Greek chain expanding to Alberta and B.C.

TORONTO-Vicki Vasillou and her partner Howard Rocket are planning to bring Greek cuisine to food courts across Canada.

They have scheduled their fifth Feta & Olives Greek Kitchen quick service kiosk to open in Devonshire Mall in Windsor in June.

After that they have four more scheduled to open in the late summer or fall: in the Exchange Tower and Atrium on Bay in downtown Toronto, the Willowbrook Mall in Langley, BC and the University of Alberta Hub Mall.

The company also has a deal for the Chinook Centre mall in Calgary, however another company currently occupies the location. That unit will open by September, and the company will announce the location soon.

On top of this, in Ontario they plan to open another six locations, primarily in food courts.

Vasillou told PRN that she decided on a Greek concept because the Mediterranean diet is popular now.

It certainly seems to be with franchisees, the way she explains it. She says all original franchisees have taken a second outlet, or are waiting for another.

"Feta & Olives performs in the top half of its respective mall standings report in all of its locations, which is fantastic!" Vasillou added.

Vasillou designed the kiosks to look sleek and modern, setting them apart from Greek restaurants with the traditional blue and white décor. She also put together the menu, with its emphasis on fresh and healthful food.

The restaurant veteran was a vice-president at Pita Pizzaz for 16 years before starting her own foodservice consultancy called V2.

She met Rocket when she was working as a consultant for Carole's Cheesecake Café in Toronto, in which she is an investor. Rocket, who developed the Tridont Health Care Inc. dental franchises in the 1980s, was also an investor in the café.

They opened their first Feta & Olives unit in Georgian Mall in Barrie, and by the end of last year had opened three more, in Stone Road Mall in Guelph, Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and White Oaks Mall in London.