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Sector Update: Pizza Chains

PizzaExpress heads to U.S.; Donatos names CEO

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A PizzaExpress locale in London. Photo: yujie chen/iStock by Getty Images

A couple of noteworthy events in this slice of the restaurant business: PizzaExpress (London) has unveiled plans to enter the U.S. market and Donatos (Columbus, Ohio) names a long-term exec as its new CEO. Here’s more:

The British are coming! PizzaExpress plans to make its U.S. debut in Florida in 2025. Known for its live music, black and white striped-clad team (a nod to Venetian gondoliers), marble tables, open kitchens with flaring Pizzaiolos (pizza chefs), and a handcrafted menu with distinctive Dough Balls and garlic butter, PizzaExpress is teaming with franchising group Purple Square to deliver a pizza experience “unlike anything in the American market,” the companies say. Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2025, PizzaExpress has 360 restaurants across the U.K and Ireland, alongside 110 international locations spanning 12 markets. It eventually plans to have 1000 units, including an as-yet-undisclosed number of North American locales.

Donatos is closing 2024 with the announcement that Kevin King is stepping into the role of CEO, following the October retirement of longtime leader Tom Krouse; new openings in the Dallas-Fort Worth market; and several new multi-unit development deals. King previously served as Donato’s VP of Development from 1990 to 2003 and rejoined the team as President in 2022. (King’s career away from Donatos includes stints at Smoothie King, Papa Murphy’s Intl. and JP Morgan Chase.) Overall, the pizza chain’s franchise partners operate more than 175 stores nationwide, with the brand’s pies served in nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide, including select Red Robin restaurants.

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