Washington, D.C.-based &pizza has signed its first-ever international franchise agreement, partnering with operator The 90s Venture to develop 10 restaurants in northern India by 2032. It marks the brand’s first expansion outside the United States since it launched its franchise system in 2025, with the debut location planned for Mumbai in 2027.
About the brand. Founded in 2012, &pizza is known for its customizable, oblong-shaped pizzas and currently operates 43 locations, five of them franchises. It’s part of Latitude Food Group, the holding company that also owns Tex-Mex chain Tijuana Flats. Notably, India ranked first by volume among all international inquiries the brand received over the past several years, according to Chief Development Officer Brett Willis.
Why start in the north. The geographic focus is deliberate. Willis noted that culinary preferences vary significantly across India, and a nationwide rollout would require four or five distinct menus. Launching in the north first lets the brand refine its menu and build out its supply chain before expanding into other regions, and a local PR agency has already been engaged to support the market entry. As Willis put it: “We rely on our spicy flavor profiles and things like that on the culinary side.”
The franchise model. &pizza is multi-unit only — it has signed no single-unit agreements, preferring a minimum of three locations per operator. The brand is targeting 250 to 300 locations by 2030, with 80 to 90 percent operated by franchisees. In the U.S., deals already cover Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, plus a corporate unit under development in Las Vegas.
The numbers. Average unit volume for the middle third of corporate stores reached $1 million in 2024, with the top third at $1.4 million. The initial investment to open an &pizza (averaging 1,400 sq ft) runs between $745,000 and $1.14 million.
What’s next. The India deal is the opening move in a wider international push — the brand is also working with representatives exploring markets across Europe, Asia, and South America. The 10-unit size was chosen intentionally to prioritize execution quality over scale before extending across the country.
Source: lexpress-franchise.com
