Zia Lucia plots international expansion via new franchise model
The group, which currently operates nine restaurants across London alongside a recently-launched site in Reading, has teamed up with GNF Worldwide as a franchise business partner to steer its global growth.
"We have received lots of inbound interest to bring Zia Lucia to new markets,” says Gianluca D’Angelo, who founded the business with friend Claudio Vescovo back in 2016.
“We strongly believe there is a massive space in Europe and beyond for an innovative pizza brand like us.”
Zia Lucia is preparing to open its tenth London restaurant last this month in Chelsea and has previously hinted at plans to expand across the UK as well.
Last summer, the group instructed real estate advisor Savills to support its national expansion, with plans to open between five and 10 sites throughout the rest of the UK over the next three years.
Zia Lucia’s menu features various pizza toppings available to order on a range of different doughs including traditional, gluten-free, wholemeal, and charcoal.
“Our differentiated product offering anchored around the four doughs coupled with the true Italian heritage of the group allow us to offer something distinctive in the casual dining segment,” continues D’Angelo.
“We will partner only with high quality and vision-aligned operators while continuing to grow our corporate stores in a controlled way.
“We see a path towards 100 stores in the next five years.”
D’Angelo and Vescovo also operate hand-made fresh pasta concept Berto, which has a single restaurant located next door to Zia Lucia’s Islington pizzeria.
