Zucca Pizzeria Plans To open Its 100 Outlets In India

The Real Pizza Company, a renowned UK-based pizzeria known for its handcrafted, stone-baked pizzas, has launched their first-ever outlet in India at Bengaluru. This marks the beginning of a flavorful new journey as the brand brings its celebrated British pizza experience to Indian food lovers.

Established in 2012, The Real Pizza Company has earned a loyal UK fanbase with its focus on quality, authenticity, and traditional pizza-making using fresh daily dough, rich tomato sauces, and real stone ovens. Now debuting in Bengaluru, the brand brings its artisanal charm to India, partnering with Franchise India as its master franchise developer to drive nationwide expansion.

Bhaskar Ray, Partner at The Real Pizza Company shared, “We aim to create a one-of-a-kind experience where young Indians and families can enjoy handcrafted, stone-baked pizzas in a lively, welcoming setting. By staying true to traditional pizza-making methods and using only premium ingredients, we’re confident that The Real Pizza Company will offer a fresh and memorable alternative in India’s growing QSR landscape.” 

Gaurav Marya, Chairman of Franchise India, shared his excitement about the launch said, "The Real Pizza Company brings authentic, globally loved flavors to India’s food scene. It’s a brand rooted in craftsmanship and quality, and we see great potential for growth across major Indian cities. Our vision is to help passionate entrepreneurs tap into this opportunity while offering customers a unique, wood-fired pizza experience.” 

The Real Pizza Company brings its UK-loved 12-inch pizzas—like Ham & Mushroom, Sgt Pepperoni, and the spicy-sweet Sgt. Bee Sting—to India, all handcrafted with premium ingredients and baked in real stone ovens.

With strong brand recognition, authentic wood-fired pizzas, and a proven business model, The Real Pizza Company offers an exciting entry point into the fast-growing premium QSR space. It’s scalable, turnkey franchise model supported by comprehensive operational and marketing systems is geared for rapid expansion with Franchise formats.

Pizza Wings, a Haryana-based quick-service restaurant has successfully secured fresh funding of $ 2.8 Mn  in a follow-up round from marquee investors, including Gruhas— the investment arm of Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai, Udaan co-founder Sujeet Kumar, and other strategic investors. 

The current funding follows their previous investment in the company’s $4 million seed round in 2024, further reinforcing the investors’ sustained confidence in the brand’s vision and growth trajectory. 

The additional funds will fuel the brand's expansion plans across Northern and North-Eastern India and lay the foundation for long-term growth. 

“Pizza Wings has demonstrated robust growth since its inception and is the ideal balance of global quality and Indian flavors while leveraging a technology-driven delivery infrastructure to enhance customer experience. As a QSR brand, we are committed to using fresh ingredients including daily-prepared dough and zero preservatives that have resonated with our customers”, said Aditya Dhanda, CEO of Pizza Wings. 

Founded in 2014 by Aditya Dhanda and co-founded by Rajpal Sangwan, Vikas Nain, Pizza Wings has transformed the Indian pizza market with its “Fresh dough, Fresh Ingredient” philosophy, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. 

With the latest infusion of capital, Pizza Wings is set to accelerate its expansion, with 70-80% of its growth focused on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities while maintaining a 20-30% presence in metro markets. Unlike global players in the same domain that primarily target Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, Pizza Wings has strategically chosen to penetrate uncharted markets. 

With expansion in full swing, Pizza Wings aims to add 50 new stores, scaling its footprint to 100 outlets by the end of 2025, further strengthening its presence in emerging urban centers. To support its rapid growth, Pizza Wings is also reinforcing its corporate structure with strategic hires across finance, logistics and marketing.

“Pizza Wings has built an impressive business model with a technology-first approach, evidenced by 80% of its deliveries being managed through its proprietary platform,” said Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder of Udaan. “This approach positions them as more than just a food brand—it establishes them as a fast emerging food-tech leader.”

Abhijeet Pai, Partner, Gruhas said, “We're embarking on an elevating chapter for Pizza Wings with this follow-up funding round, which marks a significant milestone in our journey. The brand’s rapid growth and commitment to quality have set the stage for an ambitious expansion across India. With plans to scale to 100 outlets by the end of 2025 and create new opportunities by expanding its team, Pizza Wings is not just growing—it’s building a strong foundation for long-term success.”

