In addition, the popularity of Chik-fil-A and Raising Cane's has soared in recent years. No detail is spared. the use of high-quality fresh ingredients and the dough The gig: Rick Wetzel and Bill Phelps are the chieftains of pretzel empire Wetzels Pretzels. PublicPrivate Court, Arrest or Criminal Records Joshua Siegel to join their team, he was already the owner of a very This cookie is set by the provider Bidr. Linkedin - Used to track visitors on multiple websites, in order to present relevant advertisement based on the visitor's preferences. remain true to the Blaze brand. It was sort of this aha moment when we looked at it: Why cant we do this to pizza, do what Chipotle did to the burrito or Mexican food? Rick Wetzel says. starting a pizza restaurant that operated under a franchise With strong financial support and operational systems in place, fast-casual pizza brands are rushing to secure top-shelf, multiunit franchisees and grade-A real estate locations. price of entry in the market today, Rick quickly added. Elise Wetzel, the co-founder of Blaze Pizza and wife of Wetzel's Pretzels co-founder Rick Wetzel, wanted to learn more about Lucky Bird. "Who doesn't know Wetzel's Pretzels?" Who can help student-athletes cash in. This cookie is used to set an unique ID for the visitors which helps third party advertisers to target the visitor with relevant advertisement. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Wetzel, whom Phelps calls a serial entrepreneur, just launched a fast-casual restaurant concept called Blaze Pizza this year with locations in Pasadena and Irvine. James owns about 10 percent. This cookie is used for advertising purposes. The purpose of the cookie is to map clicks to other events on the client's website. This cookie is used to track the visitors on multiple webiste to serve them with relevant ads. But I think its a reference that maybe helps consumers understand the concept.. "Every time LeBron tweets about Blaze, it's like a sonic boom," Elise Wetzel said. The main purpose of this cookie is advertising. Pasadena Magazines Women in Business Luncheon 2023. Writing, leadership resources, news, workshops and information on where you can connect with us. The main purpose of this cookie is targeting, advertesing and effective marketing. Only after opening a company-owned flagship store at Disneyland in 2001 did the pair realize they had made it. has the same spirit and voice that has gotten guests to This cookie is used to set a unique ID to the visitors, which allow third party advertisers to target the visitors with relevant advertisement up to 1 year. These were two high-powered food and beverage professionals with decades of experience and success just sitting at home. Rick studied marketing at the University of Tulsa and earned his MBA from the University of Southern California. So now, the two power couples partner and embark on a venture to add their "California-comfort food and California-inspired fried chicken" into the highly competitive fried chicken marketplace. This cookie is set by Hubspot and is used for tracking visitors. Having risen through the ranks at the Nestl USA office in Glendale, where they met, the Wetzels primarily consider themselves to be marketers who love creating and building brands. me. Rick was quick to say, okay, were not talking about pizza at home Rick told "I'd sit with her for hours, and I'm catching things I didn't know about marketing and brands.". Wetzels originally had a third partner, a chef who created a recipe for a simple and tasty pretzel. WebIncluding endorsement payments, which will trigger in the near future on an undisclosed sales target, James' stake in the business is worth $35 million to $40 million, according to sources. [14][15], In August 2015, the company announced plans to open its first location outside the U.S., in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. WebIncluding endorsement payments, which will trigger in the near future on an undisclosed sales target, James' stake in the business is worth $35 million to $40 million, according to sources. A Texas native, she graduated from the business school at New York University, where she decided journalism was much more interesting than a job on Wall Street. Andrew says he assembled an executive team with more than 50 combined years of franchise experiencea team including other former Moes execsand is using their expertise to sprint toward top-dog status in the fast-casual pizza space. [5], The Blaze ovens are "7 foot (2.1m)-wide gas-fired (60,000BTU (63,000kJ)) unit operated at average temperatures of 700F (371C) to 800F (427C)," according to the company's executive chef. Experiential and nature-focused workshops aimed to help individuals grow as leaders. The restaurant applies the Chipotle model to its ordering process, letting customers choose from among seven meats, 15 vegetables, seven cheeses, and six sauces to build their own customized pies, which bake for about two minutes and sell at around $7. always look, feel and taste the same. