MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 11 /CNW/ - It is with great sadness that The Second Cup Coffee Company Inc. announced the passing of its owner, Chairman and CEO, Gabriel (Gabe) T. Tsampalieros.
Gabe Tsampalieros purchased the Second Cup Ltd. and Second Cup International in 2006 through his company, The Second Cup Coffee Company Inc. In addition, Mr. Tsampalieros was a member of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Second Cup GP Inc., a direct subsidiary of the Second Cup Royalty Income Fund (TSX: SCU.UN).
Mr. Tsampalieros, along with his Board of Directors and Family Trust, built a strong management team and strategic plan for The Second Cup Ltd. The company will continue to grow along with its franchise partners under current management with plans solidly in place.
Second Cup GP Inc., the administrator of the Second Cup Royalty Income Trust Fund, is expected to appoint a CEO for their subsidiary which will be announced in due course.
Under Gabe's leadership, Second Cup remained Canada's largest franchised specialty coffee company in Canada with 360 cafes and doubling its presence internationally with a further 52 cafes in the Middle East and Turkey as well as opening its first cafe in the United States.
From 1995 to 2006, Mr. Tsampalieros served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Cara Operations Limited, Canada's leading integrated restaurant company and the largest operator of full-service restaurants in Canada.
Prior to joining Cara, Mr. Tsampalieros was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dinecorp Hospitality Inc., which he Co-Founded in 1981. Dinecorp was primarily engaged in the development and operation of restaurants and restaurant complexes and was the largest franchisee of Swiss Chalet and Harvey's Restaurants (both Cara owned concepts).
Mr. Tsampalieros was a graduate of Concordia University (Bachelor of Arts, 1970) and the University of Ottawa (Bachelor of Laws, Cum Laude, 1973). He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1975 and practiced law in Toronto, with the national firm of Osler Hoskin & Harcourt from 1975 to 1986 (the last six years as a Partner).
Mr. Tsampalieros received a number of awards and recognitions from both within and outside the Hospitality Industry. In 1997, he was named "Chain Operator of the Year" by Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine; in 2001, he was named operator of the year by the Ontario Hostelry Association ("OHA"); and in 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the OHA. In 2001, he was invested as an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. He was an initial electee to the Honour Society of the Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa.
In 2007, each of the University of Guelph and the University of Ottawa bestowed on Gabe an honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree in recognition of his extraordinary vision as an entrepreneur and commitment to education. An active participant in the community, Gabe served as Co-Chair of the $200 million University of Ottawa - Capital Campaign for Canada's University (2003-2007), as Honourary Chair of the Kidney Foundation 2007 Gala, served on the Board of Governors of the University of Guelph (2001 to 2004) and a member its Finance Committee, the Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto (Canada).
Gabe leaves behind his wife, Yolande, (nee Metelski) and two daughters Dr. Anne, (Dr. Nick Schieda) and Julia.
We thank Gabe for his leadership, his caring, commitment and absolute passion for this business, the influence of which will carry on for years to come.
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