With further plans to expand to 400 outlets nationwide by 2027 and the potential for an IPO in the future, the brand is not just growing in numbers but also laying the framework for a robust industry leadership. 

This Pizza Day, Domino’s is celebrating the undying love for pizza with an immersive, never-seen-before experience. Through a first-of-its-kind Snapchat AR filter, innovative billboards, and cleverly crafted print ads, Domino’s is turning the world into a playground for pizza lovers.

The campaign is a multi-touchpoint celebration that goes beyond digital. Larger-than-life billboards will use shadows and spotlights to create unexpected pizza slice visuals on the streets. Meanwhile, newspaper readers across Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore will discover a delightful surprise as print ads take the shape of a pizza slice, ensuring that Pizza Day is not just celebrated—it’s experienced.

“Pizza isn’t just a meal; it’s a feeling. And for true pizza lovers, pizza is everywhere. This campaign is our way of celebrating that love—whether through an interactive AR experience or a billboard that surprises you. We want to make Pizza Day a moment of joy, creativity, and connection for every pizza lover out there,” shared Chella Pandyan, Chief Marketing Officer of Domino’s India.

As the brand that brought pizza to India, Domino’s has been a part of countless pizza moments. This Pizza Day, it’s celebrating True Pizza Lovers—those who see pizza everywhere. Inspired by this idea, the campaign plays with shadows, patterns, and everyday objects to spark fun, pizza-inspired moments.

Bringing its technology-first approach to life, Domino’s is introducing a unique Snapchat AR filter that transforms everyday triangular shapes into pizza slices. This innovation not only makes the love for pizza more interactive and shareable but also reinforces Domino’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance customer experiences.

Domino’s, India’s largest quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain, has announced the opening of its 2000th store in the country. 

The brand celebrated this occasion by opening seven new stores in its seven operating regions nationwide. 

Domino’s Pizza India opened its first store in New Delhi in 1996, and today serves over 200mn pizzas annually through 2,000 stores spread across 421cities.

“We are humbled to achieve the milestone of 2000 stores in India making us the first QSR in India to cross this mark. We expect to add 180 stores of Domino’s in the current financial year,” shared Sameer Khetarpal, CEO & MD of Jubilant FoodWorks Limited.

While the first 500 stores in the country took over 16 years, the last 500 have come only in 29 months reaffirming the brand’s commitment to accelerated expansion in India. 

Domino’s is often the first international chain to enter new cities like Sasaram, Sultanpur, Madikeri, Girdih and Baramati. The company continues to creatively expand its store presence across multi-tier cities in the form of High-street stores, mall stores, highways, colleges and airport terminals, covering a varied set of occasions in the life of customers. 

Domino’s has opened one new store every two-days post Covid – offering its customers great taste and value through dine-in and under 30-mins delivery. World-wide Domino’s operates more than 20,000 stores.

Art D'Elia, Executive Vice President-International at Domino's Pizza, Inc., stated, "On behalf of Domino's International, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire Domino’s India team for this incredible milestone of 2000 stores. India is the largest market outside of the U.S. in the global Domino's network. The growth story of Domino’s India is truly a benchmark for all of us. This achievement stands as a testament to the various strategic choices the team has made over three decades to deliver the best pizza experience to our valued customers. "

Celebrating the 2000-store milestone, Domino’s India has also won a prestigious award from the Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Pizza Box Number.’ 

To celebrate and thank all pizza lovers, Domino’s has announced upto ₹2000 discount, among other offers. This is valid from June 11 to June 13, 2024. 
 

Pizza Hut has hired ex. Chief Marketing Officer at Wendy’s, Carl Loredo as president of Pizza Hut US.

He will be reporting to Aaron Powell, Pizza Hut Division CEO, effective June 3, shared a press release.

Loredo's previously served as global chief marketing officer at The Wendy's Company for eight years. Loredo also served as VP of Account Services at The Marketing Arm (a part of Omnicom Media Group).

"Carl comes to Pizza Hut with a strong track record of positioning brands for success and delivering results in highly competitive markets. He is adept at helping brands show up in novel and authentic ways at the right intersection of customer need and culture," shared Powell.

