Pieology

Pieology Pizzeria

A Pieology Pizzeria at Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles, California.
Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurants
Genre	Fast casual
Founded	March 2011; 13 years ago (2011-03) in Fullerton, California as Pie-ology Pizzeria
Founders	Carl Chang James Markham
Headquarters	Tustin, California , United States
Number of locations	140[1] (September 2018)
Areas served	United States China[2] Mexico[3] Spain[4]
Products	Pizza, salad, desserts, drinks
Website	pieology.com

Pieology Pizzeria is a Tustin, California-based pizza chain within the fast-casual dining restaurants category. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, the brother of former tennis player Michael Chang,^[5] Pieology's mission is to "turn one of America's favorite food into an affordable and interactive experience".^[6] Pieology's main rivals are Blaze Pizza and MOD Pizza.^[7] By October 2018, Pieology had a single unit in Mexico plus approximately 140 units in 23 American states and territories with more than half of those restaurants located in the state of California.^[1]

Concept

A Pieology Pizza.

Similar to their competitors, Pieology offers individual, artisan style pizzas, which are baked in a high-temperature open-flame oven. Customers begin by choosing which of the ingredients they'd like on their pizza pie. As customers work their way down the service line, staff assemble a pizza based on customer instructions. When they arrive at the end of the line, their custom-built pizza is ready to be cooked.

Pieology offers several signature pizzas, as well "build your own" custom pizzas. In addition, their menu includes salads and desserts.

Each Pieology restaurant is meant to be an "environment that [creates] inspiration", with a quote board in every store that features inspirational quotes.^[5]

History

The first Pieology was opened in March 2011 in Fullerton, California, just a few blocks away from the campus of California State University, Fullerton, by partners Carl Chang and James Markham.^[8] During its first few months of operation, the business was known as Pie-ology Pizzeria.^[9] Chang and Markham were previously involved with the development of MOD Pizza. Markham left the partnership the following year.^[10] After the success of the first location, a second location was opened in nearby Irvine (near the campus of University of California, Irvine) in November 2012.^[11] For the first few years, initial growth was restricted to company-owned locations in Southern California.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2014, Pieology expanded into the state of Minnesota, opening a location in Mankato with the assistance of Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Matt Kalil as the local franchise owner.^[12] During the same month, Pieology expanded into the state of Arizona, opening a location in Tucson.^[13]

By October 2014, the company had 35 units in eight states.^[14]

In 2015, Pieology was the fastest growing restaurant chain in America, according to data from Technomic.^[5]

In March 2016, Pieology expanded into the state of Hawaii, opening a location in Aina Haina with the help of franchise partner Cotti Foods.^[15]

In May 2016, Pieology opened its first location outside the continental United States in the city of Tamuning in the American territory of Guam with the help of a local franchise partner.^[16]

In 2016, Pieology received an investment from Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the founders of Panda Restaurant Group.^[6][17] Later in that year, Pieology acquired one of its rivals, Project Pie.^[18]

International expansion

Mexico

In January 2018, Pieology opened their first location outside of the United States in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City^[19] with the help of Mexican franchise partner OPFRA S.A. de C.V.^[20]

A third location in Mexico opened in September 2019 near Anahuac University in Mexico City.^[21]

Spain

In March 2018, Pieology announced plans to expand into Spain with a focus towards a franchise model via a licensing agreement with the Comess Group.^[22] The first Spanish restaurant opened in Madrid in September 2018.^[23]

China

In July 2020, Pieology opened their first Chinese location in Shanghai via a franchise agreement with TZG Partners.^[24]

Canada

In February 2016, the company announced plans to open locations in Canada.^[25] As of September 2021^[update], no franchise partner has step forward to make these plans a reality.

United Kingdom

In July 2021, Camyabco Ltd. signed an agreement with the company to open its first U.K. location in London.^[26][27]

References

1. "Pieology Locations".
2. "Locations". Pieology Pizzeria China.
3. "Ubicación y Sucursales". Pieology México.
4. "Haz tu pedido". Pieology España.
5. Schlossberg, Mallory (June 25, 2015). "The fastest-growing restaurant in America should terrify traditional pizza chains". Business Insider. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
6. "Pieology Pizzeria Announces Strategic Investment From Founders of Panda Restaurant Group". January 19, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
7. Luna, Nancy (January 10, 2018). "Pieology opens secret research restaurant aimed at outcooking build-your-own pizza rivals". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
8. Lau, Anita (April 1, 2011). "Chipotle-style pizzeria debuts in Fullerton". Orange County Register.
9. "Pie-ology wants to be the Chipotle of pizza chains". Orange County Register. July 20, 2011.
10. Luna, Nancy (July 17, 2014). "Pizza gets personal: Build-it-yourself pie shops explode on food scene". Orange County Register.
11. Luna, Nancy (November 17, 2012). "Free pizzas Saturday at new Irvine Pieology". Orange County Register.
12. Krohn, Tim (September 17, 2014). "Pieology brings fast casual pizza to Mankato: Pizzeria owned by Minnesota Viking Matt Kalil". Mankato Free Press.
13. Burch, Cathalena E. (September 30, 2014). "Pieology opening first Tucson restaurant Wednesday". Arizona Daily Star.
14. Luna, Nancy (October 23, 2014). "For your dining pleasure: The best build-your-own pizza places". Orange County Register.
15. "Pieology Opens First of 20 Hawaii Locations". QSR Magazine. March 16, 2016.
16. "Pieology Pizzeria Opens First Guam Location". Franchise Update Media. May 13, 2016.
17. Li, Shan (January 20, 2016). "Panda Express buys a minority stake in Pieology Pizzeria". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
18. Li, Shan (June 22, 2016). "Pieology acquires rival Project Pie". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
19. "La cadena de pizzerías Pieology inaugura su primera unidad en México" [The chain of pizzerias Pieology inaugurates its first unit in Mexico]. Expansión (Mexico) (in Spanish). January 29, 2018.
20. "Award-Winning Franchise Taps Mexican Partner to Meet Growing International Demand". Franchise Update Media. August 15, 2017.
21. "Pieology opens 3rd Mexican store". Fast Casual. September 24, 2019.
22. "Pieology Pizzeria to Expand Into Spain, Accelerate Franchise Growth". QSR Magazine. March 22, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
23. "La pizzería Pieology abre su primer restaurante en España" [Pieology pizzeria opens its first restaurant in Spain]. EFE (in Spanish). November 5, 2018.
24. Michaels, Laura (August 13, 2020). "Shanghai Opening Marks Start of Pieology's Growth in China". Franchise Times.
25. Bostock, Amy (February 3, 2016). "Pieology is Bringing Its Artisanal Pizza to Canada". Foodservice and Hospitality magazine.
26. "Pieology Enters UK Market as Fast Casual Dining Returns to Normal". Restaurant News. July 6, 2021.
27. "Pieology to open first UK restaurant in the UK". BigHospitality. July 7, 2021.