US Pizza Chain Papa John’s to Re-Enter in Indian Markets, Eyeing for 2025 launch

Oven Story, from the house of Rebel Foods, the world’s largest cloud kitchen restaurant company, has announced the launch of Oven Story Pizza’s second physical store in India. Located at Krishna Planet, Vallabh Vidyanagar, in Anand, Gujarat.

This new outlet underscores the brand's commitment to bringing innovative and delicious pizzas to communities across the country. 

Located in the heart of Anand, Gujarat—a city known for its vibrant student community and thriving culture—this new store is poised to cater to the region's growing enthusiasm for pizza. 

The outlet covers a spacious area at a prime location on Anand-Vidyanagar Road, designed to provide a cosy dine-in experience alongside take-away and delivery options. The store will operate daily from 11 AM to midnight, ensuring accessibility for all customers.

“Anand holds immense potential for us, given its dynamic student population and evolving culinary preferences. This store reflects our vision to make Oven Story the go-to destination for gatherings, where people can come together to enjoy our unique pizzas. With this launch, we aim to strengthen our presence in Gujarat, a key market for our growth strategy. As we plan to open 200 stores across India, this is an exciting step forward in our journey,” shared Raghav Joshi, Co-Founder of Rebel Foods.

The Anand outlet introduces several industry-first features, setting a new benchmark for customer experience. Among these is the "Make Your Own Pizza" experience, where customers can personalise their pizzas. Adding to the delight, dine-in customers can enjoy complimentary garlic bread served within minutes of ordering, along with a free cheese burst upgrade, enhancing their overall dining experience.

This opening is part of Oven Story's ambitious plan to establish a stronger offline presence, with a goal of opening 200 stores within the next 24 months. The expansion strategy focuses on Tier I and Tier II cities, where the demand for quality dining experiences is on the rise.

Hauz Khas in Delhi has got a new address for customers to try Italian cuisine, ‘Trattoria Hugo’.

Hugo is the story of two cousins, Prateek and Rachit, a story that travels through the cobblestone streets in the interiors of the Italian countryside, a place the brothers would visit for business other than ‘food’ but they always found themselves unwinding over a spectacular culinary adventure at every trip they made. 

Hugo as a concept took shape in October 2023 and has come to fruition in April 2024. A chef centric space that aspires to be dynamic in a way that allows the kitchen to be in a constant state of creation and development of new dishes. 

The menu has been designed exclusively by the partners, Prateek and Rachit along with the in-house chefs at Hugo. The brand showcases classics done like an Italian Nonna, Chicken Parmigiana, Meatballs in Bisque and the eternally decadent Brioche Bun Lobster Rolls & Fried Chicken Rolls. The most unique selling point here lies in the synergy of good coffee, good food, good prices, all in one gorgeous bistro.

Pizza Hut's introduction of its global hit, Melts, signifies the brand's venture into a fresh category within the Indian market.

The freshly introduced Melts has a crispy, cheesy, and filled profile. Melts has been customized to cater to the specific taste preferences of Indian consumers.

It presents six variations: Loaded Veggie BBQ, Loaded Chicken BBQ, Cheesy Cheese, Cheesy Cheese Chicken, Magical Makhni Paneer, and Chicken Tikka and Keema Supreme.

 “Melts is a product unlike any we have ever had in India, and marks our entry into a brand-new category.We are thrilled to launch such a versatile food item that is so convenient to eat, anytime, anywhereensuringno interruption, only satisfaction for our customers who are always on the go. The variety of flavours and a great value price point will surelydelight and surprise all Pizza Hut lovers, and we are eagerly awaiting their response.” said Merrill Pereyra, Managing Director, Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent.

Melts is offered at an economical starting price of Rs. 169 and can be found at over 850 Pizza Hut outlets throughout India, catering to dine-in, delivery, and takeaway preferences.

Furthermore, Pizza Hut presents various combinations for Melts including options like the Melts Meal for 1 and the 3-course Meal for 2.

Alongside Melts, Pizza Hut has revealed its Thin N' Crispy crust, showcasing a variety of topping combinations, providing customers with an array of choices for their pizza crust preferences.

Pizza Hut has joined forces with Yeastie Boys, a bagel food truck concept based in Los Angeles, to introduce an exclusive Big New Yorker Pizza Bagel.

This unique creation will first appear at Yeastie Boys' food trucks located in both L.A. and New York City.

The unveiling is set to take place during Rolling Loud in Los Angeles from March 15th to 17th, as detailed in a press release.

Following its debut at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles, the Big New Yorker Pizza Bagel will be available at the NYC truck from March 22nd to 23rd, and in Los Angeles from March 22nd to 24th.

We are excited to collaborate with Yeastie Boys to unveil the Pizza Bagel, which adds an even more pronounced New York flair to our Big New Yorker pizza," said Rachel Antalek, Chief Food Innovation Officer at Pizza Hut.

Continuously seeking inventive ways to delight our customers, this partnership epitomizes our dedication to daring flavors and culinary ingenuity.

At each truck site, customers can enjoy the Big New Yorker Pizza Bagel for free, subject to availability, with a one-per-customer limit.

Moreover, some Pizza Bagels will include a scratch-off card offering codes for Pizza Hut gift cards valued up to $25 or exclusive Yeastie Boys x Pizza Hut merchandise.

Pizza Hut has a presence in over 100 regions worldwide, with a network of over 19,000 restaurants.

GOPIZZA is the renowned South Korean headquarters pizza brand has inaugurated two new outlets in Chennai, marking its debut in Tamil Nadu.

GOPIZZA is set to present an array of authentic Korean delights, featuring signature Korean pizzas like Jonmataeng Volcano and Creamy Pizzas.

These pizzas are blended with traditional spices with a twist. Customers can relish the flavors of traditional Korean Ramyun and the indulgence of Cheese Ramyun.

The starter menu kicks off with options like Korean Yangnyum Spicy Chicken Wings, Pops, and Spicy Wedges.

GOPIZZA has also introduces its l Fire Cream Pastas, accompanied by the lively beats of K-Pop tunes playing at every store.

The introduction of GOPIZZA in Chennai marks a pivotal step in the brand's expansion strategy for the Indian market. With a thriving presence in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, boasting 45 successful stores, GOPIZZA is ambitiously targeting over 100 operational outlets across the country by the conclusion of 2024.

 “We are thrilled to be bringing GOPIZZA to the wonderful city of Chennai. We are confident that our menu will be a success with the local community and we look forward to being a part of the city's thriving food scene. Tamil Nadu is a key strategic growth market for us and we are looking at opening 50 new outlets together in the next 2 years." said Mahesh Reddy, CEO, GOPIZZA India.

Following a successful Series C funding round that raised INR 200 Cr, GOPIZZA is expanding its cutting-edge food technology to more locations within the world's fastest-growing market.

The brand aims to establish outlets in Pune, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and other significant Tier 2 cities, including Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Kochi, in the coming years.

 Drawing inspiration from its successful ventures in Singapore and South Korea, GOPIZZA is now set to venture into new global markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States.

Domino's Pizza has given a fresh makeover to its exquisite lineup of gourmet pizzas called Viva Roma.

The updated Viva Roma selection showcases five premium pizzas with a blend of toppings, rich cheeses such as Bocconi, Mozzarella, Cheddar, and Spicy Ghost Pepper, and a sauce crafted from Italy's finest tomatoes.