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. It's a lighter spin on it. But one [segment] that is forecast to grow at a double-digit rate over the 10-year period is fast casual.. The cookie is used to collect information about the usage behavior for targeted advertising. The two werent exactly planning to expand their foodservice portfolio to include a national fast-casual pizza joint, but they wanted pizza for lunch. That name: They wrestled with finding a name that could be trademarked. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "I'm a Jersey girl. "We are shooting the bar higher," Chris Dane said. This cookie is set by doubleclick.net. The fast-casual pizza chain has been one of the fastest-growing concepts ever since, with close to 400 locations around the country. We landed a day later at Burbank airport, Southwest Airlines, and Ill never forget as Bill and I were getting off the plane, he looked at me and said, Well have a store open by November, Wetzel said. [Being environmentally conscious] is the The brand has kind of flown under the radar for years, and now its at a point where we have this incredible awareness out there. Blaze Pizza, created by Wetzel's Pretzels founders Rick and Elise Wetzel, has 150 units in the pipeline. Phelps still owns a 20% share, while Wetzel holds a smaller stake. [16] The first Canadian location was opened in Toronto in October 2015,[17] followed by openings a few months later in Calgary in February 2016[18] and Edmonton in April 2016. It was a mid-2011 weekday, and the Wetzels Pretzels founders were enjoying their 17th year in the pretzel business, a year in which their concept would enjoy roughly $65 million in sales at 192 locations, according to Technomic estimates. that pizza as a concept is very translatable. They are obviously enjoying what they do, and The domain of this cookie is owned by Rocketfuel. It started with two California locations and has expanded to become one of the fastest-growing franchises in the U.S., with more than 340 restaurants in 41 states and five countries. They have two adult children, and he is an avid golfer. The cars were all Inspired by their families, a love of Northwestern and the desire to make the University and the world a better place, women philanthropists have created exciting new spaces, programs and opportunities for students. But it was inevitable. [12] The company planned to have at least 500 locations by 2020. The concept is definitely a hit None of this success would be possible without the advent of new technologies that press and bake pizza in a few short minutes. "There are a lot of things we can do here [in Eagle Rock] that we weren't able to do at GCM because of the lack of space," Chris said, explaining how their downtown location is only 700 square feet. WebEntrepreneurs Rick and Elise Wetzel may have founded Wetzels Pretzels and Blaze Pizza, each of which has hundreds of locations, but the duo does not consider themselves to be restaurateurs. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In 2015, James and Carter, with three years and $14 million left on LeBron's McDonald's deal, had a decision to make. Read more of our 150 Years of Womenalumni profiles. It contains the domain, utk, initial timestamp (first visit), last timestamp (last visit), current timestamp (this visit), and session number (increments for each subsequent session). are discarded. This cookie is a browser ID cookie set by Linked share Buttons and ad tags. Everything Phelps wanted had already been taken. Lucky Bird has a new retro 1970s style logo of a white silhouette of a chicken in front of a multi-colored California sunset, which symbolizes "a lighter and brighter chicken," Wetzel said. And here's the co-founder of Blaze Pizza contacting us.". Webelise and rick wetzel net worthdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by In celebration, we have compiled a list of some great places to volunteer in your own town! If it wants us to go slow, that's fine. very welcoming to American brands and that they could tables at The Avenues branch. expansion model. Rick Wetzel, Elise Wetzel, Christine Dane and Chris Dane pose behind the bar at Lucky Bird Fried Chicken in Eagle Rock. The cookies is used to gather information regarding visitor activity on Issuu products. Hope to see Blaze in NH sometime soon! This cookie collects the statistical data of the visitor for serving targeted ads. ventures need to be backed by passionate, caring people "When he invested in us so early on, he established us as the market leader," Wetzel said. Last year Blaze Pizza opened their first branch outside of the USA in Kuwait. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Grier may not like the constant comparisons between fast-casual pizza and Chipotle, but as he looks ahead to Pie Fives potential successthe company has deals for 38 stores in place, and has analyzed the top 50 markets in the U.S. for potential growthhe cant help but pine for that brands position among the fast-casual Mexican field. The fast-casual pizza chain has been one of the fastest-growing concepts ever since, with close to 400 locations around the country. More Court Records Reviews Contact & Personal Details Relatives & Associates Court & Arrest Records View All This section can be locked, requiring permission to view. 