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| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| genre = [[Fast-casual restaurant]]
| genre = [[Fast-casual restaurant]]
| hq_location_city = [[Pasadena, California]]
| hq_location_city = [[Atlanta, Georgia]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| hq_location_country = United States
| foundation = {{start date and age|2011}} in California
| foundation = {{start date and age|2011}} in [[Pasadena, California]]
| founders = Elise and Rick Wetzel
| founders = Elise and Rick Wetzel
| locations = 300+
| locations = 300+
| area_served = United States, Canada, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates
| area_served = United States, Canada, Bahrain
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Rick Wetzel (Co-Founder)
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Rick Wetzel (Co-Founder)
|Elise Wetzel (Co-Founder)
|Elise Wetzel (Co-Founder)
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}}
}}


'''Blaze Pizza''' is a [[Pasadena, California]]–based [[Fast casual restaurant|fast-casual]] pizza [[restaurant chain]]. Founded in 2011 by Elise and Rick Wetzel of [[Wetzel's Pretzels]], the chain is known for serving made-to-order pizzas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oches |first1=Sam |title=Pizza's Arms Race |url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/competition/pizza-s-arms-race |magazine=QSR Magazine |publisher=Journalistic Inc. |access-date=7 September 2015 |date=September 2013}}</ref>
'''Blaze Pizza''' is an [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Blaze Pizza relocating California headquarters |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/blaze-pizza-relocating-california-headquarters/ar-BB1o2eyi?ocid=BingNewsSerp |work=Fox News}}</ref> –based [[Fast casual restaurant|fast-casual]] pizza [[restaurant chain]]. Founded in 2011 by Elise and Rick Wetzel of [[Wetzel's Pretzels]], the chain is known for serving made-to-order pizzas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oches |first1=Sam |title=Pizza's Arms Race |url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/competition/pizza-s-arms-race |magazine=QSR Magazine |publisher=Journalistic Inc. |access-date=7 September 2015 |date=September 2013}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Line 45: Line 45:


In 2015, the company began to expand into Canada.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Hayley |date=August 3, 2015 |title=A pizza chain that emulates Chipotle and counts LeBron James as an investor is going international |website=[[Business Insider]] |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/blaze-pizza-to-open-international-stores-2015-8 |access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> In partnership with [[Alshaya]], the company opened locations in the Middle East in 2018.<ref name="bb-2018sep16">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 16, 2018 |title=Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza hosts launch event in Bahrain |magazine=Biz Bahrain |url=http://www.bizbahrain.com/blaze-fast-fired-pizza-hosts-launch-event-bahrain/}}</ref><ref name="un27-2019sep04">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Blaze Pizza opens its first branch in UAE |website=UAE News 24/7 |url=https://uaenews247.com/2019/09/04/blaze-pizza-opens-its-first-branch-in-uae/ |url-status=dead |access-date=September 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905142906/https://uaenews247.com/2019/09/04/blaze-pizza-opens-its-first-branch-in-uae/ |archive-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
In 2015, the company began to expand into Canada.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Hayley |date=August 3, 2015 |title=A pizza chain that emulates Chipotle and counts LeBron James as an investor is going international |website=[[Business Insider]] |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/blaze-pizza-to-open-international-stores-2015-8 |access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> In partnership with [[Alshaya]], the company opened locations in the Middle East in 2018.<ref name="bb-2018sep16">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 16, 2018 |title=Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza hosts launch event in Bahrain |magazine=Biz Bahrain |url=http://www.bizbahrain.com/blaze-fast-fired-pizza-hosts-launch-event-bahrain/}}</ref><ref name="un27-2019sep04">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Blaze Pizza opens its first branch in UAE |website=UAE News 24/7 |url=https://uaenews247.com/2019/09/04/blaze-pizza-opens-its-first-branch-in-uae/ |url-status=dead |access-date=September 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905142906/https://uaenews247.com/2019/09/04/blaze-pizza-opens-its-first-branch-in-uae/ |archive-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref>

