Franchising.net.au:
One of the founders of the La Porchetta Italian restaurant franchise, Rocky Pantaleo, has died in a traffic accident.
Franchisees, ex-franchisees and suppliers have been among those sending their condolences.
According to Inside Retailing, Pantaleo was killed when his motorbike was hit by a car at the notorious Melbourne intersection of St Kilda Rd, Fitzroy St and Punt Rd, just after 11.30am on Friday 26 March.
Pantaleo came to Australia from Italy in 1977 when he was 21. In 1985 he and his business partner, Felice Nania, took over a run-down restaurant in North Carlton called La Porchetta. They began franchising the concept five years later, with their first franchise restaurant opening in Victoria’s Reservoir in 1990.