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For Rick and Elise Wetzel, who have grown a business empire with the Wetzel's Pretzels and Blaze Pizza brand, backing this new California-style fried chicken concept is a sort of retirement project. I think those two customers are completely different; the uses are completely different.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [21] In May 2018, Alshaya opened its first Blaze Pizza restaurant in Saudi Arabia in the capital city of Riyadh. "The potential on what we could make if we just put the time and effort into it exceeded what McDonald's guaranteed me.". He says guests want to watch their meals being made, want to see it go in and out of the oven. Examples are True Food Kitchen, Shake Shack, and Granville, which has a great location on Lake Avenue, with some of Pasadenas best rooftop dining. The first Taco/Social opens this fall in Eagle Rock. He also said they eventually do talk about pizza in "I'm learning everyday," Christine said. [10], By the end of 2014, Blaze had become the first fast-casual pizza restaurant to achieve 50 opened units. And with no obvious restaurant suitors in their Pasadena, California, hometown, the pair ended up at Chipotle on that fateful day. Many of the better-pizza players use open-hearth ovens at enormously hot temperatures (800 degrees, in the case of 800 Degrees) that keep the total order time at less than four minutes. ", But Wetzel, who is also an investor in Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-casual Nashville hot chicken chain, added, "there's a great big gap there. Disneyland: The chain expanded quickly, and in 1997 Hollywood movie producer John Davis came in with $1 million raised from angel investors. This cookie is used by the website to store the user's session ID. The brand has kind of flown under the radar for years, and now its at a point where we have this incredible awareness out there. While most believe this new crop of concepts will force those companies to improve their quality and experience, many say the better-pizza angle is different enough that it will create a new dine-out occasion. WebEntrepreneurs Rick and Elise Wetzel may have founded Wetzels Pretzels and Blaze Pizza, each of which has hundreds of locations, but the duo does not consider themselves to be restaurateurs. being business partners. All Rick and Elise Wetzel wanted was to have some pizza for lunch. Theres also 12 company-owned stores that employ 150 people. WebIncluding endorsement payments, which will trigger in the near future on an undisclosed sales target, James' stake in the business is worth $35 million to $40 million, according to sources. Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Howard Schultz, Warren Buffett and Jimmy Buffett. We only know one speed and that is go very fast. According to market consultant The NPD Group, traffic within the fast-casual industrywhich accounts for 5 percent of outside-the-home eatingincreased 8 percent between March 2012 and March 2013. Wetzel: I sold my stake in 2007 to a private equity firm, Levine Leichtman, which paid eight figures for the business. [7] Since the high-temperature gas-fired pizza oven is the only piece of cooking equipment inside each of the restaurants, the same oven is also used to roast the chicken, cook the Italian sausage and meatballs, and bake some of the desserts. In his early 20s, he owned a video rental store and later became a brand manager at Nestle. Like teenagers: Phelps, 57, is now the companys chief executive, and Wetzel, 54, is president. The cups have always been plant-based and sustainable. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. A friend who was a marketing consultant finally pointed out the obvious that not using Wetzel and Pretzel would be a complete waste. [12] The company planned to have at least 500 locations by 2020. Sources told ESPN that an investment that James, his business partner Maverick Carter and financial adviser Paul Wachter of Main Street Advisors made for less than $1 million in 2012 in upstart fast-casual chain Blaze Pizza has turned into $25 million. The cups have always been plant-based and sustainable. Wetzel said he envisions Lucky Bird similar to high-quality eateries like Mendocino Farms and Tender Greens. The cars were all washed. WebAll Rick and Elise Wetzel wanted was to have some pizza for lunch. Prior to launching Blaze Pizza, Rick co-founded Wetzel's Pretzels, LLC in 1994 and served as its President. [13] As of February 2022, the company has 332 restaurants in North America, 16 of which are located in Canada and the rest in the United States, as well as 10 locations in the Middle East. After the initial investment in 2012, James wasn't allowed to endorse Blaze Pizza, because he had a deal with McDonald's, but news that he was involved was huge, Rick Wetzel said. Finally, the chicken rests before being