BeaverTails pastries now available at 135 locations worldwide
Montreal, February 20, 2018 – BeaverTails, makers of unique and delicious BeaverTails® pastries, today announced its 40th anniversary.
Based on an old family recipe, BeaverTails pastries are a Canadian icon – a unique and delicious treat. Served hot and topped with numerous choices, including cinnamon & sugar, chocolate hazelnut spread, Reese’s® Pieces and peanut butter, BeaverTails pastries satisfy indulgences of all tastes.
From humble origins at the Killaloe Fair, west of Ottawa, BeaverTails are now available at 135 locations in eight countries.
“I’ve been here for 30 of the last 40 years!” says Pino Di Ioia who, with his wife Tina and twin brother Anthony, are majority owners of the BeaverTails brand. “We’re very proud of our growth and success but I can’t say it’s always been easy. Growth needs to be carefully managed and balanced with consistency. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that we must never lose sight of our customers, our brand or our vision.”
“The most amazing thing about our customers is their passion. A lot of people really love BeaverTails! And, particularly since the advent of social media, they tend to share their feelings. This communication with our customers is priceless. It guides our path forwards. More than anything, people associate BeaverTails with good times – going to an amusement park, the beach or a ski resort. And so, by continuously listening to our customers, we keep refining our vision. We don’t want to be everywhere. But, we do want to be at your favorite leisure destination. Ultimately, we want BeaverTails to be part of the special moments that make lifelong memories.”
Timeline
1978: Pam and Grant Hooker begin serving BeaverTails at the Killaloe Fair, west of Ottawa, Ontario.
Late 1970s: BeaverTails stores open at Ottawa landmarks the Byward Market and Rideau Canal.
1987: University student Pino Di Ioia takes a summer job as manager of the BeaverTails location at La Ronde (now a Six Flags theme park) in Montreal, Quebec. It is the first BeaverTails location outside the Ottawa area. Pino goes on to become a franchisee, master franchisee and CEO.
1990s: Quebec becomes BeaverTails’ largest market.
1990s: BeaverTails expands rapidly across Canada and abroad.
Early 2000s: Overextension forces BeaverTails into restructuring.
2002: The team of Pino Di Ioia, Tina Serrao and Anthony Di Ioia take over management of BeaverTails, move the head office to Montreal, pause expansion, close underperforming locations and introduce a new operations-focused culture.
2008: New boutique locations are opened with expanded menus, including ice cream and poutines.
2009: Pino, Tina and Anthony become majority owners of BeaverTails.
2015/2016: BeaverTails opens US locations in Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington, UT; Dollywood, TN and Wildwood, NJ.
Today, BeaverTails has 120 locations in Canada, nine locations in the US and six international locations in Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, France and Mexico.
As BeaverTails celebrates its 40th anniversary, it will open new locations in Belmont Park, San Diego, CA; Calaway Park, Calgary, AB; Cavendish, PEI; Cowabunga Bay, Las Vegas, NV; Jasper, AB; Kelowna, BC; Waterton, AB and Wisconsin Dells, WI.
For more information, please visit www.beavertails.com.