PizzaExpress
| File:Pizza Express.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Uxbridge, London, UK |
| Owner | Cinven |
| Parent | Gondola Group |
| Website | www.pizzaexpress.com |
PizzaExpress is a restaurant group with over 400 restaurants across the United Kingdom and 40 overseas in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and the Middle East. It was founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot.[1] In Ireland, PizzaExpress trades under the name Milano.
History
Founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot, PizzaExpress' first restaurant opened its doors in London’s Wardour Street. Inspired by a trip to Italy, Mr Boizot brought back to London a pizza oven from Naples and a chef from Sicily.[2] In 1969 jazz performances began at its Dean Street restaurant, London, starting the brand’s love affair with supporting the arts.[3] PizzaExpress was the first to bring pizza to the UK high street in 1965 [4] and was the first to sell Peroni in this country. [5]
Food
PizzaExpress specialises in pizza. Signature dishes include its dough balls. In each PizzaExpress every pizza is handmade, prepared in each restaurant’s open kitchen. PizzaExpress introduced the lighter pizza ‘Leggera’, the first pizza range on the high street that contains around 500 calories.[6] In 2008 PizzaExpress started a Guest Chef Series with chef Theo Randall, of Theo Randall at InterContinental London, creating exclusive dishes for its menu.[7] Francesco Mazzei, of L’Anima, came onboard in 2010 to develop a menu inspired by his hometown of Calabria.[8]
Music
PizzaExpress has supported the jazz community from its early days when it opened its first jazz club in 1969 in Dean Street, London. Since then an array of artists have played from Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse, to supporting early performances by Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum.[9] PizzaExpress currently runs three jazz clubs in the UK, they include 10 Dean Street in Soho, The Pheasantry and Maidstone.[10]
Design/Art
Peter Boizot teamed up with Italian restaurant designer and cartoonist, Enzo Apicella in the 60s to design the PizzaExpress identity and over 80 restaurants.[11] In 2002, PizzaExpress launched PizzaExpress Prospects Contemporary Art Prize with pop artist Peter Blake.[12] Peter Blake’s connection with PizzaExpress was extended when he donated 26 original pieces to the Chiswick restaurant. PizzaExpress created a ‘Living Lab’ in October 2010, in Richmond, trialling new ideas from design to sound, collaborating with designer Ab Rogers.[13]
Charity
PizzaExpress introduced the Pizza Veneziana in 1977 to help save Venice from sinking by donating 5p of every pizza sold to the Venice in Peril Fund. Over the years the amount donated from each pizza has increased to 25p.[14] From 2008, donations from the Veneziana pizza go to the Veneziana Fund, where 50% is donated to the Venice in Peril Fund and 50% is given to the restoration, repair and maintenance of buildings, fixtures and fittings of buildings and works of art created before 1750.[15] Over £2m has been raised so far from sales of the Veneziana pizza. In 1999 PizzaExpress introduced its Schools Programme, a programme where the company turns its restaurants into classrooms, educating children about fresh ingredients, how to run a local business and how to cook for themselves.[16]
Retail
PizzaExpress launched into the retail sector with pizza, dough balls, salad dressings and pasta sauces.
Ownership
PizzaExpress was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993 with franchises opening across the UK. UK franchises were then bought back en mass in 1996. TDR Capital and Capricorn Associates then bought the company in 2003 turning it private again. In 2005, PizzaExpress floated on the London Stock Exchange, as part of the Gondola Holdings PLC. It was then bought by Cinven as the Gondola Group in 2007. Cinven is still the current owner.
References
- ^ Mr Pizza and all that jazz; Profile: Peter Boizot Independent, 26 January 1997
- ^ A slice of the action Guardian, 9 February 2003
- ^ PizzaExpress founder Peter Boizot an Industry Icon Peach Report, 19 November 2010
- ^ A slice of the action Guardian, 9 February 2003
- ^ [1] Richmond Marketing, 2010
- ^ Pizza Express launches healthy ‘salad’ pizza range Big Hospitality, 17 March 2009
- ^ Theo Randall joins forces with Pizza Express Eat Out, 29 September 2008
- ^ Italian chef Francesco Mazzei creates dishes for Pizza Express Caterer and Housekeeper, 19 November 2009
- ^ Jazz Gig Guide Jazzwise, 2011
- ^ Jazz Gig Guide Pizza Express Live, 2011
- ^ Meeting of the Minds Slammed Magazine, July 2004
- ^ Drip Paint Work Wins Drawing Prize Guardian, 22 May 2002
- ^ [2] Dezeen Magazine, 5 January 2011
- ^ Mr Pizza and all that jazz; Profile: Peter Boizot Independent, 26 January 1997
- ^ The Veneziana Fund Pothecary Witham Weld Solicitors, 2009
- ^ Stakeholder Report Cinven, 2011
External links
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