Domino's has carefully designed a refreshed menu that resonates with the changing tastes and desires of its perceptive customer base.

"As a brand, we are constantly pushing the boundaries when it comes to innovation in pizzas. Keeping in tune with this spirit of Domino’s, we are delighted to announce the unveiling of our much-loved revamped Viva Roma range of Pizzas. Domino’s Viva Roma range focuses on premium ingredients, bold taste, and authentic Italian flavours, we believe the revamped range will redefine pizza indulgence and delight our loyal customers." said Sandeep Anand, EVP and CMO Domino’s Pizza.

The revamped range is exclusively available for order at Domino's outlets in Delhi, NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Pune, or through the Domino’s app, offering a deal of Flat Rs. 300 off on a minimum order value of Rs. 1500.

Dough Bros is a prominent Quick-Service Restaurant in Mumbai.

Restaurant is known for their artisanal pizzas, the chain have several strategically positioned outlets and aims to be recognized for its great flavors, high-quality ingredients.

Chef Tom is hailing from a Thai-British background in the UK, leads the kitchen at Dough Bros.

His multicultural upbringing sparked an early interest in the culinary world. His expertise shines through his menu, which  blends with contemporary and traditional flavors.

With prior roles at renowned establishments like Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Restaurant Nathan, Maze by Gordon Ramsay, and the Michelin-starred Nobu Park Lane, he later ventured to Aqua Kyoto and served as head chef at Ottolenghi.

His diverse experiences also include working as a development chef for Pyton and Byrne and a brief stint at Amaz in Lima, a prominent restaurant in Peru.

Chef Tom's culinary revolves around maximizing locally sourced ingredients and employing cooking methods that fuse unexpected elements.

He delights in embracing seasonal shifts, leveraging the array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to infuse menus with a casual, enjoyable, and laid-back vibe, perfectly complementing the pizza dining experience.

“Our mission is to elevate the pizza experience for our customers, combining the authenticity of traditional recipes with a contemporary twist, we are thrilled to launch, for the very first time, the 11-inch Dough Bros Pizza in Mumbai, and we are dedicated to continuously innovating and levelling up." said Mr. Kohli, founder.

Restaurant has a diverse menu catering to various tastes, while all their ingredients are locally sourced, they import flour from Italy to ensure an authentic flavor in every mouthful.

Menu ranges from traditional Margheritas to Dough Bros Aglio olio Pizza, Burrata Pizza, and the Smashed Burger Pizza.

Restaurant provides various delivery and takeaway choices and can be located on Zomato or Swiggy across Tardeo, Lower Parel, Dadar, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Juhu, and Andheri regions.

GOPIZZA, renowned South Korean-based pizza brand unveils its inaugural container modeled store in Bangalore at LITBOX, Whitefield, pioneering an innovative method for the company's cost-effective, sustainable expansion.

This new outlet, housed within a compact 150 sq ft container, signifies a strategic move by GOPIZZA to maximize space efficiency while preserving the comforting and rustic atmosphere that pizza enthusiasts love. “The decision to embrace the container model was more of trying to take GOPIZZA back to its roots rather than attempt something new.” said Mahesh Reddy, CEO, GOPIZZA India.

The streamlined and cost-effective nature of container outlets enables GOPIZZA to venture into diverse locations and explore untapped revenue streams, providing a competitive advantage over conventional brick-and-mortar stores.

Furthermore, these outlets notably diminish initial setup expenses and capital investments while expediting the setup process.

Their rapid establishment, taking merely 3-5 days, stands as a significant enhancement compared to the usual 2-3 months required for traditional outlets.

GOPIZZA's drive to enhance expansion led to the incorporation of container outlets, driven by advantages such as reduced capital expenditure, lower rents, and enhanced operational efficiency.

The brand aims to allocate 10 percent to 15 percent of its expansion strategy to container outlets, intending to establish a presence in 15 cities across India within a year.

Ashish Goenka, the President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a key managerial figure at Jubilant Foodworks resigned from the company.

The regulatory filing from the company mentioned that Ashish Goenka's final day serving as the CFO and KMP of Jubilant Foodworks would be on December 15, 2023.

"In my resignation letter, I am formally stepping down from the roles of President & CFO and as a Key Managerial Personnel at Jubilant FoodWorks Limited. I've chosen to pursue an external opportunity. I'm asking for my release from duties effective at the end of business hours on December 15, 2023," Goenka expressed in his letter.

He expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors, acknowledging, "I appreciate the trust placed in me and the consistent support extended during my time here."

Jubilant FoodWorks Limited is a significant player in India's foodservice industry  is a part of the Jubilant Bhartia Group. Company is established in 1995 and possesses exclusive master franchise rights from Domino’s Pizza Inc. This allows them to oversee the growth and operations of the Domino’s Pizza brand across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Nonna's, India's first sourdough pizzeria unveils its fourth outlet within the corridors of Jio World Plaza, BKC.

"With the launch of our newest outlet at Jio World Plaza, we aim to redefine the boundaries of an authentic Italian dining experience,  creating a space where every visitor is not just a guest but a cherished part of our family. We invite you to join us in this celebration of flavors, where every dish tells a story and every moment is an unforgettable experience." said Ayush Jatia.

Nonna’s crafted menu has their Neapolitan flavours encapsulated in every dish. Their menu ranges from their signature handcrafted sourdough pizzas to over nine varieties with an array of selected appetizers, Pannouzzos, beverages and desserts.

Curefoods, with support from Accel and Chiratae Ventures has successfully finalized the purchase of Yumlane Pizza, a cloud kitchen brand known for its unique pizza technology.

While the exact transaction amount remains undisclosed, this acquisition enables Curefoods to harness Yumlane's pizza technology throughout its range of brands.

This strategic step is anticipated to aid Curefoods, which owns well-known brands like EatFit, Nomad Pizza, and CakeZone, in broadening its market reach and distribution network by utilizing Yumlane's extensive network of cloud kitchens.

Curefoods, headquartered in Bengaluru, initially obtained the cloud kitchen franchise rights for the southern Indian market and subsequently acquired a 10% ownership stake in the foodtech company.

Hitesh Ahuja, one of the co-founders and the CEO of Yumlane Pizza, conveyed his contentment regarding the collaboration with Curefoods. He appreciated Curefoods' acknowledgment of the pizza category's value that Yumlane had developed. He is confident that Curefoods, with its operational and marketing proficiency and its capacity to expand food brands, is in an excellent position to elevate and expand Yumlane into a dominant force within the pizza industry.

Yumlane Pizza, founded in March 2016 by Hitesh Ahuja, Rueben Ghosh, and Rahul Kumar, developed an advanced technology infrastructure specifically tailored for pizza production.

Later on, the company entered the cloud kitchen sector under the Yumlane Pizza brand and diversified into the business-to-business (B2B) segment.

Yumlane's B2B distribution network has since extended its reach to more than 15 cities and has provided services to various notable brands, including Barbeque Nation, Frozen Bottle, and the joint venture of Reliance Retail and 7-11.

Gokul Kandhi, the Chief Business Officer of Curefoods, commended Yumlane for its inventive use of proprietary technology in pizza production, underscoring its track record of consistently delivering top-notch products. He views the synergy between Yumlane's broad B2B client base and its reputation as a value-driven leader in the pizza segment as a strategically advantageous addition to Curefoods' brand lineup. He is enthusiastic about the prospects of harnessing Yumlane's potential to elevate the pizza category.

