MOD Pizza, the US pioneer of fast-casual pizza, will open its UK flagship location in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday, December 8, 2016. This will be the fourth UK location for MOD, which made its debut in Leeds in June 2016, followed by openings in Brighton and Gateshead. Following Leicester Square, the brand will open its fifth location in Nottingham before the end of the year with plans to continue its rapid expansion into 2017.
MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas and salads are individually crafted, allowing customers to choose whatever they like from over 30 toppings, or choose from a menu of MOD classics. Pizzas are made with fresh-pressed dough and cook in just minutes, and salads are hand-tossed in front of the customer. The menu is rounded out with soft drinks, hand spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades and iced tea, beer and wine.
Sir Charles Dunstone and business partner, Roger Taylor partnered with MOD Pizza’s US-based co-founders Scott and Ally Svenson in 2015 to bring MOD to the UK. The partnership was formed in order to introduce the UK to MOD’s unique approach to delivering totally customised artisan-style pizza while sharing the Company’s unique culture and its “purpose beyond pizza” – a commitment to use the business to make a positive social impact on its employees and in the communities it serves.
For the London opening, MOD is joining forces with Global Radio’s Make Some Noise to support inspiring charities including London based Prospex, Heart n Soul and Community Focus – each focused on supporting young people impacted by poverty or disabilities. During MOD’s opening day, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Make Some Noise. Since opening their first UK store, MOD has partnered with Breeze (Leeds), Rocking Horse (Brighton) and Children North East (Gateshead). In the US, MOD currently partners with over 170 charities that support at-risk youth and families.
“MOD has disrupted the pizza industry in the US, and continues to expand across the country at a rapid pace and with great success.. We are proud to be working with Scott and Ally and bringing MOD’s fresh and affordable pizza to communities across the UK.” said Sir Charles.
Added Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD, “Our arrival in London is one of the most exciting milestones for MOD. Having launched our first retail brand, Seattle Coffee Company, in Covent Garden two decades ago, it is thrilling to be returning to the city that provided so much inspiration for MOD. We look forward to not only introducing MOD’s amazing product to Londoners, but sharing our people-first culture, which is driven by our belief that a business will thrive when putting people first.”