Ben Allen, Buckhead's Daily Operations Manager

Ben Allen, Buckhead's Daily Operations Manager

Your Pie Regional Manager, Ben Allen, will be managing the daily operations of Your Pie’s first prototype restaurant. The new restaurant will be the first corporate location that is not under the sole ownership of founder Drew French; Your Pie recently partnered with Georgia Oak Partners, who will be part-owners of the new store.

Unlike other restaurants, which target the college crowd, this prototype store in Buckhead is located in a major commercial hub. Buckhead is home to a large number of young professionals, businesses, and residential high rises. “We wanted a prime location with heavy traffic to help further expand our reach into the Atlanta market,” Allen explained. “This will be the first store that features the new design and vibe that we want for all our stores moving forward. Rather than getting franchisees to travel to Athens, this Atlanta location will also be the restaurant that we will show all future potential franchisees.”

Allen has been a member of the Your Pie team since 2009, before the brand became a franchise operation. Since joining founder Drew French as a general staff member at his first Your Pie restaurant, Allen has made his way up to become the regional manager of the brand in 2011, acting as the first point of contact for all franchisees.  Allen assists Kevin Altman, the director of training, with training for all new stores in the first couple of weeks of their opening.

Allen grew up in Roswell, Ga. and majored in economics at the University of Georgia. It was through his fraternity that he first met French. After graduation, Allen worked for a healthcare staffing company until there was a merger and his offices dissolved in 2008. While trying to figure out his next move, French invited Allen to help out at his restaurant. Unexpectedly, Allen discovered a passion for the food industry and was appointed the general manager of Your Pie’s second location.

Allen volunteered to operate the new location and prototype store, confident that his experience and knowledge of the brand will help it successfully grow in the prime spot. 

Industry Veteran Ken Caldwell Joins the Your Pie Executive Team

Proven Franchise Expert Set to Steer Growth of the Originator of the Down-the-line Pizza Category

ATHENS, Ga. – Your Pie, the originator of the down-the-line pizza category, continues to grow and get stronger.

Ken Caldwell, one of franchising’s best known and most successful developers, has joined the Your Pie team as the Vice President of Development, the company announced today.

Caldwell brings 20 years in franchising and a documented track record for growth to the brick-oven, personalized pizza brand. He will spearhead Your Pie’s expansion throughout the Southeast and beyond.

“Ken is one of those rare talents that truly understands and can convey the value of becoming part of a franchise family,” Your Pie Chairman of the Board David Barr said. “Ken brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team. We believe we have a special opportunity with Your Pie. Ken’s presence only makes us stronger, and we couldn’t be any more pleased to have him aboard.”

Caldwell began his career with Heavenly Ham alongside current Your Pie CEO Bucky Cook. Caldwell helped take the then-startup ham purveyor from 10 to 230 units before the brand was sold to competitor HoneyBaked Ham.

Caldwell remained with HoneyBaked, which had just ventured into franchising. Under his leadership, the company grew from 35 to 180 units. He also aided in the transition after the merger and operated the HoneyBaked company-owned stores.

“This was truly a very easy decision for me,” Caldwell said. “Your Pie is an exciting, exceptional brand that offers franchisees that rare opportunity to get in at the start. We have a great story to tell about an authentic concept that will revolutionize the way that people look at pizza. I couldn’t be happier to be part of it.”

No other down-the-line pizza brand in the United States has grown more steadily or has opened as many stores.  Your Pie remains committed to becoming the first in the segment to reach 100 operating stores.

With a powerful combination of company assets that includes Drew French, who conceived the concept of down-the-line pizza, a franchise-development team that ranks with the best in the industry and a solidified relationship with Georgia Oak Partners, the brand has established a formula for success to achieve and exceed goals for growth.

Caldwell is actively engaged with franchise partners interested in joining this successful brand. He is working with multi-unit franchise owners and franchise owners looking to diversify, he said. 

The brand will add locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Nashville, Charleston, Birmingham, and Augusta. Although the brand is looking for partners to join the Your Pie family in the Southeast, they also boast a model to support locations in other areas of the country. 

ABOUT YOUR PIE

Your Pie is the world’s originator of the quick-serve, brick-oven, customized personal pizza category. Your Pie owner and originator Drew French tapped his restaurant background and knowledge of the conveyor-driven quick-serve and married it with brick oven technology to create the highest quality pizza available at incredible speed. Drawing from family recipes from the island of Ischia, Your Pie uses only fresh ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas. Customers who dine at Your Pie have come to expect a custom-made and delicious pizza delivered to their table well within 10 minutes of ordering – the definition of fast casual. As a result, the Your Pie brand is synonymous with success and a fan favorite of families in the communities it serves. For more information about Your Pie or franchising opportunities, please visit www.yourpie.com.