Yumlane Pizza has garnered investments from prominent supporters, including Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, Anupam Mittal of Shaadi.com, Orios Ventures, and RB Investments. Meanwhile, Curefoods recently secured Rs 200 crore (approximately $36 million) in a funding round that combined both debt and equity, with substantial involvement from Binny Bansal's venture capital firm, Three State Ventures.

This funding round also saw additional investments from IronPillar, Chiratae Ventures, ASK Finance, and Winter Capital.

QSR chain Domino's Pizza has announced plans to shut all 142 restaurants in Russia.

The restaurants are owned by franchise group DP Eurasia that will file for bankruptcy for its Russian unit, DP Eurasia, reported CNN.

"With the increasingly challenging environment, DP Eurasia immediate holding company is now compelled to take this step, which will bring about the termination of the attempted sale process of DP Eurasia as a going concern and, inevitably, the group's presence in Russia," DP Eurasia said in a statement.

With this announcement, Domino’s becomes the third chain in Russia to exit after McDonald's and Starbucks left last year.

The pizza chain may still continue to operate in Russia if purchased by another franchisee. Both McDonald's and Starbucks in Russia are now operated by local groups who bought the franchises and changed the names to local brands.

Domino's said it has not provided support for the Russia market since early 2022.
 

Nomad Pizza opens its new restaurant in Bangalore. The brand now ventures into creating a dining journey which presents a diverse menu that allows a broader audience to relish the delectable pizzas and breakfast specials.

Menu is complemented by an assortment of cocktails, wines, coffee, and other beverages.

The new restaurant from Nomad Pizza has been designed to offer a captivating dining environment, staying true to the essence of the "Nomad" experience.

The decor and interiors draw inspiration from various corners of the globe, aligning with the diverse menu.

The aim is to provide diners with a unique and authentic experience, one that celebrates the spirit of exploration and adventure synonymous with the Nomad brand.

Nomad presents a rich selection of renowned pizzas, including favorites like Naples, New York, Chicago Deep Dish, and Detroit styles, alongside a thoughtfully curated assortment of beverages like coffee, wine, and cocktails.

Nomad goes beyond boundaries with its diverse menu, embracing flavors from around the world to cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences.

The restaurant can accommodate 80 patrons, ensuring a memorable dining experience.

Handcrafted gourmet pizza chain PizzaExpress has opened its new outlet in Hyderabad.

“We’re excited to bring PizzaExpress to the people of Hyderabad! PizzaExpress is not your typical casual dining restaurant. We strive to provide not just a wholesome wine & dine experience for true pizza lovers, but also give that perfect casual yet modern café and pizzeria vibe for people to hang out and chill with their friends, family and colleagues,” shared Ramit Bharti Mittal, Chairman GIPL.

GIPL plans to open 100+ PizzaExpress stores over the next few years.

PizzaExpress is known for its handcrafted gourmet pizzas, using the finest ingredients that is available in two bases; one, the 1965 Original Traditional Pizza with the “Classic” Base and the other; the thinner, crispier “Romana” base inspired by pizzas from Rome.

In addition to Pizzas there is a healthy variety of Pastas, and appetizers along with delectable cheesecakes (available in 6 different flavours) and other desserts plus fresh Italian coffee which makes every PizzaExpress meal special.

Other speciality products include signature Dough balls served with a trio of dips & speciality Pizzas like Calabrese - our iconic rectangular Pizza (invented by the Michelin start Chef), Leggera - Pizza under 600 calories & Calzone – The folded Pizza.

All products are available in Dine-in, Delivery & Take away channels.

Inspired by a trip to Italy, founder Peter Boizot opened the first PizzaExpress in Wardour Street, London in 1965. Today, there are 400+ restaurants across the globe, serving signature handcrafted gourmet pizzas.

PizzaExpress was brought to India by Gourmet Investments Private Limited (GIPL), which is the F&B venture of Bharti Family office. The first PizzaExpress opened in India in the year 2012 in Colaba, Mumbai. Currently there are 18 restaurants across 6 cities in India.

Domino's Australia has recently unveiled an exciting collaboration with Red Bull, aiming to provide an energizing boost to pizza enthusiasts nationwide.

Expressing enthusiasm, Domino's ANZ CEO Josh Kilimnik has announced the introduction of Red Bull in all of their 760+ stores across Australia.

This move comes after the successful implementation of the partnership in international markets, marking the first-time availability of Red Bull in Domino's outlets nationwide.

Miles Wilson, the managing director of Red Bull Australia, expressed excitement about providing an energy boost to Domino's customers throughout the country.

He highlighted the opportunity to reach more Australians and emphasized the synergy between the two market-leading brands. Wilson noted that Red Bull, being the top-selling beverage item in convenience stores in Australia, found it fitting to unite with Domino's in an enjoyable and thrilling manner.

To commence their collaboration, Domino's is hosting a contest offering a chance for 10 fortunate individuals to win an exclusive house party catered by Domino's and Red Bull.

Among the prizes, two major winners will enjoy a grand package worth over $5,000, including a variety of Red Bull beverages, a professional DJ, and a generous supply of freshly-made pizzas for themselves and their friends.

Additionally, eight other winners will receive a prize valued at over $450, consisting of a supply of Domino's pizza and Red Bull to create their own exciting house party with their friends.

QSR chain 1441 Pizzeria is delighted to announce opening of its store in Borivali, Mumbai.

This new addition to their rapidly growing chain of stores signifies a significant milestone in the company's strategic expansion plans.

Nestled in I.C. Colony - Borivali, the newly unveiled 1441 Pizzeria store aims to introduce the irresistible flavours of Italy to the local community.

The popularity of 1441 Pizzeria can be attributed to its utilisation of authentically sourced tomatoes and handmade dough straight from Italy, farm-fresh ingredients, and the traditional art of wood-fired cooking.

"We are exhilarated to inaugurate our doors in Borivali and bring the authentic taste of Italian pizzas to this vibrant neighbourhood," said Krishna Gupta, Founder of 1441 Pizzeria India.

With meticulous attention to detail, the Borivali store boasts an inviting ambiance, exuding warmth and charm, thus providing the perfect setting for customers to relish the ultimate pizza experience. The establishment showcases a tasteful contemporary interior, meticulously arranged comfortable seating, and an open kitchen equipped with a traditional wood-fired pizza oven.

At 1441 Pizzeria, customers are granted the opportunity to personalise their pizzas with an extensive selection of toppings, encompassing both vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan options, catering to the diverse palates of their discerning clientele. Furthermore, the restaurant extends an enticing assortment of delectable sides, refreshing salads, mouthwatering desserts, and an array of beverages to perfectly complement the pizza experience.

In celebration of the grand opening, 1441 Pizzeria will be presenting exclusive promotions and discounts throughout the inaugural week.

Devyani International, the operator of KFC restaurants in India, experienced a 21% decline in fourth-quarter profit.

The company attributed this decrease to increased expenses and reduced consumer spending on fast food due to inflation.

According to an exchange filing, the consolidated net profit for the quarter ending on March 31 amounted to 607.2 million rupees ($7.4 million).

