5] The store stayed open until late, providing a healthier and fresher late night food option to conventional fast food.

In 1997, Pita Pit started to expand within Canada, and in 1999 they began franchising in the United States.[4]

The first Pita Pit location outside Canada and the United States opened in Auckland, New Zealand, in August 2007. The business was set up by Chris Henderson, a New Zealander returning from Canada, and Duane Dalton, the husband of netballer Tania Dalton.[6]

By 2011, Pita Pit had expanded to 350 stores in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea and Brazil.

By 2020, it had over 500 locations in India, France, Brazil, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Sweden.[4]

Pita Pit Brand Ownership

On April 13, 2005, the Pita Pit Brand for the United States and its Territories was sold to Pita Pit USA, Inc., which located its headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.[7] Thereafter, on March 7, 2023, Pita Pit USA 4.0, Inc., acquired the assets of Pita Pit USA, Inc., and became the owner of the Brand in the United States and its Territories.[2] Pita Pit USA 4.0, Inc.’s headquarters is in the same location, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, location as its predecessor Pita Pit USA, Inc.[8]

On August 3, 2021, the Québécois restaurant franchiser Foodtastic had acquired the Pita Pit Brand for Canada and the rest of the world (except for in the US).[9][10]

Pita Pit International

New Zealand and Australia

Pita Pit New Zealand has 85 stores around New Zealand, including 26 in Auckland.[11] This down from about 90 stores in 2020 and more than 100 stores in 2017,[12][13] but still more than the 65 it had in 2014,[14] and 18 it had in 2011.

The business also has nine stores from Australia,[15] down from 14 in 2017.[13]

The company is based in Takapuna, Auckland where it opened its first store in 2007.[16]

Pita Pit New Zealand started actively seeking franchises in 2011,[17] and by 2017 the vast majority of stores were franchisees.[13]

The chain introduced a diabetes-friendly menu in 2016,[18] and introduced a fillings limit in 2019.[19] It started to trial virtual kitchens in 2020, after many of its stores were unable to open during the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

External links

References

  1. Pita makers keep rolling The Kingston Whig-Standard, retrieved January 13, 2015^
  2. Pita Pit USA announces change in ownership. Cision. Retrieved October 15, 2024^
  3. "Contact ." Pita Pit. Retrieved on February 23, 2010.^
  4. "Our Story ." Pita Pit. Retrieved on July 25, 2020.^
  5. Shaw Hollie. Pita Pit's international expansion coming at just the right time as competition heats up at home Financial Post, April 14, 2016, retrieved July 25, 2020^
  6. Colin Taylor. Pita Pit's expansion rests with franchisees The New Zealand Herald, November 19, 2011, retrieved July 25, 2020^
  7. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/may/11/riggs-opens-fast-food-venture/^
  8. https://idahobusinessreview.com/2011/01/12/coeur-dalene-based-pita-pit-seeks-to-expand/^
  9. Ian MacAlpine. Pita Pit, which originated in Kingston, sold to Montreal company The Kingston Whig Standard, August 5, 2021^
  10. Foodtastic acquires Pita Pit Restaurants Canada Newswire, August 3, 2021, retrieved 2024-06-05^
  11. Pita Pit pitapit.co.nz, Pita Pit, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  12. Heather du Plessis-Allan. Pita Pit dives into world of virtual restaurants New Zealand Media and Entertainment, 2 September 2020, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  13. Hamish McNicol. That's a wrap: How Pita Pit went from one NZ store to more than 100 in a decade 9 April 2017, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  14. Damien Venuto. The rise of fast-casual: Pita Pit launches its first TVC via Contagion ICG Media, 1 September 2014, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  15. Pita Pit Australia pitapit.com.au, Pita Pit Australia, retrieved March 1, 2024^
  16. Colin Taylor. Pita Pit's expansion rests with franchisees APN News & Media, 19 November 2011, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  17. Colin Taylor. Pita Pit's expansion rests with franchisees New Zealand Media and Entertainment, 19 November 2011, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  18. Kelley Tantau. New Pita Pit menu could be start of diabetes-friendly fast food stuff.co.nz, 6 December 2016, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  19. Sarah Templeton. Kiwi customers outraged after Pita Pit introduces fillings limit MediaWorks New Zealand, 3 May 2019, retrieved March 12, 2022^
  20. Aimee Shaw. Pita Pit dives into world of virtual restaurants New Zealand Media and Entertainment, 1 September 2020, retrieved March 12, 2022^