Our team

FRANCOIS DESROSIERS

- Marketing

marketing@restolutions.com

About Francois

François Desrosiers holds an MBA and BA in Business Administration from HEC Montreal. He offers nearly 30 years of experience in management, marketing and business development in the competitive world of product and service marketing and distribution at Metro, Kentucky Fried Chicken, St-Hubert, Atlantic Promotions, Provigo and Cantrex.

Ombudsman at the Conseil Québécois de la Franchise, speaker, marketing columnist and lecturer at HEC Montreal and the University of Montreal for over 20 years, François Desrosiers was named Marketing Personality of the Year and won the Retail Category at the 1992 American Marketing Association Awards. He is also the proud winner of a Silver Lion presented at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

FRANCOIS’ AREAS OF EXPERTISE
  • Marketing Audits and Expert Reports
  • Market Analysis and Identification of Business Opportunities
  • Development and Facilitation of Training Programs
  • Development and Optimization of Restaurant Concepts
  • Mentoring and Organization of the Marketing Function
  • Optimization of Outlet Profitability
  • Strategic/Tactical Planning and Implementation
  • Presentations at Conferences and Seminars
  • Local Marketing Programs
  • Qualitative Marketing Research

    IAN PERREAULT

    - Chef

    chef@restolutions.com

    About Ian

    Originally from Plessisville, Quebec, Ian Perreault developed his skills over the years working in 18 restaurants throughout the province before opening his own establishment. He had the opportunity to master his art working alongside renowned chefs at Jongleux Café, Montreo, Toqué!, and Café Massawippi. He then opened his first establishment, named Area, quickly followed by a second restaurant, named Halte Urbaine. He also created and operated Ian Perreault Prêt à Manger in Outremont. Now executive chef of Bistro Chez Lionel, Ian enjoys providing guidance to restaurateurs seeking his advice about recipes, menu development and kitchen management.

    Ian has a great experience in catering. He served groups from 10 to 5000 guests.

    Ian regularly appears on various television programs including A la di Stasio, Des Kiwis et des Hommes, Coup de pouce, Jean Soulard, L'été c'est péché, Pour le plaisir et Salut Bonjour Weekend.

    Ian also collaborated on corporate videos for Metro and Molson Coors.

    He is the recipient of the 2004 Roger-Champoux Award from the Fondation des Amis de l’Art Culinaire in Montréal. Ian wrote a book on cooking “La Cuisine Revisitée” and also collaborated with many other publications.

    IAN’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Kitchen Design
    • Menu Development
    • Cost Management
    • Kitchen Staff Training

    KARINA NARDI

    - Advertising, Promotions,
    Graphic Design, Printing
    and Web Solutions.

    karina@restolutions.com

    About Karina

    After training in marketing, Karina worked for ten years with uncommon passion in renowned advertising agencies on major accounts including Coca-Cola, Via Rail, Canada Post, Bombardier and Fido. In 1999, she founded Produktions K, and in 2014 won the Multichannel Marketing Grand Prize at the Relationship Marketing Association’s Gala Flèche d’Or. Karina has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, working on major projects for clients such as Molson for over 15 years.She has also built strong, long-standing relationships based on listening, attention to detail and results with Natrel, Olymel, Agropur, Lassonde and Tim Hortons.

    KARINA’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Advertising
    • Experiential and Promotional Marketing
    • Interactive and Mobile Marketing
    • Copywriting, Art Direction, Translation, Revision (French and English)
    • Graphic Design and Print Management Studio
    • Promotional Contest Development and Management
    • Product Launches
    • Photography, Illustration
    • Development and Construction of Custom Kiosks

    ETIENNE CHARUEST

    - Management and Operations

    management@restolutions.com

    About Etienne

    With over 15 years of restaurant management experience, and having owned restaurants himself, Etienne Charuest has extensive knowledge of the business realities and challenges with which restaurateurs currently contend. He has worked with a number of operations management technologies and has extensive knowledge of the Quebec and Canadian markets. He has opened over 15 restaurants in North America, has supervised and coached staffs in 17 restaurants in Quebec and has recruited over 300 managers and employees. Etienne has worked for successful restaurant businesses such as SirCorp (Jack Astor's) and Boston Pizza.