Your Pie in Tampa Bay Business Journal

Your Pie was recently featured in the Tampa Bay Business Journal in an article titled, "With New Backing, Your Pie Pursues Tampa Bay." The article discusses the growth and expansion plans of the custom pizza franchise in the Tampa Bay market as well as the overall growth plans with the new financial backing of private equity firm Georgia Oak Partners. The overall goal for development is to have 100 Your Pie restaurants by the end of 2015.

Check out the article here.

With new backing, Your Pie pursues Tampa Bay

Margaret Cashill

Staff Writer- Tampa Bay Business Journal

Owners of build-your-own pizza chain Your Pie have plans to expand rapidly in Tampa Bay during the next few years.

Now, an undisclosed investment from private equity firm Georgia Oak Partners has furthered Your Pie’s efforts to grow, Nation’s Restaurant News reported.

Your Pie, based in Athens, Ga., has 18 locations in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, including a restaurant at 2219 South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

In July, CEO Bucky Cook told TBBJ he expects to add a second Tampa Bay location in the next year, and he intends to add another 25 locations in area in the next five to seven years.

Since closing the deal with Georgia Oak this summer, Your Pie has condensed that time frame to two to four years, Cook said.


Four of Your Pie’s locations are company-owned and 14, including the Tampa restaurant, are owned by franchisees.

To continue reading, click here.

Georgia Oak Orders a Slice of Your Pie

Atlanta Firm Invests Equity Capital in Thriving Athens-based Customized Pizza Franchise Brand

ATLANTA – Your Pie and Georgia Oak Partners (“Georgia Oak”) announced today that they have entered into a partnership in which Georgia Oak will invest substantial growth equity into the emerging, customized pizza franchise brand. 

Georgia Oak’s capital infusion will be used to support Your Pie’s infrastructure growth and provide capital to promote further franchise expansion of the customized pizza franchise brand. The company has 17 locations in the southeastern United States and plans to open eight additional locations by the end of 2013.

“Our partnership with Georgia Oak will allow Your Pie to further innovate its delicious fast casual brand of pizza and to develop in more cities across the United States,” said Your Pie Founder Drew French.  “Georgia Oak’s approach of adding value to its investments in a variety of ways will improve our brand positioning, increase the support we offer our franchisees and, moving forward, sharpen our growth vision.”

“We are excited to join in this partnership with our Georgia neighbors at Your Pie,” said Mike Lonergan, Managing Partner of Georgia Oak.  “Your Pie has led the pack in the booming fast casual pizza category behind visionary leadership and with a proven concept that has been fine-tuned over the company’s five years of remarkable success. Georgia Oak Partners is proud to join Your Pie as the company continues their aggressive expansion in the Southeast and across the country.”

In addition to the financial support provided by Georgia Oak Partners, the partnership will include an investment of the company’s wealth of intellectual capital. David Barr, Director for Georgia Oak Partners, has more than two decades of success in the restaurant industry with experience as CEO of Great American Cookies, Inc., Chairman of Don Pablo’s, and on the board of directors of Mrs. Fields Cookies, TCBY, and Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group.  In addition, Barr has previous experience working for Pizza Hut as well as other national non-restaurant retailers.   Barr will work closely with existing management to guide the acceleration of franchisee and unit growth. 

About Your Pie

Your Pie is the world’s originator of the fast casual, brick-oven, customized personal pizza concept. Your Pie founder Drew French tapped his restaurant background and knowledge of the conveyor-driven quick-serve and married it with brick oven technology to create the highest quality pizza available in a fast and customized format for customers to enjoy.  Drawing from authentic family recipes from the Italian island of Ischia, Your Pie uses only fresh ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas. As a result, the Your Pie brand has become a favorite of customers in communities throughout the southeastern U.S. and continues to expand with rapid franchisee development.  For more information about Your Pie or franchising opportunities, please visit www.yourpie.com.

About Georgia Oak Partners

Georgia Oak Partners is a highly differentiated investment platform focused on growth private equity investments in the Southeast US. Georgia Oak seeks to invest $2 to $10 million in privately owned companies in the transportation, manufacturing, business services, and consumer or restaurant sectors. Georgia Oak’s team includes seasoned industry executives who work to supplement incumbent management teams in accelerating performance and value. More information can be found at www.GeorgiaOakPartners.com.

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