Parhas Receives Trip To Europe From Zepole Supply Co. For Silver Anniversary Of Service

Zepole Supply Co., northeastern Illinois' best-known supplier of high-quality restaurant equipment, supplies and integrated kitchen design, is pleased to honor one of its top sales professionals with a trip to Europe in recognition of a quarter-century of outstanding performance.

Angelo Parhas, a resident of Hoffman Estates, Ill., who recently embarked on his 26th year with Zepole Supply Co., and his wife will visit Italy and Greece this year, compliments of his employer.

"Bring me any of the top sales producers in the industry, and I would not trade Angelo for any one of them," says Gary N. Thiakos, president of Zepole Supply Co. "He is selfless-for his company and for his customers. I cannot say enough about what he has accomplished for Zepole, his customers and the foodservice industry, and I am proud and honored to know him and work with him."

Parhas immigrated with his parents to Chicago in 1967 from the small town of Levidi near Tripoli in Greece. His father, a shepherd in his homeland, in Chicago made a life for the family as a pressman for a suit maker. Since he arrived in the United States at the age of 12, Parhas has traveled to Greece many times to visit family and friends.

Planning their trip abroad later this year, the Parhas will explore Rome and Florence, among other cities in Italy-a country the couple has never visited. In Greece, they will spend part of their time in Parhas' hometown situated on the northeastern slope of the Mainalo mountains, a region known for its rich farmland and dense forests.

Parhas expressed gratitude toward Zepole Supply Co., not only for the gift of a trip abroad, but for being an ideal employer for nearly half of Parhas' life.

"It's a great company to work for, in every single way," Parhas says. "They're very good people who are deeply committed to quality and service, which is why they give me complete freedom to be as valuable to our customers as possible.

"I would like to thank the Thiakos family for all their support, making me love my job," Parhas continues. "I am especially grateful to Nick Thiakos, the founder of Zepole, for giving me the chance in 1987 to work there. I would also like to thank Lottie Rakus, our office manager for more than 20 years, for all her help."

About Zepole Supply Co.
Zepole Supply Co. based in Bolingbrook, Ill., was founded in 1982 by veteran restaurateur Nicholas Thiakos, Sr. For more than 30 years, family-owned and operated Zepole Supply Co. has been helping restaurants and other foodservice operations throughout metro Chicago fill their kitchens with the highest-quality, most-affordable commercial equipment on the market, as well as design back-of-house facilities to maximize staff workflow and performance. From kitchen and bar supplies to dinnerware to disposables, and from cooking equipment to refrigeration to smallwares, Zepole is the best-known one-stop source for design, installation and resupply in the region. For more information, visit www.zepole.com or call (630) 783-1239.