In recent quarters, consumers in the world's most populous country have been heavily impacted by soaring prices of everyday necessities like milk and fuel.

As a result, they have been compelled to tighten their purse strings when it comes to discretionary expenses.

Additionally, Devyani International's Pizza Hut outlets are encountering fierce competition from local brands that provide more affordable alternatives, as well as from Domino's Pizza, operated by Jubilant Foodworks in India.

Devyani International, the exclusive franchise holder for Costa Coffee in India, witnessed a significant 32% increase in total expenses compared to the previous year.

Despite this, the company achieved a notable 28% rise in revenue from operations, amounting to 7.55 billion rupees, mainly driven by the opening of 66 new stores.

 However, the company experienced a decline of approximately 5% in revenue compared to the previous quarter.

This decline in profit aligns with the performance of its competitors, Sapphire Foods India Ltd (a Yum Brands franchisee) and Westlife FoodWorld Ltd (the local operator of McDonald's), highlighting the impact of both rising expenses and a slowdown in demand.

Non-Executive Chairman Ravi Jaipuria expressed optimism for a recovery in consumer spending during the latter half of the upcoming fiscal year, citing early indications of inflation stabilization.

However, Devyani's shares experienced a decline of up to 8.6% following the release of their earnings report. As of the latest update, the shares were down 4.8% at 173.3 rupees.

Pizza Hut is introducing a diverse range of 10 pizzas that are designed to cater to different moods of consumers.

To promote the new range, the brand has partnered with popular stars Saif Ali Khan and Shehnaaz Gill for a quirky "Mood Badle, Pizza Badle" campaign.

The new pizzas will be available across all 800 Pizza Hut restaurants in India for a great value price, starting at Rs. 299 for two personal pizzas, through dine-in, delivery, and takeaway options.

Pizza Hut's latest pizza range consists of 10 unique and thrilling flavours, such as Mazedar Makhni Paneer, Dhabe Da Keema, Cheezy Mushroom Magic, Mexican Fiesta, Awesome American Cheesy, and Nawabi Murg Makhni, among others.

Each flavour of the range has been carefully curated to make the pizzas irresistible, such as the buttery Makhni sauce used in Mazedar Makhni Paneer, or the creamy and cheesy base sauce of Cheezy Mushroom Magic with distinct flavours of mushrooms and olives.

“Our mood plays an important role in deciding our food cravings and we wanted to give consumers different options for their varied moods. This was our inspiration behind launching an extensive range of 10 new pizzas with so many added flavourful ingredients, for the first time. We are confident that consumers will love the wide variety being introduced and elevate their mood anytime, any day with Pizza Hut pizzas.” said, Aanandita Datta, Chief Marketing Officer, Pizza Hut India

Pizza Hut aims to engage with customers through an extensive 360-degree "Mood Badle, Pizza Badle" marketing campaign.

This campaign will be rolled out across various mediums, including television, digital and social media platforms, public relations and influencer outreach, out-of-home advertising, and in-store branding.

Pizza Hut has achieved a milestone by launching its 800th store in India, and has now extended its reach to a total of 199 cities.

The brand is committed to its new brand platform, 'Dil Khol Ke Delivering', which guarantees fresh, delicious, and heart-satisfying pizzas made with fresh dough every day.

Domino's Pizza, which is among the biggest pizza chains globally, has announced its decision to abandon its efforts to establish a presence in the birthplace of pizza.

Media reports suggest that ePizza, Domino's Italian franchise partner, has started liquidating the company's assets in Italy in an attempt to recoup some of its initial investments.

This follows the closure of the pizza chain's outlets in Rome and Milan last year.

According to Xinhua news agency, the company's social media accounts have not been updated since last year and its Italian website was reported to be inactive as of Thursday.

Despite unsuccessful attempts to reach ePizza on Thursday, the US-based press office of Domino's Pizza has acknowledged the reports regarding the company's departure from Italy, as confirmed by Xinhua news agency.

Although Domino's Pizza is considered the largest pizza chain globally, generating $12.3 billion in annual revenue, the company, which has been around for 63 years, failed to establish a successful presence in Italy.

In 2015, Domino's Pizza made an entry into the Italian market with an ambitious plan of opening as many as 880 stores. However, the company was only able to reach a peak of 29 locations before closing down its last outlets in Rome and Milan last year.

Pizza's origin is unclear, but there are records from ancient times of soldiers cooking flatbread with toppings on their shields.

An ancient Roman poem, dated back to the first-century BC, describes locals cooking bread and cheese on hot ashes, referred to as "pinsa," a term that is still used today to describe certain types of Roman pizza.

While the origins of pizza are uncertain, the modern version of the dish is believed to have originated in Naples during the 18th century. It was initially a popular and filling meal among the lower classes.

The popular Korean HQ Pizza brand GOPIZZA has opened two outlets one each in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

With massive expansion plans for the Indian market, GOPIZZA has taken its significant first step through this launch in Hyderabad and Anantapur, respectively.

As GOPIZZA progresses from its current 20 successful stores, it aims to establish over 100 operational outlets across the country by the end of 2023.

“We are thrilled to be bringing GOPIZZA to the vibrant cities of Hyderabad and Anantapur.  Our commitment to using only the freshest ingredients and bringing our unique blend of flavors at very competitive pricing has made us one of the most loved pizza brands, and we can't wait for the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to experience it for themselves. We are confident that our menu will be a success with the local community and we look forward to being a part of the city's thriving food scene,” shared Mahesh Reddy, CEO, GOPIZZA India.

What started out as an idea from Founder Jae Won (Jay) Lim’s food truck in South Korea, is now a favorite pizza brand with more than 200 stores across South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and Hongkong.

GOPIZZA maintains its quality and efficiency at every one of its locations by using patented in-house technology - The GOVEN, an automatic pizza oven, the 'GOBOT' a cooperative robot, and the 'AI Smart Topping Table' to ensure timely, standardized quality and service to customers at all outlets. GOPIZZA, is known for its single-serve, oval shape, fire-baked pizza with quick serving speed and affordable price.

“Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are key strategic growth markets for us and we are looking at opening 50 new outlets together in both states in the next 2 years,” added Reddy.

After recently raising INR 200 Cr in the Series C funding, GOPIZZA is excited to bring state-of-the-art food technology to more locations in the fastest-growing market in the world. It aims to establish outlets in Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and other key Tier 2 cities including Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kochi, in the next few years.

Globally, encouraged by its successful run in Singapore and South Korea, GOPIZZA is now looking to open into new markets of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the United States.

Mumbai-based 1441 Pizzeria is all set to open its 23rd outlet in Chembur, Mumbai.

Made using bona fide ingredients sourced from Italy itself, the hand-stretched and woodfired pizzas alongside refreshing appetizers, delectable pasta, moreish sides like garlic bread and jalapeno poppers to name a few are no less than a divine treat for the taste buds, and the brand is delighted to woo the people of Chembur with its yummylicious offerings now.

“We're exceedingly excited about the launch of our new outlet in Chembur, 1441 Pizzeria is an experience and we want everyone to have it. This is the opening of our 23rd outlet in the country and we are thrilled about it. At the same time, we look forward to opening many more in the nearby cities,” shared Krishna Gupta, Managing Director of 1441 Pizzeria.

This new outlet is a span-new addition to Pizzeria's victorious expansion and it's ready to render mouth-watering items across their menu once again.

