I n 2017, Neel Lakhani landed in Regina not knowing what the future would hold for him. He had no idea that in a few short years, he would be at the forefront of a growing food-service empire stretching across the country. His family’s move from overseas was one of adaptation, education, and pure ambition. “I was in grade seven when we came,” Lakhani recalls. “When we first landed in Regina, I started working with my uncle, giving him a hand with his stores. He had eight Subway franchises at the time and had been in Canada for fifteen years. He knew what he was doing. I kind of got the hang of it from there.” A fire was lit inside Lakhani due to the early exposure to the restaurant world, showing him firsthand how to juggle inventory, manage staff, and the importance of great customer service and surrounding yourself with great people. Lakhani was busy learning lessons in business and leadership while most teenagers were occupied with video games, sports, and life’s simplicities. The most defining leap and biggest gamble came in 2020, when the Lakhani family saw an opportunity in a world-changing pandemic that closed countless restaurants across Canada. While most were scrambling for ways to save their businesses, the Lakhani family was looking for opportunities and finding ways to open new restaurants. “We bought the stores mid-COVID,” Lakhani explains. “At that time, restaurants were closed. It was a big gamble, but we knew what we were walking into. My dad needed support as English is his second language, and he wasn’t getting much help. I was only fifteen or sixteen, but I said, ‘I’ll jump in and help with lawyers, interviews, training, and that’s how it all started.”All while Lakhani was doing studies on the side.
“When I did my first employee interview, I was still a teenager,” he recalls. “The brand trusted someone so young, which I really appreciated. I had my dad by my side, but it was still a huge opportunity. I’ll always be grateful for that trust.” Their first acquisitions were two Pita Pit locations - one in Truro and another in New Glasgow in the province of Nova Scotia. The move east was partly strategic and partly lifestyle-driven. “The East Coast was where my friends were buying businesses. It was a good opportunity for us,”he says.“Plus, going from minus 45 degrees in Saskatchewan to plus 20 in Nova Scotia, that was a bonus.” The Lakhani family signed the deal in June of 2020, moved to the East Coast in October of 2020, and opened the restaurant in December of 2020. The growth from those first two Pita Pit stores through the pandemic had taken Lakhani by surprise. By June of 2022, Lakhani and his partners had acquired a Pizza Delight franchise, which is an iconic Maritime brand. By December of 2023, they added two more Pita Pit locations in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Then, in March of 2024, came another new addition - Booster Juice, to their already long list of successful restaurants. The choices of the chosen franchises were intentional. “I had experience with Subway, but the royalty fees in American franchises are higher. Canadian brands are growing quickly and still expanding. There’s a lot more room for growth. For example, in one town, you might see two or three Subways competing, but only one Pita Pit. That gives you more market to cover, and more credibility.” Many Canadians agree to support local more than ever, and giving the communities more Canadian choices to choose from will help aid in both Canada’s
When you buy a franchise, you’re buying a full-time job. ” “
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