McDonald's former CEO is abandoning burgers and betting on a pizza chain that's like 'Subway, but better'
Former McDonald's CEO Don Thompson is getting into the pizza business.
Thompson has acquired a majority stake in the fast-casual chain PizzaRev through his Chicago-based venture capital firm, Cleveland Avenue LLC, Nation's Restaurant News reports.
The chain, founded in 2012, has grown rapidly from three locations five years ago to about 50 today across 11 states, with more than 200 restaurants currently in development in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Texas, and elsewhere.
(Facebook/PizzaRev)
Like its larger rivals Pie Five Pizza and Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza, PizzaRev allows customers to build their own pizzas from a variety of ingredients.
A post shared by PizzaRev (@pizzarev) on May 21, 2017 at 12:19pm PDT on
May 21, 2017 at 12:19pm PDT
Thompson, who left McDonald's in 2015, said his firm invested in PizzaRev because of its potential for scale and growth.
"This is more than an investment, this is a partnership," Thompson said in a statement. "We’re delighted to join forces with PizzaRev and begin working together toward achieving long-term sustained success."
You have the right to choose #Vote #BeRevolutionary #CraftYourOwn
A post shared by PizzaRev (@pizzarev) on Nov 7, 2016 at 3:42pm PST on
Nov 7, 2016 at 3:42pm PST
The company's growth over the last five years was helped by Buffalo Wild Wings, which took a minority stake in the company in 2013.
PizzaRev serves a variety of homemade dough options, all-natural cheeses and more than 30 toppings.
The pizzas are fired in a 900-degree stone-bed oven that produces a "crispy Roman-style pizza in just three minutes," according to the company.
A post shared by Alicia✨Food & Travel Blogger (@alicia.wanders) on May 18, 2017 at 9:11am PDT on
May 18, 2017 at 9:11am PDT
In online reviews, customers praise PizzaRev's service, "to-die-for" pizzas, healthy options, and plethora of sauces and toppings.
Protein toppings include pepperoni, sweet fennel sausage, beef meatballs, smoked ham, grilled chicken, and vegan sausage, among others.
A post shared by PizzaRev (@pizzarev) on Oct 11, 2016 at 9:49am PDT on
Oct 11, 2016 at 9:49am PDT
Vegetable options include mushrooms, red onions, cherry tomatoes, spinach, pineapple, pepperoncinis, fennel seeds, green bell peppers, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, roasted garlic, cilantro, basil, arugula, capers, and jalapeños.
A post shared by David Zahedian (@davidzahedian) on May 16, 2017 at 3:22am PDT on
May 16, 2017 at 3:22am PDT
Customers can also get a variety of sauces like alfredo, "sweet and bold BBQ," and spicy organic tomato.
"Their topping choices are all encompassing and are fresh and allow you to experiment and create your own masterpiece," one customer wrote on Yelp.
A post shared by Jordanna Harris (@jordannaharris) on May 15, 2017 at 1:54pm PDT on
May 15, 2017 at 1:54pm PDT
Another customer wrote: "Generous portion, fresh taste without the greasy feeling of takeout, awesome price, and amazing people."
A few people compared it to Subway, "but better."
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