The new branch will also be available for orders on their official website as well as delivery applications.

Devoted to elevating and embarking on new ventures at every step, Krishna Gupta & Vandini Gupta have been a pioneer in taking the ever-evolving food industry by storm. From cloud kitchens, and retailing to brand merchandising they've shown massive growth in all walks and the new branch is another addition to their success.

American multi-national pizza chain Domino's has responded to the criticism after a Twitter user posted a picture purportedly showing a mop and a toilet brush hanging above the pizza dough almost touching it.

"An incident involving one of our stores was recently brought to our notice. We want to assert that this is an isolated incident, and we have taken the strictest action against the restaurant in question. Please be informed that we have zero tolerance for violations of our high safety standards," Domino’s shared.

Sahil Sahil Karnany, an IT graduate from Bangalore, posted the photograph and video and wrote, "This is how @dominos_india serves us fresh Pizza! Very disgusted. Location: Bnagalore.”

He claimed that the outlet in question was on Hosa Road in the city.

The user also tagged Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Ministry of Health, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the viral post.

“Domino's adheres to world-class protocols for ensuring the highest standards of hygiene and food safety,” added Domino’s.

Olive Pizzeria—a cloud kitchen recently initiated by AD Singh’s iconic Olive Bar and Kitchen has introduced new additions to its menu.

With these new additional dishes to its offerings of authentic Neapolitan style pizzas, pasta dishes, pull-apart breads and more, the cloud kitchen seeks to provide gourmet Italian cuisine right to your doorstep.

Olive Pizzeria’s other speciality, its pull-apart breads, are served in both sweet and savoury varieties.

For those who want the best of both worlds, the menu also offers ‘Half and Half Pizza’ choices in veg and non-veg variants. In addition to that, ‘DIY Pizzas’ and ‘Make Your Own Pasta’ options allow customers to claim their own personal flavours.

The cloud kitchen is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the food is prepared and delivered securely by making it mandatory for all the staff to wash and sanitise their hands frequently and have their temperature checked every day.

The menu has been conceptualised by Chef Irfan Pabaney, Country Head of SodaBottleOpenerWala.

The cloud kitchen currently operates from Bandra and provides services in areas between Andheri and Dadar.

With the aim of serving the majority of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, it is also planning to open in Goregaon West and Lower Parel soon.

Domino’s has introduced a Hindi version of its food ordering app. This move reflects that organised food players are getting aggressive about scaling their ordering platforms as deliveries and takeaways remain the mainstay for food services companies.

In the December quarter, the Domino’s app recorded its highest ever download of 7.4 million. Total app downloads stood at 51.2 million at the end of the third quarter.

The pizza chain is expected to provide more languages as it draws more consumers into its fold.

Jubilant FoodWorks’ top management said, “Our investments to strengthen digital infrastructure have continued, Domino’s launched the Hindi version of its app which is going to be a significant enabler for ordering. Going forward, we will continue to add other language support to our app to make the experience even more personalized and seamless. This dovetails well with our objective of driving robust from our own assets.”

Domino’s had finished the December quarter with 1,314 outlets in India.

Casual dining chain Pizza Express is facing a £350million black hole as covid-19 pandemic continue to restrictions continue to cut the restaurant and hotel sector.

The pizza chain warned its "future is in doubt" as mandatory covid closures continue across the high street.

According to Pizza Express the measures have had a "significant impact" on sales but added it was "very challenging" to say exactly how badly trading has been hit.

However, the impact has been enough to cast "significant doubt" over its future.

Also Read: Pizza Express to cut 1,300 more jobs in the UK

The pizza chain said it has enough liquidity to get through 18 months of lockdown, but it warned another month-long national shut down could trigger further restructuring talks.

Latest measures are expected to be in place until at least mid-February, although the government has warned it could go on until the end of March.

In October 2020, Pizza Express announced cutting 1,300 jobs in the UK as the country is badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in August, the pizza chain announced 1,100 layoffs alongside the closure of tens of restaurants.

Domino’s Pizza has launched country’s first plant-based pizza called, ‘The Unthinkable Pizza’, shared Jubilant Foodworks in its regulatory filings.

The pizza is made from plant based proteins and is 100% vegetarian and yet has the sensory properties of chicken, shared Jubilant.

“We are delighted to launch India’s first plant protein-based product, The Unthinkable Pizza. This innovative and 100% vegetarian product will allow Indian consumers to experience the plant-protein wave sweeping across the world. Domino’s has always brought pioneering innovations to the Indian market, and we are happy to once again be the first to bring this trend to India,” shared Pratik Pota, chief executive officer & Whole-time Director of Jubilant FoodWorks.

Introduced after extensive consumer testing, the new pizza will be available at all Domino’s restaurants across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

Domino’s is running 1,264 restaurants in India. Jubilant FoodWorks holds the India franchise for Domino's Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts brands.

The post-COVID world has established several new normal and one of the interesting developments has been the emergence of jobs that never existed before.

Pizza Hut is appointing ‘Trust Champions’ at each of its 400+ stores in India.

The main responsibility of The Pizza Hut ‘Trust Champions’ is to make sure that stores and staff are strictly implementing safety and hygiene measures in the kitchen and dining areas as recommended by the government and WHO due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Also Read: Restaurant Employment Growth

Trust Champions are also responsible for ensuring social distancing being followed in store by everyone to ensure consumers have a clean, safe, and worry-free experience at Pizza Hut - which is critical to achieve business continuity in the current scenario.

According to a recent report by Nielson – “The Hygiene Hyperbole: Navigating the Unlock” -it is valuable to have a consumer-facing, designated personnel in-charge of hygiene and implementation of the safety measures.

May Interest: Pizza Hut to start Contact-less Dine-In in India

In addition to this, Pizza Hut has implemented all regulatory protocols and guidelines issued from time to time by the government, WHO and FSSAI ensure a seamless and safe experience for the consumers.

Pizza chains are hiring as the Coronavirus pandemic convinces customers to order delivery. Pizza Hut announced on Monday that it is hiring for more than 30,000 open positions across the US. Papa John's announced on the same day it is planning to hire up to 20,000 additional workers. And, Domino's announced on Friday that it is also hiring.

While restaurant traffic goes down due to self isolation, ironically pizza chains - especially those with an emphasis on delivery could be a rare sector that sees more business during the pandemic. On one hand when people are advised to stay in, this move of hiring more delivery executives is nothing but an irony to staying in. 

Safety remains a concern for workers

These hiring might be a step to resolve the unemployment issue, but some workers at these pizza chains are still worried about their safety. Their concern primarily rises from the fact that they might get themselves exposed with Coronavirus pandemic during food delivery.

A pizza hut delivery driver said, "It feels like I'm being exposed to the 10 to 20 co-workers plus everyone every driver delivers to that shift, resulting in direct and indirect exposure to hundreds of people a day. Unfortunately I'm not able to stop going to work unless Domino's lays me off so I can draw unemployment. I'm currently looking for work-at-home opportunities but I'm afraid I won't be able to make the transition before becoming infected. I haven't seen my son or family in a week out of fear of infecting them unknowingly.”

