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. Today there are 80 restaurants in the group.

In addition to its restaurant outlets, the company also expanded into the take-away market with the launch of its La Porchetta Express concept in 2000. Offering a selected range of take-away menu items, and operating from within retail outlets such as shopping centres, La Porchetta Express prides itself on offering franchisees greater choice and flexibility.

Pantaleo was 53 at the time of his death and leaves a wife and four children.