US co-founders Scott and Ally Svenson and Sir Charles Dunstone and Roger Taylor join together to introduce brand in Leicester Square
MOD Pizza, the pioneer of fast-casual pizza, will open its UK flagship location in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday, December 8, 2016. This will be the fourth UK location for MOD, which made its debut in Leeds in June 2016, followed by openings in Brighton and Gateshead. Following Leicester Square, the brand will open its fifth location in Nottingham before the end of the year with plans to continue its rapid expansion into 2017.
Sir Charles Dunstone and business partner, Roger Taylor partnered with MOD Pizza’s co-founders Scott and Ally Svenson in 2015 to bring MOD to the UK. The partnership was formed to introduce the UK to MOD’s unique approach of offering totally customized artisan-style pizza and sharing the Company’s powerful culture and its “purpose beyond pizza” – a commitment to use the business to make a positive social impact on its employees and the communities it serves.
“MOD has disrupted the pizza industry in the US, and continues to expand across the country at a rapid pace and with great success. We are proud to be working with Scott and Ally to bring MOD’s fresh and affordable pizza to communities across the UK,” said Sir Charles.
Added Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD, “Our arrival in London is one of the most exciting milestones for MOD. Having launched our first retail brand, Seattle Coffee Company, in Covent Garden two decades ago, it is thrilling to be returning to the city that provided so much inspiration for MOD. We look forward to not only introducing MOD’s amazing product to Londoners, but sharing our people-first culture, which is driven by our belief that a business will thrive when putting people first.”
MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas and salads are individually crafted, allowing customers to choose whatever they like from over 30 toppings, or choose from a menu of MOD classics – all for one set price of £7.87 (UK pricing). Pizzas are made with fresh-pressed dough and cook in just minutes, and salads are hand-tossed in front of the customer. The menu is rounded out with soft drinks, hand spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades and iced tea, beer and wine.
MOD PIZZA LEICESTER SQUARE
17-18 Irving Street, London, WC2H 7AT
OPENING: December 8, 2016. 12pm
HOURS: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 11:00pm / Friday and Saturday 11am to 12am
Follow MOD UK on social:
Facebook: /MODPizzaUK
Twitter: @MODPizzaUK
Instagram: @MODPizzaUK
MOD Pizza was founded in Seattle, Washington in 2008 by entrepreneurs Scott and Ally Svenson. MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas are made on demand, allowing customers to create their own pizzas and salads, using fresh-pressed dough, signature sauces and over 30 toppings, for one price. With more than 180 locations across 19 states, MOD is committed to creating a positive social impact in the communities it serves, by not only creating a cool place to eat, but an inspired place to work. MOD was recently ranked as America’s fastest growing chain restaurant by Technomic. In 2016, MOD earned a spot on the Inc. 500 list as a fastest growing private company in America, and was recognized by Fortune as one of the “20 Best Workplaces in Retail” for its progressive hiring practices and career growth opportunities.
Charles Dunstone founded Carphone Warehouse in 1989 with £6,000 of savings. In 2000, the company listed on The London Stock Exchange and became the largest independent mobile phone retailer with some 2,400 stores in the UK and across Europe. In 2014, it merged with Dixons Group to create Dixons Carphone. In 2002, Carphone established TalkTalk, which helped change the UK’s telecoms market. In 2010, having become one of the UK’s leading telecoms companies; it demerged from Carphone Warehouse to become an independent company. Charles is Chairman of both Dixons Carphone and TalkTalk.
Roger Taylor joined Carphone Warehouse in 1999 as CFO, becoming Chief Executive in 2010 until 2013, when he became Deputy Chairman. He is also a Director of TalkTalk Group. Today, he is Charles Dunstone’s business partner in Freston Ventures, a partnership, which Charles and Roger use for personal investments, including their joint venture with MOD Pizza in the UK. Among other investments made by Freston is its joint venture with Five Guys burgers.
