Pizza Fusion
 | |
| Company type | Franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant/Pizza |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | Deerfield Beach, Florida |
Key people | Michael Gordon, Co-founder Vaughn Lazar, Co-founder Randy Romano, VP/Franchise Development |
| Website | PizzaFusion.com |
Pizza Fusion was a pizza restaurant chain based in Deerfield Beach, Florida.[1] Using mostly organic ingredients and emphasizing green building methods, the restaurants operated under the tagline Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a Time.[2]
Overview
[edit]Pizza Fusion was founded in 2006 by Michael Gordon and Vaughan Lazar. Lazar and Gordon had targeted Newman's Own, Patagonia, and Starbucks as role models, before opening their first store.[3] In April 2009, the company signed a franchise agreement for Saudi Arabia with the Samir Group, a Saudi Arabia-based conglomerate.[4]
It specialized in oval-shaped gourmet pizzas,[5] salads, sandwiches, and beverages made from natural ingredients — along with gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free menu items.[5][6]
At its peak, in 2008, the restaurant chain had 63 locations[6] including those in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, as well as in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[7] Although it had projected growing to 300 stores by 2010,[3] as of 2011 the chain was down to 13 locations.[8] Its Web site in 2023 listed seven locations in the US, and ten in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
Green building methods
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
Green construction materials and techniques used by the restaurant included a website powered by renewable energy, 100 percent post-consumer paper products, countertops remanufactured from plastic detergent bottles, wall insulation remanufactured from recycled blue jeans, 100% post-consumer drywall, non-VOC paint (volatile organic compounds), floor finishes with low VOC concrete sealant or renewable resources such as bamboo or cork, tiles from recycled glass bottles, low-flow toilets and sinks, Forest Steward Council wood, energy efficient—compact fluorescent lighting, super-efficient air conditioning and a heat exchange system that recaptures heat from the pizza ovens for the domestic hot water needs.[1]
The chain offset 100% of the power consumption in its locations by using purchasing carbon credits and using environmentally sustainable building practices. The restaurant delivery drivers used hybrid electric vehicles.
Awards
[edit]The Pizza Fusion website won a national Webby Award for best restaurant website in 2010.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Scott, Sherri Daye (March 2008). "Breaking New Ground". QSR Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ Chronister, Bill (22 January 2008). "A pizza joint Al Gore could love might be coming here". Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
- ^ a b Wilson, Sara (May 2008). "Pizza Fusion". Entrepreneur.com.
- ^ "US Pizza Fusion reaches Saudi Arabian franchise deal". Insidefranchising.net. 3 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
- ^ a b Satchell, Arlene (1 May 2008). "Fort Lauderdale-based Pizza Fusion committed to saving the world". South Florida Sentinel.
- ^ a b "Pizza Fusion's First Year of National Franchising a Success". Pizza Fusion. February 11, 2008. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008.
- ^ "Pizza Fusion's Locations". Pizzafusion.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
- ^ "Pizza Fusion Locations". Pizzafusion.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
