Brand Partners with Industry Veterans to Accelerate Growth
MOD Pizza, the original super fast pizza, will bring their individual artisan-style, made on demand pizza to Denver with the opening of their first store on Thursday, September 11, 2014. Located at 8225 South Chester Street, Centennial, this will be MOD’s 20th store and marks a special milestone of being their first franchised location. MOD has partnered with industry veterans Bob Merullo, Kevin Embree and Scott Schooler, who will own and operate the Denver store through one of MOD’s first development agreements. This is the first of several MOD stores slated for the Denver market in the coming year.
Bob was the chief concept officer at Red Robin International where he led operations, marketing and purchasing for 330 company and franchised restaurants. Along with Kevin Embree, they formed Mach Robin and developed Red Robin’s largest franchise group, operating as many as 34 restaurants across the US and Canada. Kevin brings 25 years of experience as CFO of several real estate and restaurant companies including Mach Robin and Red Robin Canada. Scott Schooler will join Bob and Kevin as COO. Scott was vice president of food and beverage at Red Robin International, where he spent more than 20 years in operations.
“We are very excited to announce our opening in Denver – our first MOD in the mountain region,” said Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD. “Bob, Kevin, Scott and their team bring a proven track record of building successful brands, combined with a shared commitment to build something very special. Given our focus on culture, we couldn’t be more proud to have them open our first franchised location. As we continue our rapid pace of store openings, we will continue to identify additional market partners that are interested in growing with us across the U.S.”
MOD currently operates 19 company-owned stores in Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, with north of 30 stores slated to be open across eight markets by the end of 2014. MOD Franchising
MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas are made on demand, using organic fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces. Customers can create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of 30 featured toppings, or they can choose from a menu of MOD classics. Pizzas and salads are the same price regardless of the number of toppings. Pizzas are hand-cooked in an 800 degree oven in less than 3 minutes and salads are hand-tossed in front of the customer. MOD also offers local draft beers, wine, handspun milkshakes, and house-made lemonades and iced teas.
Seattle based MOD Pizza was founded in 2008 by Scott and Ally Svenson, and was inspired by the couple’s love of Italian street-style pizza, their desire for authentic, affordable and fast dining options for their busy family and the idea that a great company could be built around people. Above all, MOD is about putting people first – both customers and employees – and is striving to redefine the fast food experience. The MOD Difference Video
The Svensons bring their experience from building two highly successful concepts in the UK – Seattle Coffee Company (acquired by Starbucks) and Carluccio’s. MOD’s team of advisors and executives bring additional experience from iconic brands such as Starbucks, Apple, Panera Bread, Disney, T-Mobile, Dunkin Donuts, Qdoba, McDonald’s and Schwartz Brothers Restaurants.
MOD is committed to creating not just a cool place to eat, but an inspired place to work. The company has been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Breakout Brands” by Nation’s Restaurant News, named one of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” by Inc. Magazine,ranked as a “Fastest Growing Private Company” (2013 and 2014) by the Puget Sound Business Journal and named one of “Washington’s Best Work Places” by the Puget Sound Business Journal (2013 and 2014). www.modpizza.com