Pizza Hut said in a statement. "We've implemented contactless delivery and carryout procedures to ensure a hands-free experience built around social distancing," the statement continued. "Once the pizza leaves our 400+ degree oven, it slides hands-free into the box and straight to your home. Additionally, we've doubled down on industry-leading sanitization and handwashing procedures." Coronavirus scare expected to impact experiential industry hard, Q2 & Q3 might register dismal growth  delivery, which is available at the customer's request, as well as announcing updated cleanliness and sanitation policies.

Even though there are stringent safety measures taken by these chains yet at this point of time its important that every body stays in including the delivery executives. 

Papa John’s has added vegan pizzas to the menu at its over 70 locations across Spain. With this, the US-based pizza chain becomes the first fast-food chain to offer vegan pizza in Spain.

These new additions have been developed in collaboration with the vegan brand Beyond Meat and United Kingdom-based campaign Veganuary.

Papa John’s new menu will feature two pizzas, including Papa John’s Green, made with tomato sauce, onions, black olives, tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, and vegan cheese, and Papa John’s Green PLUS, made with tomato sauce, tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, vegan cheese, and topped with plant-based Beyond Burger meat. 

Javier Aranguíz, General Manager of Papa John’s Spain, said, “With this launch, we are continuing our commitment to quality ingredients and we are excited to partner up with Beyond Meat, a market leader in plant-based meats, to respond to new consumer trends like the growing demand for plant-based options. Papa John’s Green offers our customers two new pizzas for all those who want to reduce their consumption of animal protein without giving up the best pizza.”

Why Papa John’s introduced vegan pizzas in Spain?

As per the research conducted by Papa John’s, 86.2% of Spaniards prefer meatless pizza toppings, with 65% willing to reduce their meat consumption citing various reasons such as health, animal welfare, and environmental issues.

Chuck Muth, Chief Growth Officer of Beyond Meat, stated, “We are excited to introduce consumers to our agreement with Papa John’s that offers a pizza with the usual taste and quality, and with the added nutritional and environmental benefits, of plant-based meat. Papa John’s is a global brand and we look forward to continuing to work with them to offer new options to their customers.” 

Growing Pizza Market

The Italian food format stood third in preference after Indian and Chinese five to six years ago. However, recent studies show that pizza is the biggest and the most profitable segment in the Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) format.

The Indian pizza market is dominated by Jubilant Food Works and Yum Brands, who own the widely recognisable brands Domino’s and Pizza Hut, respectively. However, other brands such as Sbarro, Papa John’s and Marco’s Pizza are also competing to spread their base in India. Thus, with the increase in the number of players, the market is ripe for investors.

Serving pizza via franchise route

Global and domestic pizza brands in India are expanding their stores through the franchise route throwing many opportunities for entrepreneurs in the country. Be it Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s,  Sbarro, Neopolitan Pizza or any other pizza brand, the majority of them are spreading their footprints via a franchise model in India. Domino’s Pizza has Jubilant FoodWorks Limited as it Master Franchisee.

Little Caesars Pizza has forayed into the Indian market with the launch of two outlets in Ahmedabad. The US-headquartered company aims to unveil more outlets in Gujarat and across the country in the coming months.

In Ahmedabad, the brand’s first outlet has been opened near the Iskcon crossroads, while another one is inaugurated near LD College.

Little Caesars Pizza claims to be the third largest pizza chain in the world. It is operating in 26 countries, works on a franchisee-based model.

Ashok Lal, Regional Managing Director, Little Caesars Pizza, said, “Both these outlets will offer only vegetarian pizza as the market research exercise suggested keeping only vegetarian varieties and dropping chicken or any other non-vegetarian variety from the menu. However, non-vegetarian pizza varieties may be introduced in the future as per customer demands.”

“We have started with these two outlets and we have plans to open stores in other cities of Gujarat and India in the coming months. Affordable price is our main USP,” he added.

The newly launched outlets are owned and operated by franchisee firm Phoenix Enterprise Nexus India Pvt Ltd, managed by Nandish Patel, who also owns several Little Caesars Pizza restaurants in the US.

Paula Vissing, Senior Vice President (International), Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc, stated, “We believe in delivering value for affordable pizza to the customers. Our pizza varieties are cheaper than other players offering pizza in the city. We have been expanding internationally over the last several years and we will open more such outlets in the months to come.”

Growing Pizza Market

The Italian food format stood third in preference after Indian and Chinese five to six years ago. However, recent studies show that pizza is the biggest and the most profitable segment in the Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) format.

The Indian pizza market is dominated by Jubilant Food Works and Yum Brands, who own the widely recognisable brands Domino’s and Pizza Hut, respectively. However, other brands such as Sbarro, Papa John’s and Marco’s Pizza are also competing to spread their base in India. Thus, with the increase in the number of players, the market is ripe for investors.

Serving pizza via franchise route

Global and domestic pizza brands in India are expanding their stores through the franchise route throwing many opportunities for entrepreneurs in the country. Be it Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s,  Sbarro, Neopolitan Pizza or any other pizza brand, the majority of them are spreading their footprints via a franchise model in India. Domino’s Pizza has Jubilant FoodWorks Limited as it Master Franchisee.

Prospects in smaller cities

The Indian fast food market, which used to concentrate only in the metropolitan cities, has been witnessing a robust growth pan-India over the past few years. Tier-II and III cities are the focus of the leading pizza makers due to huge opportunities there.

In the pizza segment, competition is getting intense as franchisors are significantly ramping up their presence across tier-II and tier-III cities of India. There exists a tremendous growth opportunity for franchisors in these areas as an educated middle-class population is becoming more sophisticated with respect to standardised food consumption.

Little Caesars Pizza is venturing into the Indian market by launching its first two restaurants in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Paula Vissing, Senior Vice President of International, Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc, said, “As we continue to expand our global footprint, we are thrilled to bring Little Caesars Pizza's high quality, great-tasting pizza at an everyday value to India.”

US-based pizza brand will launch an all-Vegetarian menu in Ahmedabad, featuring a signature 10" HOT-N-READY Veggie Pizza for Rs 159 all day, every day, plus other delicious offerings. The HOT-N-READY concept permits customers to simply stop in and carry out a selection of freshly made, great-tasting pizza and side items without waiting or ordering ahead.

“India is an incredibly important new market for Little Caesars and we anticipate significant growth throughout the country in the next several years,” she added.

Founded in 1959, Little Caesars is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Currently, it is the third-largest pizza chain in the world in terms of the net number of stores in 2019. The brand has stores in each of the 50 states in the US and 26 countries and territories around the world.

Growing Pizza Market

The Italian food format stood third in preference after Indian and Chinese five to six years ago. However, recent studies show that pizza is the biggest and the most profitable segment in the Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) format.

The Indian pizza market is dominated by Jubilant Food Works and Yum Brands, who own the widely recognisable brands Domino’s and Pizza Hut, respectively. However, other brands such as Sbarro, Papa John’s and Marco’s Pizza are also competing to spread their base in India. Thus, with the increase in the number of players, the market is ripe for investors.

Serving pizza via franchise route

Global and domestic pizza brands in India are expanding their stores through the franchise route throwing many opportunities for entrepreneurs in the country. Be it Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s,  Sbarro, Neopolitan Pizza or any other pizza brand, the majority of them are spreading their footprints via a franchise model in India. Domino’s Pizza has Jubilant FoodWorks Limited as it Master Franchisee.

