The Red and Black: Your Pie Competes in World Pizza Championship

Drew French loves pizza. That's a given for the founder of rapidly growing pizza franchise Your Pie, the originator of the booming "down-the-line" fast casual pizza segment. French, who was inspired to create Your Pie by his honeymoon in Italy with wife, Natalie, took his love of pizza to a patriotic level by joining Team USA for the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy.

The Red & Black, independent student newspaper of French's alma mater, The University of Georgia, recently spoke with Drew and Natalie about their trip to compete in Italy.

“It’s a unique niche, because pizza is very popular around the world, so it’s cool to be around other people who are even more crazy about pizza than I am,” French told The Red & Black.

Drew and Natalie earned a spot on the team by winning the distinction of the best pizza in the eastern United States with their peach prosciutto pie at the 2015 Pizzaiolo Ultissimo at The Sofo Foods Expo in Atlanta. The World Pizza Championship in Parma involved a variety of different competition and events, from trick dough tossing to those based on pizza creation.

“Drew and Natalie performed exemplary under the pressure. They were there to help their fellow members, and it was an honor to have them on our team," Brian Hernandez, PMQ Test Chef and U.S. Pizza Team Director, told The Red & Black.

Your Pie has grown to nearly 30 locations across the U.S.