Industry Veteran Joins Premier Fast Casual Custom Pizza Chain’s Elite Leadership Team
Pieology Pizzeria, where pizza lovers go to create artisan-style custom pizzas in endless flavor combinations at one affordable price, has hired former Panera Bread executive, Clay Sanger, as its Chief Operating Officer. Leveraging nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Sanger previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations for SusieCakes Bakeries, as well as simultaneously held the role of Regional Vice President of Operations for Panera Bread and the Panera Bread company-owned concept, Paradise Bakery & Café.
“We are thrilled to add an industry veteran of Clay’s caliber to our talented leadership team as we continue our nationwide expansion,” said Carl Chang, Pieology founder and CEO. “We are committed to setting every member of the Pieology family up for success and we’re confident Clay will help to add a new level of operational efficiency to the growing Pieology organization.”
At Pieology, Sanger will oversee both company and franchise operations, which includes franchise development, real estate, training, ops support, store design and construction. As COO, he is responsible for developing operations processes, structuring well-balanced teams, and coaching personnel to help them achieve their respective goals. With nearly 130 Pieology restaurants in operation and 70 more projected to open by the end of 2017, Sanger’s overarching role is to ensure the consistent delivery of excellent food quality, outstanding guest service and pristine restaurant facilities system wide.
“I am honored to join the Pieology team, whose mission and values reflect the highest commitment to quality and people development, and I firmly believe that our product is by far the best in the fast casual pizza segment,” said Sanger. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Pieology’s talented team members and enthusiastic franchisees, who are collectively dedicated to providing a memorable guest experience that will help us continue to grow into an enduring and beloved brand.”
Pieology is steadily expanding its U.S. footprint, with well over 750 commitments throughout the country in various stages of development. In 2016 alone, Pieology received a strategic minority investment from Panda Restaurant Group (Panda Express) and began segment consolidation with the acquisition of Project Pie. With these industry-first developments, Pieology has further strengthened its position as the category leader while significantly accelerating company growth.
For more information about Pieology, locations and the complete menu, visit www.pieology.com.
Using only the freshest ingredients along with signature sauces and crusts, award-winning Pieology Pizzeria offers hand-crafted, personally-inspired pizzas in unlimited flavor combinations that are stone oven fired in less than three minutes. The recently introduced customizable salad program is available at select locations with plans to roll out chain wide in 2016. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, Pieology was created from the simple idea to turn America’s most crave-able food into an affordable and interactive experience. The mission of Pieology Pizzeria is to inspire individual creativity in a positive atmosphere where guests can gather with family and friends, while enjoying their delicious pizza creations. Along with providing great food and a memorable dining experience, Pieology is committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, one pie at a time. Recently named the #1 Fastest Growing Chain by Technomic, Pieology is steadily expanding its U.S. footprint, with commitments throughout the country in various stages of development. For more information, visit www.pieology.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