    ETIENNE’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Sales and Cost Analysis
    • Review of Financial Statements
    • Implementation of Operational Control Tools
    • Profitability and Recovery
    • Forecasting and Budget Management
    • Implementation of Inventory Systems
    • Executive Search
    • Leadership Coaching

    GILBERT VOCELLE

    - Real Estate and Financing

    realestate@restolutions.com

    About Gilbert

    Gilbert Vocelle is a graduate of HEC Montreal’s MBA program (1979), is a Certified General Accountant (CPA-CGA) (1987) and holds a Real Estate Broker license (2004). From 1991 to 2002, Gilbert has held positions in senior management at SITQ Inc. and Ivanhoe Cambridge, two international real estate companies. At Ivanhoe Cambridge, Gilbert participated in the planning and redevelopment of several shopping center food courts under his responsibility, including those at Place Sainte-Foy and Place Laurier in Quebec City, the Centre Eaton in downtown Montreal, the Galeries Rive-Nord in Repentigny, and the Mail Champlain in Brossard, just to name a few.

    Moreover, Gilbert is well-known throughout the real estate industry and retail trade in Canada, having served as the Provincial Director on the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for three years from 2000 to 2002.

    GILBERT’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE

    LOCATION

    • Development Strategy
    • Market and Site Qualification
    • Rental and Leasing Contract Negotiations
    • Post-Leasing Support (During Construction and Once the Leased Establishment is Opened)
    BUILDING ACQUISITION
    • Analysis of Requirements for New or Existing Sites
    • Identification of Potential Buyers for Existing Sites
    • Project Development for Potential Buildings, i.e. Comparative Market Analysis
    • Drafting Purchase Offers
    • Contract Negotiations with Sellers
    • Tracking Due Diligence Realization
    FINANCING
    • Financial Needs Analysis
    • Search for Financial Partners
    • Negotiating Financing Terms
    • Monitoring Post-Financing Satisfaction

    LARRY SAURO

    - Accounting

    accounting@restolutions.com

    About Larry

    Larry Sauro graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from McGill University. A Chartered Accountant since 1986, he worked for Deloitte Touche for a number of years, then acquired over 20 years of experience on the corporate side, most notably as Assistant Vice President at Montreal Trust and as CFO at Nexinnovations, Canada’s largest computer retailer. Self-employed for the past eight years, Larry provides accounting, income tax and sales tax services to businesses and individuals.

    LARRY’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Financial Statements
    • Review Mission
    • Mission Compilation
    • Bookkeeping
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate and Personal Income Tax
    • Sales Tax

    GILLES TREPANIER

    - Business Development,
    Merchandising and Sales

    development@restolutions.com

    About Gilles

    After studying restaurant and hotel management at Montreal’s Institut de Tourisme et d’Hotellerie du Quebec (ITHQ), Gilles Trépanier had a successful career for nearly 40 years at Canada’s leading brewery. He worked specifically with restaurant and bar operators and over the years, has developed a comprehensive network of contacts with major industry players in Canada.

    His specialty is to propose innovative business solutions that deliver customer satisfaction and business performance.

    GILLES’ AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Business and Marketing Plans
    • Contract Negotiation
    • Development and Implementation of Promotional Programs
    • Project Management
    • Product Launches
    • In-Store Merchandising

    YVAN PIQUETTE

    - Design, Development
    and Construction

    construction@restolutions.com

    About Yvan

    After working for several years in large industrial companies, including a period during which he was President of Pittsburgh Casteel, Yvan Piquette entered the restaurant business and has since met with success in establishing both franchise and independent stores. As President of Prime Restaurants Quebec (Casey's and East Side Mario's) for 10 years, he oversaw the construction of more than 20 restaurants. He then became Executive Vice President of Houston Canada Inc, and was responsible for identifying sites, negotiating leases, selecting financial and operations partners, managing construction and launching operations. Under this banner, he oversaw 11 restaurant openings in 3 years.

    YVAN'S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Negotiation of Trade Agreements
    • Construction Project Management
    • Business Plans
    • Restaurant Concept Development and Implementation of
    • Organizational Structures

    PETER KARAVOULIAS

    - Lawyer - Legal Affairs

    legal@restolutions.com

    About Peter

    From the age of 14, Peter Karavoulias was initiated and made his debut in the restaurant business. However, during all his years of study, until obtaining his legal title in 2004, Me Karavoulias had the opportunity to gain undeniable experience in the restaurant industry.

