It’s no secret that it’s been a tough time for restaurants of late, with some our of favourite high street chains having to shut up shop.
But one brand that is ramping up their plans instead of slowing down, is PizzaExpress.
The pizza chain is planning a major expansion over the next few years, aiming to open hundreds of restaurants around the world, in a bid to have 1,000 pizzerias by 2030.
As part of this, they’ve just launched a rather unique concept, opening a ‘Pizza Pod’ outside of a Tesco Extra store.
The Pod, operates as a pizza grab and go service, outside the Tesco Extra shop in Bursledon, and allows shoppers to takeaway some of the brand’s core products, including American Hot and Padana pizzas.
These pizzas can be collected from a kitchen window, with a £9.95 pizza and soft drink lunch deal available.
And the best part is that Tesco Clubcard members can use their points to buy food – and these will double in value when converted to a PizzaExpress voucher.
The Pod, located in Southampton, has launched as part of a trial and comes after the chain opened three new restaurants in London Gatwick, Oxford Summertown, and The ICC in Birmingham.
Paula Mackenzie, the CEO of PizzaExpress, said: ‘2024 has been a year of growth and new openings and we’re showing no signs of slowing down as we come into the festive season.
‘Our PizzaExpress Pod brings something completely new and eye-catching for our pizza lovers and Tescogoers.’
Tesco assets and estate director Simon Williams added: ‘We’re always looking for ways to serve our customers better and help make their shop even more convenient.
‘We were delighted to work with PizzaExpress to develop the exciting new Pod concept at our Southampton Extra, making it even easier for customers to grab a bite to eat when they pop in to do their weekly shop.’
This comes after the world’s best pizza chain was crowned at the 50 Top Pizza Awards 2024, and several London foodie spots made it into the top 10.
Da Michele (L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele) came in second place, with Big Mamma Group following closely behind in third.
The former has locations around the globe, with two pizzerias in London (Soho and Baker Street), as well as restaurants in Manchester, Amsterdam and its OG location in Naples, Italy.
The chain’s history dates back to 1870 when the Condurro family began making pizzas in the heart of downtown Naples. Michele Condurro perfected the family art and opened the family’s first pizzeria in 1906 and since then five generations of Condurros have continued the tradition.
While Big Mamma, which was founded in 2015 in Paris by entrepreneurs Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux, now has more than 20 restaurants across Europe – there are five in London, eight in Paris, plus trattorias in Lyon, Lille, Birmingham, Monaco, Brussels, Milan, Madrid, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Marseille, and Bordeaux.
The restaurants regularly go viral online, as they all have a very unique and maximalist aesthetic. In London, Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia is known for its floor to ceiling shelves covered in different bottles of alcohol and fairy lights, while Jacuzzi has been described as a ‘pleasure palace’ set over three floors in High Street Kensington. Inside you’ll find Roman statues, a giant lemon tree, a grand illuminated staircase, plenty of murano glass, plus a disco bathroom.
There’s also Gloria’s in Shoreditch, Ave Mario in Covent Garden, and the most recent London opening, Carlotta’s in Marylebone.
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