Your Pie Releases Eggnog Gelato Limited Time Offer

Getting into the holiday season yet? Well, we are already prepared at Your Pie! We recently launched our Eggnog Gelato in our restaurants throughout the Southeast. If you are in the mood for a creamy holiday classic with a swirl of chocolate and sweet cake, then we have just the flavor for you. But you better hurry in because this seasonal specialty will only be around for a limited time.

Find the nearest restaurant on our website!

Your Pie featured in Nation's Restaurant News

Your Pie was featured in Nation's Restaurant News in an article titled, "Your Pie eyes growth in Southeast." Founder, Drew French and partner at Georgia Oak, David Barr, were both interviewed discussing the growth plans throughout the Southeast and the plans to have a total of 100 restaurants in the next two years. The article shares the potential of the brand in the industry and the type of franchise partners that Your Pie is currently seeking out.

See the whole article online here.

Your Pie eyes growth in Southeast

After investment, the fast-casual pizza chain aims to open 100 units in two years

Oct. 18, 2013 

Mark Brandau

The chain received an undisclosed investment from Atlanta-based private-equity firm Georgia Oak Partners

Drew French might have been among the first restaurateurs to start the burgeoning fast-casual pizza segment when he opened Your Pie in Athens, Ga., in 2008 at age 24. But long before that, he was developing the concept of customized individual pizzas made quickly — mostly because he was not fond of sharing his favorite anchovy-and-black-olive pizza as a kid.

Now, as the sector heats up, with developing fast-casual pizza brands like Solos, Live Basil and Pie Five, French is not as keen on sharing franchisees or customers with fellow upstarts as he is with leading the category.

“Before there was any other competition, the goal was to be a globally admired brand,” French said. 

“Everybody loves pizza, so it made sense to me that Your Pie would scale, not just out of Athens but across the nation.”

In August, as Your Pie opened its 18th location, one big admirer did come calling: Atlanta-based private-equity firm Georgia Oak Partners. The firm’s undisclosed investment in Your Pie Franchising was intended to bolster the brand’s infrastructure and capital for growing to 100 units in two years.

French remains involved in Your Pie as a franchisee of three restaurants, and the company’s chief executive, Bucky Cook, also runs one location as a franchisee. The brand also brought in Ken Caldwell as vice president of development to oversee the new growth push.

“We realized that if we really want to take it to the next level, we’ll need the capital to do it, and our experience would only take us so far,” French said. “In the first conversations I had with David [Barr, a director at Georgia Oak], we knew it would be a good fit. I felt like it was time to invest in the company and make a move to build our infrastructure and give us the ability to scale faster.”

Georgia Oak was not the first private-equity firm to do its due diligence on Your Pie, French said, but the firm made the right partner because it understood that French wanted to expand Your Pie meticulously outward from the Southeast.

“What drew us to the segment was fast casual in a broad sense,” said Barr, who leads Georgia Oak’s restaurant, retail and consumer division. “Consumers are reacting to controlling their dining experience and customization. Then we looked at pizza, and Your Pie intrigued us because they were the first, and they are the largest. Other chains boast about how many units they have in the pipeline, but Your Pie is the largest.”

Upon meeting with French and Cook, Georgia Oak quickly was assured that the restaurant brand and the investors were aligned on how the system should continue to grow organically and contiguously in the Southeast.

French reiterated that Your Pie’s internal goal is to have 100 units open by the end of 2015. The target markets are Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Charleston, S.C.; Tampa, Fla.; and Birmingham, Ala.

To continue reading, click here. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Britt Hendrix, Statesboro, Georgia

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Britt Hendrix took a job in the field he’d earned a degree in, turf management.  However, he soon learned that he was more passionate about the restaurant industry, having worked in a restaurant the whole time he was in college.  With very little notice, Britt was contacted by Your Pie Founder Drew French about the opportunity to take over ownership of the Statesboro Your Pie location.  Britt jumped on the chance, and in a two month period had signed on to take over ownership, and moved to Statesboro the day before he assumed ownership of the location.  Britt is excited about trading in the red of the University of Georgia for the blue of Georgia Southern University and bringing a fresh energy to the Statesboro Your Pie.  He’s keeping the entire staff that was in place and is hoping to make the location a fun place for both families and the Georgia Southern crowd.

How did you learn about the brand?

