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ALPHARETTA, Georgia (March 18, 2026) – Your Pie, the innovative Ischia-inspired pizza brand renowned for its customizable brick-oven pizzas and engaging open-kitchen dining experience, is embarking on a significant expansion phase, strategically targeting key high-growth markets across the Southeastern United States. This aggressive development push, which includes new locations in South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, follows an intensive 18-month period dedicated to refining its operational blueprint and enhancing its franchise model. Having successfully opened eight new stores in 2025, a year focused on testing and optimizing its restaurant operations, Your Pie has entered the first quarter of 2026 with a clear and renewed mandate for strategic franchise growth, aiming to solidify its national footprint.
Strategic Operational Refinement and Franchise Model Enhancement
The foundation of Your Pie’s current expansion strategy lies in a comprehensive 18-month refinement period that culminated in the introduction of a significantly redesigned restaurant model. This strategic overhaul was meticulously crafted to bolster efficiency and scalability, directly addressing the evolving demands of both the fast-casual dining landscape and the operational needs of its franchise partners. While specific details of every update were not exhaustively enumerated, the overarching goal was to streamline processes, optimize kitchen flow, and enhance the overall customer experience, translating into improved profitability and ease of management for franchisees. This period of internal review and innovation, spanning late 2024 through 2025, allowed Your Pie to pilot new operational strategies in eight company-owned and franchised locations, gathering crucial data and feedback to perfect the model before a broader rollout.
A critical component of this strategic refinement involved the substantial broadening of Your Pie’s catering offerings. Recognizing the sustained and growing demand for off-premise dining solutions, this expansion enables franchisees to more effectively tap into lucrative market segments such as group dining, corporate office meals, and event-driven occasions. This move aligns with broader industry trends indicating a permanent shift towards diversified revenue streams beyond traditional dine-in services. Furthermore, Your Pie made significant investments in exploring non-traditional campus locations and expanding its portfolio of company-owned restaurants, utilizing these as living laboratories to experiment with updated operating formats and explore new avenues for market penetration. This dual approach of internal testing and model refinement underscores a disciplined and data-driven strategy for sustainable growth.
Targeting High-Growth Southeastern Markets
With its refined model in place, Your Pie is now strategically prioritizing development with experienced restaurant and hospitality operators in the burgeoning Southeast. Key target markets include Columbia, South Carolina; the expansive Atlanta metropolitan area in Georgia; and the vibrant Chattanooga-Knoxville corridor in Tennessee. This geographical focus is not arbitrary but is rooted in a robust analysis of economic indicators and demographic trends.
The Southeast region continues to be a magnet for business expansion, fueled by a confluence of favorable factors. Business-friendly policies, often characterized by lower corporate taxes and streamlined regulatory environments, create an attractive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and established brands alike. Coupled with a comparatively lower cost of living and sustained population growth – projected to be around 1.7% for franchised business expansion, according to industry reports – the region presents an ideal landscape for new fast-casual dining concepts. States like Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee have consistently ranked among the fastest-growing states in terms of population and economic output over the past decade. The influx of new residents, often younger demographics seeking convenient and quality dining options, generates a strong and persistent demand for differentiated fast-casual concepts that offer both value and an engaging experience. Your Pie’s customizable, brick-oven pizza model, coupled with its diverse menu, is well-positioned to meet this demand. The brand’s commitment to providing comprehensive training, robust operational support, and access to its newly optimized restaurant model further enhances the appeal for prospective franchise partners looking to capitalize on these regional dynamics.
Leadership Insights on Growth and Brand Philosophy
Ken Caldwell, CEO & Head of Development of Your Pie, articulated the brand’s core ethos and the strategic intent behind the current expansion. "Your Pie has always been about more than pizza; it’s about creating spaces where people gather, connect and share great food," Caldwell stated. "After refining our operations and strengthening the restaurant model, we’re excited to partner with franchise owners who want to bring that experience to their communities." This statement underscores Your Pie’s dual focus: operational excellence combined with a deeply embedded community-centric philosophy. The emphasis on "refining operations" and "strengthening the restaurant model" speaks directly to the extensive 18-month period of internal development, positioning the brand for robust, scalable growth. Caldwell’s vision highlights the importance of aligning with franchise partners who share this commitment to genuine hospitality and community engagement, ensuring that Your Pie’s brand identity remains consistent across its growing footprint.
Lisa Dimson, CMO of Your Pie, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the brand’s readiness for expansion. "As we continue to refine the guest experience and evolve the menu, we’re also building a brand that is ready to grow," Dimson commented. "Our focus is on expanding with passionate franchise partners who want to bring handcrafted pizza, genuine hospitality, and a strong sense of community to more neighborhoods across the country." Dimson’s remarks illuminate the interconnectedness of menu innovation, guest experience, and brand expansion. By continually evolving its culinary offerings and ensuring a consistently high-quality customer interaction, Your Pie aims to create a compelling proposition for both its customers and its future franchisees. This holistic approach suggests that the brand views growth not merely as an increase in store count but as a strategic dissemination of its core values and culinary excellence.
The Genesis and Evolution of Your Pie
The inspiration for Your Pie originated during founders Drew and Natalie French’s honeymoon on the picturesque Italian island of Ischia. Captivated by the island’s vibrant food culture and the rustic charm of its wood-fired pizzas, the couple envisioned bringing this authentic yet accessible dining experience to the United States. This inspiration materialized with the opening of the first Your Pie in Athens, Georgia, in 2008. At its inception, Your Pie pioneered the fast-casual pizza concept, allowing customers to customize their brick-oven pizzas with hand-tossed dough and fresh ingredients, prepared swiftly before their eyes. This innovative approach resonated immediately with consumers, distinguishing Your Pie in a market traditionally dominated by conventional pizza delivery and sit-down restaurants.