    In 2010, Karavoulias Avocats was created, through which Me Karavoulias and his team ensure that the rights and interests of his clients are protected in the broad areas that business law may include. In doing so, Me Karavoulias practices his profession more particularly in cases involving a particular specialization in Franchise law, corporate restructuring, commercial leases, shareholder agreements without forgetting the commercial litigation aspect.

    Mr Karavoulias strives, within the framework of his mandates, to find the solution adapted to the specific needs of his clients and does not hesitate to think outside the box in order to achieve this.

    PETER’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Corporate and commercial law
    • Franchise agreements
    • Real estate law
    • Shareholders’ agreements
    • All permits and licenses (alcohol permits, MAPAQ, etc.)
    • Review and negotiation of all contracts
    Alex Langlois

    ALEX LANGLOIS

    - Digital marketing

    digital@restolutions.com

    About Alex

    Innovation trumps everything…
    A digital expert, strategic planer, CEO, and foodie, Alex Langlois devotes his life to digital technologies. Having completed more than 2,000 projects to date, the CEO and partner at Radiance Media and L’Agence numérique Hoffman has developed an expertise in digital experiences such as websites, mobile apps, e-commerce and content marketing.

    As an eternal optimist, Alex believes there is always a solution to be found that can transform his clients’ digital initiatives into memorable and rewarding experiences. In fact, Alex and his team’s mission is to create value in every project, find suitable and achievable solutions in order to become, and remain, the most profitable marketing investment for his clients.

    Devoted father and business enthousiast, he is a member Entrepreneur’s Organization and Executive President for the Association du Marketing Relationnel in Québec.

    Nothing is impossible…

    ALEX’S AREAS OF EXPERTISE
    • Digital strategy and performance analysis
    • Ideation
    • Digital content creation
    • Design and user experience
    • Web programming
    • Mobile development
    • E-commerce
    • Digital advertising
    • Web analytics
    Alex Langlois

    Chef Francois Samson

    - Culinary and Business Development

    chefcoconut@gmail.com

    About Francois

    You are the architect of your life...
    Business advisor, coach and entrepreneur with a passion for creative business development.

    Francois has traveled the world creating menus and meals in 12 different countries while integrating the multiple business models that the food and beverage has to offer.

    He has served international elite customers aboard the most prestigious yachts, resorts, hotels and fine dining restaurant serving many well-known celebrities including Beyonce, Jay-z, Tom Hanks, Bono and work alongside most recognized and celebrated chefs.

    3stars Michelin trained, François graduated from Montreal Culinary Institute at the top of his class. He earned an exclusive apprenticeship at George Blanc restaurant in Vonas, France    a “gold-standard” for chefs worldwide.

    Since then, chef François Samson has established himself in the Pacific North West where he had 3 F&B businesses and now happily offers consultant services. He has hands-on understanding from the ground up of the requirements essential for successful restaurant operations. He is driven to achieve team successes through an approach of never-ending and consistent improvement with passion for personal development while mastering various coaching techniques to extract and enhance the best contribution from the people that he serves in his leadership role.

    Create an outstanding day for yourself!

    Francois’s area of expertise
    • Menu development
    • Food Cost Control
    • Concept development
    • Business development
    • Innovative and creative business development
    • Coaching and performance achievement for individuals and teams
    • Networking, discovering and connecting talented individuals
    Rocco Lofano

    Rocco Lofano

    - Franchising and Business development

    About Rocco

    Rocco is a seasoned executive with a solid track record for several leading restaurant brands, international and regional. He is an expert in operation with stellar franchise management skills and a customer service-oriented style that fosters superior restaurant growth. Over 40 years experience in the restaurant industry, positions held, Eastern region Vice President for McDonalds Canada and Vice President for business development for Les rotisseries St-Hubert and Harvey’s restaurants. Under his leadership he was responsible for over 450 restaurants and 100 franchises. Profitable restaurants accompanied with talented franchises are among his most important business values.

    Active executive member of CQF

    Rocco’s areas of expertise :

    Franchisor

    • Development of franchising programs
    • Site optimisation and qualified franchise selection
    • Operation optimization
    • Business development strategy
    • In depth market knowledge
    • Development of high-performance teams


    Franchise

    • Due diligence for franchise selection
    • Profit statement analysis with recovery plan
    • Negotiation: selling - acquisitions
    • Optimizing site profitability with business plan


    Executive development

    • Leadership mentoring
    • Strategic business planning
    • Board advisory