"I love a good story, and Pizza Hut's journey from one restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, to global cultural icon status is tremendously inspiring," Loredo said in the release. "It is an honor to lead Pizza Hut's U.S. business and be a part of taking this beloved brand forward for the next generation of customers. I am eager to partner with Aaron and the leadership team, our best-in-class franchisees and our talented team members around the country to unlock growth for this powerhouse brand."
 

Gourmet Investments Pvt. Ltd. is excited to announce the new appointment of Krunal Chahwala as Brand CEO- PizzaExpress.

“Krunal, a dynamic leader, boasts nearly 18 years of diverse experience in operations, marketing, strategy and digital transformation management,” shared a post by Gourmet Investments on Linkedin.

He has held pivotal role in restaurant and service industry, showcasing his managerial expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence. 

Previously, he played integral role in Devyani International and Yum! Brands where he has led operations for kFC, Pizza Hut.

Gourmet Investments Pvt Ltd, a part of the Bharti Group, was founded in 2012 with a vision of creating a benchmark in the casual dining industry in India by bringing into the country finest international restaurant brands and providing best-in-class experience for all through brand, talent, real estate & compliance.

The company at present boasts of a beautifully curated host of international brands like PizzaExpress, Chili’s, Ministry of Crab and P.F. Chang's. The company at present operates 35 restaurants in India across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Before joining, PizzaExpress, Krunal was COO at Pizza Hut India.

Wooddy Jhone’s Pizza is aiming to have 500 franchises by 2021 across India. The brand further eyes to provide growth opportunities to all stakeholders including distributors and suppliers.

Wooddy Jhone’s Pizza is a brand new concept with world-class food and a lavish atmosphere, good service at an affordable price. It is a local, family-owned restaurant, passionately serving in Gujarat for over 2 years with freshly baked pizza, breads and homemade Italian comfort food.

It is the only restaurant chain in India to offer a mix of Indian and global taste pallets. It has options available across all pizza categories.

Area required for opening a Wooddy Jhone’s Pizza franchise is 1350-1500 sq ft, with an investment of Rs 40-45 lakh.

1441 Pizzeria, known for their unlimited toppings, cheese, and sauces on traditionally wood-fired pizzas, announced the launch of their first mobile app, available for iOS and Android.

This initiative of the brand is meant to create a value proposition for its customer base and to reach out to a wider range of customers.
 

With 13 outlets in their name across 4 cities, the app allows users to interact with the brand directly. Available to order in Fort, Kamala Mills, Prabhadevi, Andheri, Lokhandwala, Malad, Thane, in Bombay; Koregaon Park and Magarpatta in Pune;  JP Nagar in Bangalore, and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, the app has an extensive loyalty rewards programme.

“We’ve launched the new app with an objective of catering a larger audience. This route will also allow us to calculate our customer acquisition costs in a clearer and defined way that will help us with future marketing campaigns and strategies,” shared Partner Krishna Gupta by adding that as of now, they are looking to grow the brand presence from 13 outlets to 50 in the next 2-3 years.

In a digitally driven world, 1441 Pizzeria is primed to lead the way in the fast-casual sector. The app allows various modes of payment including cash on delivery, credit & debit cards and UPI.

Highlighting some of the Key Points:

• Cart Checkout: The app accepts all types of payment methods including cards, paytm and UPI.

• Improved user interface: Customers have easy access to their favourite woodfired pizzas and easy usage of the app.
• Offers:
  1. Loyalty Programme:  Free INR 1441* will be deposited into the loyalty wallet on App download*. It can be availed at dine-in, takeaways, and order in. This will be clubbed with lucrative offers and deals for all users.
  2. Discounts: For the first month, avail a discount of 50% on orders up to INR 100 that can be clubbed with the loyalty wallet.
  3. USP: The app offers a chance to make your own Pizza with unlimited toppings, cheese and 4 types of sauces.
  4. Benefits: The app offers its users' priority delivery, sneak-peaks to upcoming events/festivals at the outlets, and exclusive combos.

1441 Pizzeria has launched its outlet in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. With this launch, the brand is aiming to expand the horizons of flavoursome pizzas in the state.