Since its founding, Your Pie has evolved significantly, expanding its menu beyond its signature pizzas to include a diverse array of culinary offerings. Today, the menu features oven-baked pastas, crisp fresh salads, savory oven-fired wings, and handcrafted sandwiches, providing a comprehensive selection to cater to varied tastes and preferences. Complementing the savory options are Italian-style gelato for dessert and a carefully curated selection of craft beer and wine, enhancing the overall dining experience. This menu expansion reflects a continuous effort to innovate and respond to customer feedback, which remains a cornerstone of Your Pie’s brand development. This customer-centric approach has led to the creation of popular seasonal and chef-driven offerings, such as the Cubano Craft series and the award-winning Peach Prosciutto Pie, which have garnered critical acclaim and strong customer loyalty. Beyond its regular menu, Your Pie actively engages its customer base through annual systemwide promotions and events, most notably its popular Pi(e) Day celebration held every March 14, further cementing its place in the communities it serves. The brand’s journey from a single location in Athens to over 60 locations nationwide by 2026 underscores its adaptability and enduring appeal.
Broader Industry Context and Competitive Landscape
Your Pie’s strategic expansion unfolds within a dynamic and highly competitive fast-casual dining sector. The fast-casual pizza segment, in particular, has seen a proliferation of brands since Your Pie first launched in 2008, all vying for market share with similar customizable, quick-service models. Brands like MOD Pizza, Blaze Pizza, and Pieology have established significant footprints, creating a crowded environment. However, Your Pie differentiates itself through its "Ischia-inspired" culinary philosophy, emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients, the authentic brick-oven cooking method, and a strong focus on community engagement and hospitality, elements that evoke a more traditional Italian dining experience within a modern fast-casual setting.
The post-pandemic landscape has further accelerated certain trends that Your Pie is well-positioned to leverage. The sustained preference for off-premise dining, including takeout, delivery, and catering, makes Your Pie’s expanded catering offerings particularly timely. Consumers also continue to prioritize transparency in food preparation, value for money, and customizable options, all of which are core tenets of Your Pie’s model. The brand’s investment in refining its operational strategy, including optimizing kitchen layouts and service flow, is critical for maintaining efficiency and consistency across its growing network, which is paramount in a segment where speed and quality are key differentiators. Industry analysts suggest that brands capable of seamlessly integrating technology for ordering and loyalty programs, while simultaneously delivering a superior in-store experience, are most likely to thrive. Your Pie’s consistent focus on these areas positions it strongly against competitors.
Franchise Partner Support and Future Outlook
A critical pillar of Your Pie’s growth strategy is its comprehensive support system for franchise partners. Recognizing that the success of individual franchisees is intrinsically linked to the brand’s overall health, Your Pie provides extensive training programs that cover all facets of restaurant operation, from culinary techniques and customer service to business management and local marketing. Beyond initial training, franchisees benefit from ongoing operational support, including access to proprietary technology platforms, supply chain management, and marketing resources. The updated restaurant model is designed not only to improve efficiency but also to simplify operations for franchisees, reducing the learning curve and accelerating their path to profitability. This robust support structure is a significant draw for experienced restaurant and hospitality operators who seek a proven business model with a dedicated corporate team.
As Your Pie enters this next phase of accelerated growth, the brand remains committed to expanding its presence in strategic markets nationwide, while simultaneously strengthening its foundational operations and enhancing its support for franchise partners. The meticulous planning evident in its 18-month refinement period and its targeted approach to market entry suggests a disciplined trajectory for expansion. The focus on the Southeast, with its favorable economic climate and demographic trends, is a shrewd move that capitalizes on existing growth opportunities. Your Pie’s dedication to its founding principles of handcrafted pizza, genuine hospitality, and community building, combined with a forward-thinking approach to operational efficiency and menu innovation, positions it as a significant player in the evolving fast-casual dining landscape. The brand’s journey from a honeymoon inspiration to a national franchise powerhouse continues, driven by a clear vision for bringing the unique Your Pie experience to more communities across the country.
For more information about Your Pie and its franchise opportunities, visit yourpie.com.
About Your Pie
Founded in Athens, Georgia, in 2008, Your Pie holds the distinction of being the nation’s first fast-casual pizza franchise. The brand’s inception was inspired by founders Drew and Natalie French’s Italian family heritage and a transformative honeymoon experience on the island of Ischia, Italy. Built upon the fundamental belief that exceptional food and authentic hospitality have the power to unite people, Your Pie rapidly established itself as a beloved culinary destination. Today, with its support center based in Alpharetta, Georgia, the brand has expanded its footprint to more than 60 locations nationwide. Your Pie is celebrated for its brick oven-baked pizzas, crafted with artisan dough and the freshest ingredients, offering a customizable experience that sets it apart. The diverse menu also features a variety of other delectable options, including savory wings, handcrafted sandwiches, satisfying pasta dishes, crisp fresh salads, delightful gelato, and a selection of craft beers. Guided by the simple yet profound belief that pizza can elevate everyday moments, Your Pie is deeply proud to serve guests in the vibrant neighborhoods it calls home. To learn more about the brand’s story, menu, and commitment to community, please visit yourpie.com.
