Best pizza franchises in the UK in 2023
Are you looking into the best pizza franchise opportunities in the UK? Lucky for you, we have a list of the top pizza franchises in the UK, so keep on reading.
Trending, profitable pizza franchsies
Fireaway Pizza
Monterey Jack’s
Basilico
Papa John’s
Pizza is a big deal in the UK. The average Brit will eat an impressive 5,847 slices of pizzas during their lifetime. One in five people says that pizza is their favourite food. The market is growing as food tastes change. Vegetarian and vegan options are now available alongside traditional deep-pan pepperoni feasts.
Around £3bn is spent on pizza annually in the UK. This makes pizza franchises in the UK a sound investment.
Are you interested in this booming market? Read on for all the information you need about the best pizza franchise options available right now.
Best pizza franchise opportunities in the UK in 2022
There are a lot of advantages to investing in a food franchise. Starting up an independent restaurant can be very risky and fraught with problems. By choosing a franchise, you can have all the benefits of a recognised brand with an established customer base. This means that your business should become profitable much more quickly.
You will also benefit from established working practices and supply chains. Big brands have stronger purchasing power than independent start-ups. This means they can secure good deals for equipment and ingredients. Also, you will already have a full menu planned out, which has been tried and tested with customers to ensure satisfaction.
Customers like consistency. They like to know that their favourite pizza will always be the same, whichever outlet of their preferred chain they visit. Working under the umbrella of a franchise will help you to achieve this consistency. You can build up a loyal customer base who keep coming back for more.
If you’re looking for an investment opportunity with great growth potential, a pizza franchise could be just the ticket. Let’s explore some of the options available in the UK in more detail.
Domino’s Pizza
Domino’s Pizza is the second-biggest pizza chain in the world, operating in 73 countries across the globe. Founded in 1960, Domino’s started out as a single store in Michigan in the US.
The first UK Domino’s Pizza franchise opened in Luton in 1985, and by 2005 there were 400 stores across the UK and Ireland. This has now exploded to over 1000 stores, and 90 million pizzas are sold to UK customers every year.
Domino’s innovative app has made the brand a leader in digital sales, with 75 per cent of sales being made via their website or app. Domino’s is truly a household name now in the UK, with high profile TV sponsorship and advertising contracts aplenty.
A Domino’s Pizza franchise requires an investment of approximately £280,000, with £120,000 available in liquid funds. The return on investment is impressive, though. One in three Domino’s franchisees owns a business worth more than £1 million. Dominos’s is looking for candidates with strong business acumen and an entrepreneurial outlook.
In return for your investment (and ongoing payment of fees based on annual sales), franchisees can use all the company’s branding, trademarks and company systems. Franchisees also benefit from Domino’s global promotional and marketing machine. Domino’s definitely represents a good return on investment for the right person, so keep an eye out for opportunities near you.
Pizza Hut
This is another American brand that needs no introduction. Pizza Hut started out in Kansas in 1958 and is now the biggest pizza company in the world. The brand moved into the UK in 1973, first as a restaurant chain. It then established a delivery service in 1988.
The Pizza Hut franchise cost is relatively high, requiring a minimum of £130,000-£150,000 in liquid funds. This is because they are looking for franchisees who can support their growth strategy and open a minimum of four stores over a short space of time. The Pizza Hut chain has rapid expansion plans for the UK and they need investors on board to help them achieve their goals.
In return for their investment, franchisees gain the right to use all of Pizza Hut’s branded material and operate under the banner of a globally-recognised name. There is also an extensive ongoing training package and day to day support from Franchise Business Managers.
A Pizza Hut franchise is a great opportunity if you have the funds available. Pizza Hut expects a commitment and passion for customer service and prefers to choose franchisees who can demonstrate a history of success in a similar industry.
Wolf
Wolf is a new entry into the Italian food market, opening their first store in Chiswick in London in 2015. There are now six locations across the UK, offering Italian street food to eat in, take away and for delivery. Wolf is a fast-growing franchise to keep an eye out for.
Wolf is currently seeking multi-unit franchisees for locations across the UK. This requires a minimum investment of £100,000 and franchise fees of £15,000. There are ongoing royalty fees of six per cent of net sales, as well as a further advertising fee of two per cent of net sales.
In return, franchisees have the support of an experienced team of professionals to help with every aspect of setting up the new franchise. This includes support in finding the best location to set up a lucrative enterprise. There’s a four-week intensive training programme plus ongoing support after the opening of the new store.
Wolf’s menu is under continuous development, to ensure that customers are offered the most innovative and exciting Italian food offerings. So if you’re looking for a pizza franchise for sale which offers a new and different model, rather than a big and well-known brand, Wolf could be the right option for you.
Fireaway
Another niche option, with stores localised to the London area only, is Fireaway. This is one of the cheaper pizza franchises, requiring a minimum investment of around £65,000.
The Fireaway offering is based around delivering artisanal Italian stone-fired pizza, with a turnaround time of 180 seconds. The product is highly personalised, with 25 different toppings available.
There is an even more cost-effective option for delivery only, knows as Fireaway Express, which has lower set-up costs and offers delivery via established platforms such as Deliveroo and also via Fireaway’s own app and website.
Support for franchisees includes help recruiting authentic Italian chefs and assistance with marketing. There is a fixed ongoing fee of £349 per month and no other fees to the franchisor, which helps the business to become profitable quicker.
Fireaway franchisees don’t need to have previous catering experience, just a strong work ethic and a passion for authentic food. If you’re looking for a franchise option with a smaller financial outlay than the big-hitting pizza brands, Fireaway could suit you well.
Donelli’s Pizzeria
A final entry in our list of the best pizza franchises available is Donelli’s Pizza. This option should also feature in any list of cheap pizza franchises, with a minimum investment required of just £24,995. There is also a management fee of seven per cent and a marketing fee of one per cent of gross turnover. The franchise agreement is valid for five years.
Donelli’s currently has just one restaurant in Norwich, offering authentic wood-fired pizza at a reasonable price in a modern setting. It’s a family-run outfit, with key ingredients such as salami and mozzarella imported from Italy, to make classic Italian pizza using traditional methods.
Donelli’s aim is to offer high-quality pizza using the best authentic ingredients to a wider customer base across the UK and to build their brand and reputation in this competitive market. They are currently looking to expand to 24 outlets across the UK.
The franchise agreement offers exclusive territory to potential franchisees. Once a new franchisee has established a proven, successful outlet, further expansion can be considered. Franchisees don’t need to have previous experience in the food industry, but they need to be able to demonstrate good communication and management skills and an entrepreneurial approach.
In return for the franchise fee, franchisees will get a marketing start-up pack with all required promotional material for launching their outlet. Support and assistance is also provided in the setting up of the physical premises, including finding the best location and designing the interior.
An operating framework is provided along with help with cash flow, stock and inventory management and staff rotas. Franchisees will receive help and support in all aspects of running their new pizza venture.
A Donelli’s Pizzeria franchise is a great opportunity for someone with a limited budget looking to get started in this industry. With a comprehensive training package and great business support, as well as the chance to serve up authentic Italian food to a growing customer base, this could be an exciting opportunity with a good return on investment.
Get a slice of the action: own your own pizza franchise
Now that we’ve reviewed the best pizza franchise options available right now, you should be in a good position to make a decision about the best investment to suit your budget and needs. Pizza franchises in the UK range from the niche, gourmet start-ups right through to global mega-brands. There really is an option to suit every investor.
Don’t hesitate to explore more about the best UK franchises available on our website, where you’ll find all the latest information across every sector.
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