The award was presented by Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine in particular recognition of the restaurant chain's charitable activities.

And Boston Pizza's Halifax franchisees Rick and Hank VanPoelgeest, Jeff Keeler and their employees, have been honoured with a second place S.T.A.R.S. Award for the second half of 2002, following up its previous awards of Franchisee of the Year in March/02 and first and second places in two previous S.T.A.R.S. Awards periods.

The S.T.A.R.S. Awards (Standards + Training + Action = Results in Sales) recognizes and rewards the staff of individual Boston Pizza restaurants that consistently demonstrate the best practices in guest service, execution of operational standards, maximizing sales and menu execution.

In addition, the company has been regularly honoured since 1994 as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. And in 2002, Mike Cordoba, president and COO, was listed as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 by Report on Business Magazine.

The company, which also has a regional office in Mississauga, Ont., to support its expansion, has more than 160 restaurants. Its sales in 2002 were more than $300 million. Since 1990, it has raised more than $2 million for a variety of charities. The Boston Pizza Foundation, established in 1990, manages the companty's charitable interestsand activities.

Boston Pizza's advertising is handled by Bryant Fulton & Shee, Vancouver. Its public relations is headed by Trillium Corporate Communications Inc., Toronto.