When Pita Pit began back in 1995, Braveheart was Best Picture, Seinfeld was all the rage, the OJ Simpson trial was headline news, the Worldwide Web was just taking off and the DVD was new—and a major innovation.

So was the idea that drove Nelson Lang and John Sotiriadis to open their first Pita Pit in Kingston, Ontario.

Today’s trend toward healthier eating was still a long way off, but Nelson and John were ahead of the curve. They were convinced the time was right to offer a fresh, healthy alternative to traditional high-fat, high-carb, high-calorie fast foods. Their Lebanese-style pita sandwiches packed with fresh veggies, grilled meats and zesty sauces were an instant hit with the college and university crowd, especially since the store stayed open late—well into the wee hours of the morning, making it perfect for students taking a break from studying or coming home after a night of partying.

Within two years, franchise stores had begun opening right across Canada. Two years later, they were opening in the USA where the concept took off immediately with consumers of all ages.

Today, there are more than 650 Pita Pit stores in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Clearly, Pita Pit’s “fresh thinking, healthy eating” motto is an idea whose time has come.