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in turf management, I took a job as an assistant superintendent at The Landings in Savannah.  After working there for two years, I came to the conclusion that this wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.  During my entire time attending UGA, I worked at a restaurant called Hilltop Grille.  Summer came, and I quit the job at The Landings and took a job at Stingrays at Tybee Island and worked the whole summer there right on the beach.  I had the summer of my life, and decided that the food industry is where I wanted to be.  After that summer, I moved back to Athens and went back to work at Hilltop Grille where I’d worked during college. I worked there for 6 months and had that moment where I realized I wasn’t in college anymore, so that lifestyle wasn’t for me.  I went back to Tybee Island for vacation and realized that I needed to open up my own restaurant to truly be happy.  I had been talking with Drew about opening up a Your Pie since I loved the place during my time at UGA, and I wanted to move back near Savannah.  The opportunity to take over the Statesboro Your Pie came out of nowhere.  Drew contacted me to let me know that the Statesboro location was up for sale because the owner had the Your Pie and some other businesses, including a brewery in the area that he wanted to focus on.  It kind of fell in my lap, so to speak, but it was perfect timing so I jumped on the opportunity.

I like the fact that by owning this Your Pie, I’m essentially creating my own job and taking control of my work life.  I had reached a point through my experience that I knew what I DIDN’T want to do, so this was an opportunity for me to create my own job and have my own business in an industry where I’m truly passionate.

How did you meet Drew and learn about the brand?

Me and my friends used to go to Your Pie when we were at the University of Georgia.  We’d go to the concerts there, and it was always a really good time.  I want to provide that lifestyle and experience with the Statesboro Your Pie now.  I met Drew after I contacted them to see if there were any opportunities available.  When I was deciding on what type of restaurant to open, I knew I didn’t want a fryer or a grill in my restaurant, so Your Pie was perfect for what I was looking to open.

What are your plans for the location?

We’re working right now to bring the craft beers back to the Statesboro Your Pie.  We’re going to do pitchers and flights of beer.  We’re going to have trivia, football, and live music.  I’m working to build a stage right now so that we can have live music.   I know a lot of bands from around the state, and I’m looking forward to them coming in to play.  I play myself, and so do some of the employees here, so I think it would be a lot of fun to play at my restaurant.  I mean, how many places can you go to where the owner is up on stage?  We’re also looking at getting heavily involved with Georgia Southern University and the fraternities and sororities on campus.

What makes your business unique in the community?

Your Pie is fresh and it’s healthy.  The Statesboro Your Pie is in a college town with students from Georgia Southern University.  It’s the same thing we did in college at UGA.  We looked for places that were classy, and it’s a nice pre-gaming spot before we went out for the night.  I want it to be a good first date place, a great place for singles to mingle, and that sort of a scene.  I also like that it can be a great place for families to come with the kids, enjoy the gelato, and have a good time.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

I’m planning to work with the local schools to help them out.  One day during the week, I want to have a uniform day so that any public service officials, nurses, doctors, anyone in uniform really, gets a discount.  I’m looking into what’s available and hoping to be a positive influence in the community.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Your Pie?

I am looking to open more Your Pie locations once I get this location up and running and successful.  I’d love to open up more in the area and keep expanding.

Do you have any superstar employees?

The staff is the same as it was before.  They’re all college kids and the transition has been great so far.  I’m not a whole lot older than them, so I can understand the problems they’re going through and can talk on their level.  It’s been great getting to know them, and we’re going to have a strong staff under my ownership.

One of my employees is fluent in three languages.  She is a graduate and spent time in China for study abroad.  She’s very diverse and interesting.  She tutors English for a German family.

Do you have any hobbies, pastimes, and passions outside of work?

                                                                                                                                          

I play acoustic guitar and write country and Southern rock music.  I’m hoping to be playing some acoustic sets at the location.  Two of my employees play guitar too, so I think it’ll be cool for us to be performing at our restaurant.

Your Pie Featured in Jacksonville Business Journal

Your Pie was recently featured in the Jacksonville Business Journal in an article titled, "Will pizza be the next food fad to hit Jacksonville?"

The article touches upon the history of food fads in Jacksonville, including froyo, cupcakes, and gourmet burgers. Recently, they've seen an increase in the presence of a fast-casual pizza in the region. Your Pie is the first to be mentioned in the trend of the "better" pizzas.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Will pizza be the next food fad to hit Jacksonville?

By: Ashley Gurbal Kritzer

Froyo. Cupcakes. Cronuts. Gourmet burgers.

What will be the next foodie fad to hit Jacksonville?

It’ll likely be an upscale take on pizza, served in a fast casual setting, an analyst said.

