Pizza Nova Founder Named Finalist for Prime 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards
Sam Primucci, the passionate Italian meals appassionato who grew up on a working farm within the Basilicata area of Italy, has been shortlisted as a high 75 finalist for this yr’s Prime 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. Impressed by the success of his well-known pizza restaurant chain, Pizza Nova, the popularity coincides with the sixtieth anniversary of the enterprise he helped to begin in 1963, 11 years after arriving to Canada.
“It’s an honor to be acknowledged amongst such a various and galvanizing group of individuals,” Primucci stated. “Canada has been a land of alternative and group for me. I’m grateful, too, that so many Canadians have chosen to affix me in various methods through the years in my ardour for Italian meals and tradition. Grazie a tutti!”
Introduced by Canadian Immigrant journal, the awards program is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary and has change into Canada’s premier nationwide awards program celebrating the inspiring achievements of immigrants.
Associated: Ontario’s Pizza Nova celebrates new assist middle by unveiling portrait of its founder
Primucci immigrated to Canada in 1951 together with his household on the age of 12. The Primucci household left their working farm in Palazzo San Gervasio, Italy, and immigrated to Canada, the place they ultimately settled in Toronto, boarding with fellow immigrants and dealing at an asphalt-mixing firm. Seven months later, the household purchased its first house.
Primucci endured many challenges integrating into the Canadian college system. A simple goal, he was continuously bullied, and his confidence was shattered. By age 14, Sam began working, delivering pizzas for a Toronto restaurant. Gaining confidence on the job, Sam observed the development for deliveries, nonetheless new at the moment, and the thought of a take-out pizza restaurant was born in his thoughts.
Based by Primucci and his brothers, the primary Pizza Nova location opened on Could 12, 1963, 11 years to the day after the Primucci household immigrated to Canada. The household labored to broaden the enterprise, creating tons of of jobs and franchise enterprise alternatives alongside the way in which.
Pizza Nova now has greater than 150 shops and concession places in Southern Ontario. It additionally has a line of Primucci-branded merchandise that includes Additional Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Sizzling Peppers, Spicy Inexperienced Olives, and Sundried Black Olives.
A distinguished panel of judges made up of previous winners reviewed all nominees and offered a listing of 75 finalists. All Canadians can vote for his or her high nominees from April 11 by way of June 9 on the awards’ web site. The 25 winners will likely be introduced in August 2023 in Canadian Immigrant Journal and on-line at canadianImmigrant.ca.