After foraying into 4 cities, 1441 Pizzeria now eyes at launching multiple outlets, which will be both company-owned and franchisee-owned. 

This unique pizzeria was founded by Krishna Gupta and Istayak Ansari in 2015. It is built on the inspiration of offering its customers the true essence of the flavours of Italy.

1441 Pizzeria serves authentic and traditional wood-fired pizzas with unlimited toppings delivering a taste that stays lingering on the mind.

Krishna Gupta, Founder of 1441 Pizzeria, said, "Major QSR chains have stuck to the proven formula of a limited and focused menu. But we at 1441 Pizzeria wanted to try something different and spoil the customer for choice. Hence, more choices and personalized pizzas with unlimited toppings have managed to make the brand a favourite among the patrons in all the three cities we have our presence in. Now, with our newest outlet, we wish to bring the same taste and authentic flavours to Jodhpur."

Istayak Ansari, Director & Co-Founder, 1441 Pizzeria, added, "After establishing a strong presence in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore, we are all set to get our authentic Italian flavours to the city of Jodhpur. 1441 Pizzeria is on an expansion spree and we aim at growing our brand presence from 10 outlets to 50 in the next 2 years in cities like Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai. With the brand’s success in the metros of the country, we are now penetrating in the tier 2 cities as we feel these cities have become more welcoming of the new age brands."

Pie Five Pizza, the fast-casual restaurant known for its customizable pizzas prepared and ready to enjoy in five minutes, has announced that Pizza Inn's "Franchisee of the Year" opened Pie Five restaurant in Lubbock.

Dallas-based Pie Five Pizza is a subsidiary of Rave Restaurant Group, Inc. Rave owns, franchises and supplies more than 250 Pie Five and Pizza Inn restaurants operating domestically and internationally.

Franchisee Michael Moore said, "My wife CaraBeth and I are thrilled to join the Pie Five family and to start serving everyone in Lubbock."

The Moore duo currently owns and operates three Pizza Inn locations, one in Hobbs, NM and two in Carlsbad, NM.

Pizza Hut, India's leading pizza brand, has officially announced the launch of its 500th store in the India-subcontinent. Located at Laxmi Nagar, the 500th store is modelled on Pizza Hut's new Fast-Casual format, which brings alive contemporary store design, convenient and faster service, and an open-kitchen which appeals to millennials.

Keeping consumers at the center and addressing its core belief that every pizza lover deserves to experience the power of a truly great pizza; Pizza Hut has been serving the tastiest pan pizzas while continuously driving innovative campaigns and value propositions for years. The brand was also awarded the prestigious EFFIE Gold in the Foods and Confectionery category in 2018 as recognition of the outstanding consumer-centric performance by the brand.

Unnat Varma, MD, Pizza Hut (India Sub-con), said, "Opening our 500th store in the India-subcontinent is a milestone moment for us and our franchise partners. Together we want to deliver the best pizza experience to consumers across the length and breadth of the region and will continue to expand our footprint in the coming year. Our overall growth has been fueled by the love and trust that our consumers have shown for over two decades."

Prashant Gaur, Chief Brand Officer, Pizza Hut (India Sub-con), said, "The announcement today marks the next phase of brand Pizza Hut. We take pride in serving the best, the freshest and the tastiest pizzas to all the pizza lovers in the country. In the next chapter of the brand, we want to make it even easier for consumers to be able to access the tastiest pizza, no matter where they are."

By Nusra

Global pizza giant Papa John’s has closed India operation by closing its entire outlet.  The company which earlier closed 29 restaurants in India ended its operation in the country by closing its remaining 33 restaurants in July 2017.

“The situations were not right at the company when directors started putting papers from the pizza chain last June, “shared two people aware of the entire matter.  The pizza chain was focusing more on brand building and less on store level EBITDA which was decreasing from last one year, added the first person.

The company website is unavailable and the last tweet remains from June 2017. However, its CEO Sandeep Singh has joined Sam Chopra owned Cybiz Corp as CEO which is running burger chain Carl’s Jr in India. And, has plans to bring an international pizza chain to India soon which will enter the never ending pizza race that the country is having.

Papa John's entered India in 2011 and was runned by Om Pizza & Eats, which is owned by a company of Atulya Mittal, nephew of steel baron Lakshmi Mittal.