“We’re looking ahead and seeing better pizza concepts emerging,” said Mary Chapman, director of product innovation for Technomic Inc., a Chicago-based food industry analysis firm. “There are a handful of concepts around the country.”

Your Pie Featured on FastCasual.com

Your Pie was recently featured on FastCasual.com in an article titled, "Your Pie founder: Fast casuals will beat the $10-pizza chains".

The article, which includes great photos and a solid headline, talks about the inception of Your Pie and how founder Drew French built the concept with quality and innovation as paramount. The article also talks about how Your Pie supports franchisees and ensures their success. Overall, this was a really great brand piece that showcases the credibility of the concept.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Your Pie founder: Fast casuals will beat the '$10-pizza chains'

By: Cherryh Butler

Pizza seems to be the new darling of the fast casual industry, but Drew French was one of the first to market the build-your-own pizza concept six years ago when he opened the first Your Pie in Georgia.

Upon arrival, customers tell pizza chefs whether they want white, wheat or gluten-free dough and then pick from eight sauces ranging from Ischia-inspired marinara, basil pesto or the chain's secret recipe BBQ sauce. Lastly, they choose among eight cheeses and more than 40 fresh vegetables and premium meats, such as Italian sausage and bacon.

"We then finish it in our brick oven so it gets kissed by the flame," French said. "They cook in a brick oven at very high temperatures, so it only takes 3 to 5 minutes to cook a pizza depending on how many toppings a customer chooses."

Your Pie Featured on FastCasual.com

Your Pie was recently featured on FastCasual.com in an article titled, "Your Pie targeting multi-unit operators for growth".

The article announces the franchise growth of Your Pie and how the brand is seeking to double in locations. The article mentions the process of beginning a Your Pie franchise and the benefits of being a multi-unit operator.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Your Pie targeting multi-unit operators for growth

Drew French, founder of Your Pie, is looking for multi-unit operators to grow the 18-unit brand.

Less than six years from the launch of his first Your Pie, French plans to add eight franchise restaurants in 2013. His goal is to identify multi-unit operators to join the franchise system and scale from the regional base already in place.

With a franchise fee of $25,000 and total investment averaging $350,000, a Your Pie franchise includes pre-opening development assistance for site selection and analysis, lease negotiation, architectural layout and restaurant design, comprehensive restaurant build out, four weeks of training, and full marketing and communications support.

Your Pie Featured in Athens Banner-Herald

Your Pie was recently featured in the Athens Banner-Herald in an article titled, "Your Pie aims to double number of restaurants in Southeast".

The article announces the franchise growth and how the brand looks to double in locations.  Also, the article talks about the number of locations in the country with reference to states, and about the expected number of locations Your Pie plans to expand to in the next five years. Founder Drew French says the brand has gotten better because of its franchisees, and franchisee Debi Huckaby added to the article stating  she joined the franchise “after ‘falling in love’ with the restaurant after their first visit” and “chose to invest in French’s pizzeria because the concept is ‘brilliant and easy to operate.’” 

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Your Pie aims to to double number of restaurants in Southeast

By: Katherine Sims

Your Pie, the Athens-based custom pizza franchise, is hoping to more than double it number of stores in the Southeast over the next several years.

There are now 17 Your Pie locations in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, and founder and CEO Drew French says the company expects to open another 10 to 20 stores in the Southeast over the next three to five years. But French said he also doesn’t want to lose sight of his shop’s roots.

“We know we have a business model that is well-received in many markets,” French said. “Our goal is to be a national brand, but we don’t want to outgrow our support system in Athens.”

Your Pie Featured in the Sun Sentinel

Your Pie was recently featured in the Sun Sentinel in an article titled, "Your Pie restaurant opens at Lighthouse Point".

The article gives information about the opening of the Lighthouse Point Your Pie location, sharing details about the restaurant and about the Your Pie brand. Featured at the top of the article is a photo of Lighthouse Point owners Josh Harris and Kara Seelye displaying the first dollar made at their new restaurant. 

Click HERE to read the full article or begin reading below:

Your Pie restaurant opens at Lighthouse Point

By: Mariam Valverde

A new pizza joint where customers can mix and match the ingredients that go into their pizza is now open at Lighthouse Point.

Your Pie at 3650 N. Federal Hwy. is led by South Florida couple Kara Seelye and Jason Harris. The South Florida franchise is part of a chain that began in Georgia in 2008.

The Lighthouse Point restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.