Luigi “Lou” Canale; Began Firm of Catering Trucks

Luigi “Lou” Canale, 73, pioneer owner of catering trucks. Canale served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II and earned 10 medals for bravery. After the war, as coffee breaks developed at factories and businesses, he began selling his wife’s homemade cookies and sandwiches. He bought a small truck and set it up as a portable snack counter, driving it from factory to factory. Overcoming obstacles, including the explosion of a propane tank that destroyed his catering truck in 1947, Canale built Canale Foods Inc. The catering concern, headquartered in Newport Beach, has been operating for more than half a century and now serves hungry workers throughout California and the Phoenix area. Over the years, Canale added indoor vending service and snack bars to his trucks. On Tuesday near San Juan Capistrano in a car accident.