Prospects in smaller cities

The Indian fast food market, which used to concentrate only in the metropolitan cities, has been witnessing a robust growth pan-India over the past few years. Tier-II and III cities are the focus of the leading pizza makers due to huge opportunities there.

In the pizza segment, competition is getting intense as franchisors are significantly ramping up their presence across tier-II and tier-III cities of India. There exists a tremendous growth opportunity for franchisors in these areas as an educated middle-class population is becoming more sophisticated with respect to standardised food consumption.

Pizza Hut International has hired QSR veteran Merrill Pereyra as the Managing Director for Indian Subcontinent. He will be responsible for leading Pizza Hut into the next phase of long-term profitable growth across the Indian Subcontinent.

In his new role, Merrill will be overseeing the growth and expansion of the brand’s footprint across the subcontinent countries, based out of the headquarters in Gurgaon.

Merrill Pereyra, Managing Director, Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent, said, “I am excited to lead the Pizza Hut business in the Indian Subcontinent market. It is an exciting phase right now for both the brand and the QSR industry at large. The industry is rapidly growing in size and volume and presents unique challenges and opportunities for those who are part of it, and Pizza Hut being one of the leading pizza brands in the region is well-positioned to leverage this opportunity.”

Business Growth in India

In India, Pizza Hut has been for over two decades. The brand has been voted the Most Trusted Brand in the country 13 times, including 2019.

Presently, the pizza chain 547 stores in the Indian subcontinent, of which, 460 are located in India.

Pizza Hut also strengthened its focus on launching Fast Casual Dining (FCD) stores, a concept pioneered by the brand in 2017. Presently, the brand has 81 FCDs in the country. It further targets to increase the share of FCD stores to 40% of its real estate by 2022.

The brand ended 2019 on an upward trajectory with positive same-store sales growth and strong transaction growth. Last year, Pizza Hut also strengthened its focus on food innovations, value offers and a brand refresh to innovatively engage and delight its customers.

In the Indian market, the brand’s key campaigns include the pilot launch of Black Pizza, rider tracking feature, a first in the QSR segment in India, association with India’s biggest YouTuber, Bhuvan Bam to dial-up the quirkiness quotient for the brand, among others.

Future Plans

Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent is aiming at launching more than 100 new stores across the market in the coming 2020.

In his new role, Merrill will oversee all the core functions of the organization with a dedicated focus on growth, expansion and innovations positively impacting its shareholder value in the market.

Unnat Varma, Managing Director, Pizza Hut Asia Pacific, stated, “Merrill brings with him over three decades of rich experience and leadership in the QSR sector. With his unique brand of leadership and compelling experience, we are confident he will strengthen our brand further in the region.”

Merrill added, “I look forward to working closely with each person at Pizza Hut India to collaboratively make the brand one of the most dynamic QSR brands in the Indian Subcontinent.”

Domino's Pizza Group has announced that its long-serving Chairman Stephen Hemsley will step down from the board. The move comes four months after the British pizza delivery chain announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer.

Hemsley was hired as Domino's non-executive Chairman in March 2010. He will exit from the company on December 29.

Domino's Senior Independent Director Ian Bull will be assuming the role of an Interim Chairman.

The company said, “The search for a new chairman is progressing, and will be followed by the appointment of a new CEO.”

In August, Chief Executive Officer David Wild retired after the company said earlier this year that it was considering replacing its CEO and Chairman in the wake of the Financial Reporting Council's revised corporate code that emphasised the need for boards to refresh themselves.

Domino's Pizza Group, which is a franchise of US-based Domino's Pizza Inc, has been struggling to control costs in its international business. It is in the process of exiting four of its loss-making global operations.

Growing Pizza Market

The Italian food format stood third in preference after Indian and Chinese five to six years ago. However, recent studies show that pizza is the biggest and the most profitable segment in the Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) format.

The Indian pizza market is dominated by Jubilant Food Works and Yum Brands, who own the widely recognisable brands Domino’s and Pizza Hut, respectively. However, other brands such as Sbarro, Papa John’s and Marco’s Pizza are also competing to spread their base in India. Thus, with the increase in the number of players, the market is ripe for investors.

Serving pizza via franchise route

Global and domestic pizza brands in India are expanding their stores through the franchise route throwing many opportunities for entrepreneurs in the country. Be it Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s,  Sbarro, Neopolitan Pizza or any other pizza brand, the majority of them are spreading their footprints via a franchise model in India. Domino’s Pizza has Jubilant FoodWorks Limited as it Master Franchisee.

Prospects in smaller cities

The Indian fast food market, which used to concentrate only in the metropolitan cities, has been witnessing a robust growth pan-India over the past few years. Tier II and III cities are the focus of the leading pizza makers due to huge opportunities there.

In the pizza segment, competition is getting intense as franchisors are significantly ramping up their presence across tier-II and tier-III cities of India. There exists a tremendous growth opportunity for franchisors in these areas as an educated middle-class population is becoming more sophisticated with respect to standardised food consumption.

Continuing with its global growth momentum, Domino's Pizza has launched its first store in the Czech Republic. The new outlet has been opened by Domino's, through a partnership with master franchisee Daufood Czech Republic S.R.O.

Jose Marti, Chief Executive Officer of Daufood, said, “I am so proud of the team that helped bring the global Domino's brand to the Czech Republic. We look forward to sharing our delicious products, excellent customer service and prompt delivery with the citizens of Brno.”

Domino's first store in Czech Republic is unveiled at Vinohrady area of Brno. The new store features the new pizza theater design, a refreshing and inviting interior, stylish seating, as well as a front-row seat to watch all the action of pizza-making.

The pizza chain will launch the second location in Brno's city center, with additional locations planned for next year.

Joe Jordan, Executive Vice President of international, Domino's, stated, “Establishing ourselves in the Czech Republic provides an excellent opportunity for our brand to continue its global momentum. With a terrific, proven master franchisee like Daufood, we are confident that Domino's will be able to establish itself as the pizza delivery brand of choice in Brno.”

Also Read: Indian Pizza Market Offers A Mouth Watering Opportunity For Investors

Domino's is now operating in over 85 markets worldwide, with more than half of its global retail sales coming from international stores. It is the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales.

Growth in Pizza Market

The Italian food format stood third in preference after Indian and Chinese five to six years ago. However, recent studies show that pizza is the biggest and the most profitable segment in the Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) format.

The Indian pizza market is dominated by Jubilant Food Works and Yum Brands, who own the widely recognisable brands Domino’s and Pizza Hut, respectively. However, other brands such as Sbarro, Papa John’s and Marco’s Pizza are also competing to spread their base in the country. Thus, with the increase in the number of players, the market is ripe for investors.

Also Read: Top 8 QSR Segments That Are Steaming Hot Franchise Opportunities

Prospects in smaller cities

In the pizza segment, competition is getting intense as franchisors are significantly ramping up their presence across tier-II and tier-III cities of India. There exists a tremendous growth opportunity for franchisors in these areas as an educated middle-class population is becoming more sophisticated with respect to standardised food consumption.

Domino’s Pizza, the market leader in the chained pizza segment in India, has unveiled its new campaign ‘Dil, Dosti, Domino’s’. The campaign aims to strengthen the emotional connect with the consumers by creating tasty and memorable moments of togetherness while capturing it in the new tagline “Dil, Dosti, Domino’s”.

