From a Simple Idea to Emerging Franchise, Your Pie Founder Drew French Wants His Brand Your Pie to Be Best in the Business

Ask Drew French, the founder of Your Pie, how he plans to become the next great brand, and he’ll offer one simple answer: “It starts with our mission.”

And that mission is simple, too: Do every small thing with passion and greatness and to be a globally admired brand by creating a culture that improves the lives of the Your Pie Family.

When he was just 24 years old, French not only launched a brand new restaurant concept, but also a new category within the pizza segment. He had no proof to say this category would succeed, but he blazed a path nonetheless. Today, with more than 30 units, French’s vision has taken his brand far--Your Pie has not only thrived in, but has come to define, the fast-casual pizza segment.

Like all great ideas, Your Pie was inspired by a single experience. In 2006, French was visiting his wife’s family in Ischia, a small volcanic island located 19 miles from the city of Naples, Italy. It was there that he fell in love with the region’s use of brick ovens and the perfectly-crisp dough and smoky flavors that came out of it. And it was there that he learned how truly fresh ingredients can make or break any dish.

Intoxicated by the aromas of Ischia’s brick ovens, he sketched out the concept for a build-it-yourself pizza concept on a napkin. And therein lies the origin of Your Pie. From the very beginning, his vision was straightforward—combine quality and variety with rustic flavors only brick ovens could deliver. And not only would he strive to make a great, innovative pizza, he would serve them to customers quickly, too.

French opened the doors to his first restaurant in Athens, Georgia in 2008, and it didn’t take long until he realized he was on to something great. But, as a first-time pizza maker, French was faced with a few initial hurdles.

“Traditionally, pizza is a share experience,” French said. “People were accustomed to ordering one large pizza and sharing it. They were initially confused by the smaller pies suitable for one person.”

But as soon as customers caught on to the idea that they could customize their pizza to get exactly what they wanted, they were sold.

“One of the disadvantages of being first to market is that you’ve got to learn from doing rather than seeing someone else do it. But it’s cool doing it that way, too, because there’s a little more passion in what you are doing,” French said.

Within two years, French opened two additional locations nearby in the University of Georgia’s hometown. Shortly thereafter, French made the decision to start franchising.

“I felt franchising was the way to grow so we could really dive into markets and have a unique local community feel,” French said. “We’ve really brought something new to each market we’re in, and although we’re a franchise, we’re a small, locally-owned business. After all, the best ambassadors are the local guys in their communities who own the store.”

As Your Pie began to grow, French’s mission never wavered—putting food quality first, creating a positive work environment, partnering with community organizations and crafting an unforgettable customer experience has remained at the core of the brand since the very beginning. Now, fueled by French’s initial dream, the brand is aiming to open 20 locations by the year’s end, which would ultimately boost their total number nation-wide to 50.

Even so, it’s not about numbers for French. It ultimately comes down to being the best fast-casual pizza concept out there. And in that category, Your Pie has its competitors beat.

“We’re about growing with the right people—the people who will continue to embody the mission that Your Pie was founded on. It’s not necessarily just about being the biggest or the fastest. It’s about being the best at what you do. And I’m proud to say that Your Pie has never lost sight of that nearly eight years later,” French said.