When they took over from their parents in 2018, the five Abbatiello siblings set themselves the goal of opening 100 restaurants by 2024.
“On September 30 we opened our 100th Pizza Salvatoré. From there, we needed new objectives,” says Élisabeth Abbatiello, vice-president of communications and outreach and partner of the Abbatiello Group.
The five brothers and sisters of the family company Groupe Abbatiello: Frédéric, Katarina, Guillaume Jr, Elisabeth and Sébastien Abbatiello. (Abbatiello Group)
Over the years, the Abbatiello Group has diversified its activities by acquiring the TopLa! channel. and by launching Crèmerie chez Mamie. “We imagined the concept from A to Z. We wanted neighborhood creameries at affordable prices,” underlines Ms. Abbatiello.
Faced with the enormous success of Pizza Salvatoré in Quebec, the Abbatiello family even received a buyout offer.
“We refused. We are family. We instead decided to target 500 restaurants, all banners combined, by 2029.”
— Élisabeth Abbatiello, vice-president of communications and outreach and partner of the Abbatiello Group
The pizzeria is now present in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario. However, expansion is slower than expected, particularly in Ontario. “The competition is very strong. We’re not sure it’s going to explode in Ontario. We are careful in our actions,” she admits.
Growth will therefore come through diversification in Quebec, she emphasizes. “Pizza Salvatoré is saturated in Quebec. There is just a little space left in Montreal where we are going to open around twenty restaurants in 2025.”
Poulet frit
For its fourth banner, the Group turned to a product that is experiencing growing popularity in Quebec, fried chicken.
-“We wanted a company that already existed. Jack Le Coq is well established in the Montreal region with a large sales volume without advertising. The channel was not for sale. We had to be very aggressive on price to get it.”
— Élisabeth Abbatiello, vice-president of communications and outreach and partner of the Abbatiello Group
Founded by Jacques Gaspo, Jack Le Coq currently has five establishments in the Montreal region. “He’s a legend in the restaurant world. The most popular restaurants in Montreal were created by him,” mentions Élisabeth Abbatiello.
Mr. Gaspo is notably behind La Belle et La Bœuf.
Quebec in spring
Groupe Abbatiello will open five Jack Le Coq branches in the Quebec region by summer. “We own commercial buildings, which facilitates our expansion, and we have several franchisees interested in the new project,” rejoices Ms. Abbatiello.
Potential locations include Beauport, Sainte-Foy, Charlesbourg and L’Ancienne-Lorette.
Subsequently, the Abbatiello Group plans to establish itself throughout Quebec by the end of 2025.
At the same time, the Group is working on the acquisition of a fifth banner. In the more distant future, the Abbatiello family also aims to make a name for itself throughout Canada.
