Fast-Casual Pizza Chains Make Inroads in New Jersey and New York
1,467 views · Published 17 March 2015 · 3:07 · Indexed 24 October 2026
Channel: FOX 5 New York · 2015 · News & Politics
Call it the next Chipotle. Custom, quick pizza is the hot new trend in fast casual dining, even in the New York Metro area, where we can be picky about our pies. Brian Sozzi, an analyst with The Street, says these pizza chains have a new and improved business model, fast service, quality ingredients, freshness, and pizza that's not cooked in a conveyor oven. Blaze Pizza, a California-based chain of franchises is leading the charge, especially in New York and New Jersey where it already has five stores. Sozzi says Blaze has been the most aggressive chain, not just in this area, but all over the United States. Blaze opened about 50 locations last year, and plans to open about 60 more in 2015. And the chain is just getting started. According to Ian Appell, district manager for Ampal Group which runs Blaze's New Jersey franchises, Blaze plans to open a thousand stores over the next 10 years.
