In the fall of 1982, General Foods Limited was looking for a buyer for the food services end of its business, which included all of its White Spot Limited holdings. Most, if not all, offers were expected to come from large companies. It was only with reluctance that Robert W. Hiller, controller of General Foods, Limited accepted a call late in the business day from an unknown British Columbia entrepreneur, Peter C. Toigo, who wanted to discuss White Spot and the possibility of purchasing it. A few weeks later, a handshake deal was reached regarding the sale of the company, at a price of $38 million. By the end of December 1982, White Spot became part of Shato Holdings Limited, the company Peter had formed in 1969. After 15 years, ownership of White Spot Limited was once again in the hands of a B.C. resident. Immediately after the purchase, Peter hired Peter T. Main as president and CEO of White Spot Limited. Main’s appointment marked the start of the most aggressive development program in the company’s history.

During the 1980s, the catering division had grown and Kentucky Fried Chicken had expanded to virtually every community throughout the province. White Spot was a neighbourhood presence not only in Greater Vancouver but in Kelowna, Abbotsford, Nanaimo and Victoria. The company’s commissary alone was one of the largest food-manufacturing operations in western Canada.

Two other landmark projects were connected with Expo 86, Vancouver’s 1986 World Exposition. Appointed as the host restaurant at the B.C. Pavilion, White Spot opened a 325-seat restaurant, Nat Bailey’s on the Plaza. A second Expo venture, The Galleria, was also managed by White Spot. Located on the third floor above Nat Bailey’s, The Galleria hosted visiting dignitaries including Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Princess Margaret and George Bush, then vice-president of the United States. As White Spot Limited entered the 1990s, a new strength and new vision was emerging. For the first time, White Spot introduced franchising as an option, celebrating the opening of its first franchise, in Vernon, B.C., in March 1993.

From Nat Bailey, White Spot inherited pride in its menu and a respect for its guests. From General Foods, it gained modern business procedures and marketing approaches. Today, Peter Toigo’s White Spot combines the best of these worlds, making it a fitting monument both to Nat’s original dream and Peter’s ongoing drive for innovation and excellence.