King Pie Opens Valley Franchise, Aims For 370 In Canada In 5 Years

If King Pie Canada vice-president and chief executive officer Maurice McCarthy has his way, Rothesay can claim it had one of the first franchises in the rapidly growing chain.

Enlarge Photo Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge K�t� LeBlanc/Telegraph-Journal Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the King Pie franchise in Rothesay Saturday are, left to right, KV Chamber of Commece president Rick Demone, Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop, franchise owners Aurora and Alan Freemantle, Maurice McCarthy, executive vice-president and CEO of King Pie Canada and Rothesay MLA Margaret-Ann Blaney.

McCarthy was one hand Saturday for the grand opening of the King Pie location in Rothesay, along with owners Alan and Aurora Freemantle; Mayor Bill Bishop, Rothesay MLA Margaret-Ann Blaney, Kennebecasis Valley Chamber of Commerce president Rick Demone and Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll.

"We're gearing up to open 370 stores in the first five years across Canada," McCarthy said. "I feel we can go up to 800 in the first five years." The Freemantles' store in Rothesay is the second King Pie in the country and the only one in Eastern Canada. McCarthy said the key for expansion is to get people to understand what a King Pie is.

"A typical North American would consider pie like cherry or apple," he said. "We're in the meat, vegetable and cheese pie business." King Pie originated in South Africa in 1993 and has more than 350 locations worldwide. The owners of the Rothesay store are natives of King Pie's birthplace.

The Freemantles moved to Canada eight years ago. The couple spent time in Calgary and Fort McMurray before moving to New Brunswick and being sold on the province by the Maritimers they met in Fort McMurray.

The pair had been looking into a new business venture and decided to open the franchise in the Fairvale Mall in Rothesay. Alan Freemantle described the decision as challenging.

"It's a real challenge and we've always looked for challenges in our lives," he said. "Just Coming to Canada was a challenge.

"One of the things as you get older, you get more courage. I don't know why that is.

"We took a leap of faith, but it's certainly worked out for us." As for their adoptive home, he said Rothesay reminds him of South Africa, from the green spaces to the people.

"It's a pleasure and an honour to be in this area," he said. "We've been accepted so well by the people of Rothesay, it's been unbelievable. We've really fallen in love with this place." In addition to the goal of expanding to more than 300 stores in the next few years, McCarthy said there are plans to get the company's pies sold in groceries stores across the country.

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