Domino’s has been a progressive brand in many ways. The promise of ‘30 minutes or free’ a decade ago was well ahead of its time. Even today, the brand continues to stay connected with emerging consumer trends.

The consumers today are seeking brands that are authentic, inclusive and engaging. So whether it was about acknowledging consumer feedback and launching ‘All New Domino’s’ product improvement campaign, offering great value to consumer with the ‘Everyday Value’ campaign, offering best in class digital ordering experience on the ‘Domino’s App’ or offering variety to the consumers through exciting launches like ‘World Pizza League’, Domino’s has always attempted to stay relevant to the new age consumer.  

Kapil Grover, Chief Marketing Officer, Domino’s Pizza India, said, “Today, relationships have evolved from what they were a few years ago, especially relationships between Friends and Families. Hierarchical parental relationships no longer bind families. There is a lot of mutual respect and friendship amongst kids and parents today. Similarly, with the family structures changing, friends have become your new support system and in fact an extended family for a lot of us. And if we recall these moments, good food has always been a glue for relationships, especially Domino’s Pizza being a shareable product has been at the centre of many such stories where “Friends Become Family and Families Become Friends.”

Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka, stated, “Domino’s pizza is designed to be shared for people to gather around the "magic circle", pull at a cheesy slice and fight for the last bite. And in this very act of sharing and connecting, formality and boundaries get dissolved. Friends become like family, and family becomes like friends. Our campaign captures this essence of Domino’s and its role in the Indian consumer’s life.”

Shamby's Pizza Café is planning to have 100 outlets across India by 2020. Currently, the brand has 26 outlets across the country.

Shamby's Pizza Cafe is a food junction launched to serve happiness. It is a brainchild of a bunch of young, creative and enthusiastic team, Gastronomie Diligentee LLP, Based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Having consolidated the brand and its concept in just four years, Shamby’s Pizza Café was launched as a franchise in 2014.

Harpreet Sharma, Founder and Director, Shamby's Pizza Café, said, “Shamby's Pizza Cafe works on 3 models, the smallest one is the kiosk model of 150 sq ft amounting to Rs 6-7 lakh, then we have a dining/QSR model of 500 sq ft area costing Rs 10 lakh, and lastly we have an open kitchen of 700 sq ft amounting to Rs 12 lakh.”

“We currently have 26 outlets and are looking to have 100 by 2020,” Sharma added.

Shamby's Pizza Café is well-known for its authentic Wood fire Pizza with an Indian twist. It is the Indian pizza outlet that specializes in blending Indian ingredients and tastes with pizza. The chain’s uniqueness lies in its innovative and creative output.

The brand’s vision is to be ‘the place’ for the freshest, tastiest pizza in town.

Papa John’s has launched a new flavor of crust, Garlic Parmesan. The popular pizza chain has rolled out a new crust flavor for the first time in 35 years.

Paul Fabre, Senior Vice President of menu strategy and innovation, Papa John’s, said, “There’s a lot of fan love for Papa John’s signature Garlic Sauce, so we knew the first-ever innovation of our original crust had to feature it.”

The new crust is baked with Parmesan-Romano cheese and is inspired by its popular garlic sauce.

“The new Garlic Parmesan Crust comes with our famous Garlic Sauce and artisan Parmesan-Romano cheese baked into the crust. As always, Garlic Parmesan Crust pizzas come with our classic Garlic Sauce and pepperoncini in the box,” Paul stated.

He further added, “Papa John’s is all about quality, and we don’t put anything on the menu that doesn’t meet our standards. It’s the first time we’re adding flavor to our fresh, never-frozen original dough and we are doing it with high-quality ingredients that our guests love.”

Pizza Hut has expanded its vegan menu with a new selection of pizzas, desserts and sides available in UK restaurants.

The pizza chain has added a new Vegan All About Mushroom pizza, featuring tomato sauce, Violife Vegan Cheese, topped with closed cup mushrooms and garlic mushrooms. This is the fifth Pizza on the Pizza Hut Vegan Menu, joining the Vegan Margherita, Vegan Veggie, Vegan Hot ‘N’ Spicy Veg and the Vegan BBQ Jack ‘N’ Cheese.

The pizza giant has also added Southern Fried Nuggets, made in partnership with meatless brand Quorn Foods, and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Cheesecake, a vegan dessert that features cookie crumbles and caramel.

Pizza Hut started its foray into vegan options in 2017, and released its first fully-dedicated Vegan Menu in 2019.

In January 2019, the restaurant chain sold over 25,000 Vegan Pizzas, outstripping the Veganuary target of 10,000.

The brand has 250 dine-in restaurants across England, Wales and Scotland, and is the leading casual dining restaurant in the UK by footfall.

Want to invest in a pizza franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.  

MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings, LLC is looking at expanding its purpose-led fast casual brand into Canada. The brand has signed a development agreement for Canada with V.I. Pizza Inc.

Under this agreement, V.I. Pizza will bring five MOD locations to the island over the next several years.

Scott Svenson, Co-Founder and CEO, MOD, said, “We are confident that MOD will translate well in the Canadian marketplace, and that the V.I. Pizza team will be great partners as we further expand our footprint. With Vancouver Island’s close proximity to our home base of Seattle, this feels like the perfect first step into Canada.”

“For us, the most important factor in selecting our franchisees is finding those who not only share our business values, but are committed to cultivating the MOD culture in their stores. The V.I. Pizza team is aligned with our belief that taking care of people, and using the platform of MOD to make a positive impact, leads to a successful business. As we continue to grow MOD’s footprint, we hope to identify additional like-minded partners who are interested in helping us expand across Canada,” Scott further stated.

Presently, MOD Pizza has more than 455 locations system-wide, with an additional over 20 stores slated to launch by the end of 2019.

Jim Hayden, COO of V.I. Pizza Inc, added, “We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce MOD Pizza to Canada, and to share its compelling combination of superior food quality, value, speed and most importantly, its platform for doing good. MOD embodies everything we believe a brand should stand for – a people-first culture, a community-driven approach, and a best-in-class business model. We can’t wait to debut the first store in our home market of Vancouver Island.”

Want to invest in a pizza franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.

UK-based Papa John’s has expanded its range of vegan food with the launch of dairy-free cinnamon scrolls. These buns are stuffed with a cinnamon filling and topped with a drizzle of icing.

The Autumnal buns join other vegan food options offered by the pizza chain.

Earlier in 2019, the pizza chain unveiled its first vegan menu in all of its 350 locations in the UK. Papa John’s added three vegan pizzas to its menu, including the classic Vegan Sheese and Tomato, the fresh Garden Party With Sheese, and the spicy Hot Pepper Passion With Vegan Sheese.

The chain also unveiled a vegan version of its Marmite and Cheese Scrolls.

The new vegan options were launched after an online petition was filed by Animal rights organization Animal Aid, urging for Papa John’s to add dairy-free cheese gained nearly 30,000 signatures.

Todd Bradbury, Campaign Manager of Animal Aid, said, “By adding vegan cheese to their menu, Papa John’s will be showing that they are up to date with the fast-growing vegan movement. They will appeal to a much wider audience, be they vegans, those wanting to try vegan food or indeed those who have allergies to dairy products.”

Want to invest in a pizza franchise? Visit Franchise India 2019, Asia’s Biggest Franchise & Retail Show, and give wings to your entrepreneurial dreams.