In 2024, the company announced its plans to move its headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia to support future expansion plans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blaze Pizza Headquarters moving from California to Georgia |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/06/06/blaze-pizza-moving-its-pasadena-headquarters-to-atlanta/ |work=East Bay Times}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Fast casual restaurants]]
[[Category:Fast casual restaurants]]
[[Category:Pizza chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Pizza chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurant chains in the United States]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Pizza franchises]]
[[Category:Pizza franchises]]

Latest revision as of 02:14, 1 December 2024

Blaze Pizza, LLC.
Blaze Pizza
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood and beverage
GenreFast-casual restaurant
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011) in Pasadena, California
FoundersElise and Rick Wetzel
Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
,
United States
Number of locations
300+
Area served
United States, Canada, Bahrain
Key people
ProductsPizza, salad, cheesy bread, desserts, drinks
Websiteblazepizza.com

Blaze Pizza is an Atlanta, Georgia[2] –based fast-casual pizza restaurant chain. Founded in 2011 by Elise and Rick Wetzel of Wetzel's Pretzels, the chain is known for serving made-to-order pizzas.[3]

History

[edit]

Blaze Pizza was founded in Pasadena, California, by Rick and Elise Wetzel in 2011. The chain's first location was opened in Irvine, California, in August 2012,[4] which was followed two months later by the opening of their second, and flagship, location in October 2012 in Pasadena.[5] The chain serves made-to-order pizzas, with a choice of various sauces and toppings. Its business model is similar to other chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Subway.[6][7][8] The pizzas are cooked in a high-temperature open-flame oven with an average cook time of three minutes.[9] The only piece of cooking equipment inside each of the restaurants is an oven.[10]

By the end of 2014, Blaze had become the first fast-casual pizza restaurant to achieve 50 opened units.[11] The company planned to have at least 500 locations by 2020.[12]

In 2015, the company began to expand into Canada.[13] In partnership with Alshaya, the company opened locations in the Middle East in 2018.[14][15]

In 2024, the company announced its plans to move its headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia to support future expansion plans.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jennings, Lisa (4 January 2023). "Focus Brands President Beto Guajardo named CEO of Blaze Pizza". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Blaze Pizza relocating California headquarters". Fox News.
  3. ^ Oches, Sam (September 2013). "Pizza's Arms Race". QSR Magazine. Journalistic Inc. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. ^ Lucero, Jaryd (April 17, 2012). "Subway-style pizza outlet to open near UC Irvine". Orange County Register.
  5. ^ O'Heron, Dan (November 15, 2012). "Pizza in a flash: Blaze Pizza is the latest hit in Pasadena's Playhouse District". Pasadena Weekly. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Lutz, Ashley (February 12, 2015). "A Chipotle-style pizza chain endorsed by LeBron James is taking over America". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  7. ^ Balla, Lesley (January 6, 2014). "10 Innovative Restaurants Around LA". Zagat. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ^ Giammona, Craig (April 14, 2015). "lebron-backed Pizza Chain Aims to Top Chipotle". Bloomberg Business News. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  9. ^ Marchand, Lisa. "In a Blaze of Pizza Glory". Minnesota Monthly. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  10. ^ Tanyeri, Dana (January 31, 2013). "Blaze Pizza". Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Magazine.
  11. ^ Jennings, Lisa (December 12, 2014). "Blaze Pizza to lead fast-casual pizza chains in units open". Nation's Restaurant News. Penton. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  12. ^ Chaplin, Cathy (January 29, 2015). "L.A.'s fast-casual pizza shops: A look at 7 margherita pizzas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  13. ^ Fitzpatrick, Hayley (August 3, 2015). "A pizza chain that emulates Chipotle and counts LeBron James as an investor is going international". Business Insider. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza hosts launch event in Bahrain". Biz Bahrain. September 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "Blaze Pizza opens its first branch in UAE". UAE News 24/7. September 4, 2019. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Blaze Pizza Headquarters moving from California to Georgia". East Bay Times.
[edit]
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