placed in a high-temperature pressure fryer. This cookie is set by the Infolinks. who they are and what they have done. Elise and Rick were sitting comfortably at one of the Once youve set up shop in Santa Monica, downtown, and West Hollywood, this is the place youre going to drop a restaurant. Rick also cites transparency and optimism as important motivators for his Blaze Pizza employees. I don't have an 80-year-old grandmother who passed down her 100-year-old cast iron or secret recipe. And sometimes well swing by the Our podcast and framework for transformative leadership, hosted by our founder and CEO, Maril. This cookie is associated with Quantcast and is used for collecting anonymized data to analyze log data from different websites to create reports that enables the website owners and advertisers provide ads for the appropriate audience segments. And they all want to be the Chipotle of pizza. I probably spend more waking hours with Bill than I actually spend with my wife.. Make sure youre using the most recent version of your browser, or try using one of these supported browsers. Entrepreneurs Rick and Elise Wetzel may have founded Wetzels Pretzelsand Blaze Pizza, each of which has hundreds of locations, but the duo does not consider themselves to be restaurateurs. We think the paradigm shift to lunch for pizza is a major element in the success that we are having and will continue to have, Zuckerman says. Not on a fine dining level but high-quality Michelin-level food in a much more approachable and casual dining concept.". Including endorsement payments, which will trigger in the near future on an undisclosed sales target, James' stake in the business is worth $35 million to $40 million, according to sources. I think that just reflects the kind of flavor diversity that people are actually looking for these days.. Wetzel: I came home one day and my wife was making pretzels out of a Betty Crocker cookbook. And a way to give back. I noticed that many people will start with And we did.. their Chief Culinary Officer and creator of the dough, This cookie contains partner user IDs and last successful match time. "Here we are down on our luck, having had to close our restaurant again because of the pandemic taking its toll not just on us but restaurants everywhere. This cookie is used to measure the number and behavior of the visitors to the website anonymously. Rick Wetzel is Ten years ago, people didnt even know what truffle was, and here we are, its one of our top three selling pizzas, Ryan says. Rick also worked as a brand manager at Nestle for seven years. As he contemplates how he leads his team, Rick excitedly alludes to a corkboard he has in his office full of sticky notes with meaningful quotes and leadership tips. [22] In September 2018, Alshaya opened its first Blaze Pizza restaurant in Bahrain. Now Blaze is gunning for the pizza delivery giants, introducing larger, shareable sizes. back and have a little party,. In the last few years, new pizza brands have sprouted up across the U.S. (especially in Southern California), all with the lofty aspirations of being the national better-pizza leader. She previously reported on the California economy and the technology sector. They all bake their pizzas in specialized ovens in just a few short minutes. Having made approximately $30 million off a stake in Beats by Dre when the headphones company sold to Apple for $3 billion, the two were looking for the next big thing. Wetzel brought in his designer to conceptualize the brand and the restaurant space. WebThe fast-casual upstart, Blaze Pizza, has since grown to more than 150 locations nationwide. This cookie is used for targeting and advertising purposes. You know, its a different format to walk down the line and But that doesn't diminish my love for fried chicken.". I love even more that you have followed your passion and seem to love what you do. So those getting into this market really need to do their homework and really need to understand what consumers are looking for from their concepts and who their target buyers are.. On Thursday, the Wetzels and Danes opened a new brick-and-mortar Lucky Bird at 1627 Colorado Blvd. The NPD Groups Riggs says the winners in the better-pizza category will be those brands that best create a unique position in the marketplace. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Wetzel sold his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and put in money he had socked away for the down payment on a house. Rick believes that you arent luckyyou make your own luck. In partnership with Alshaya, Blaze opened its first location outside of North America in the Middle Eastern nation of Kuwait in March 2018. Elise said, We have a pizza The company has goals of hitting 1,000 stores and $1 billion in sales by 2022 and eventually an initial public offering, which will be the real cash-out moment. We believe that by embracing humanity at the core of business, jobs can be forces for good and companies can thrive through disruption. Exquisite indulgence for lovers of French inspired sweets, This collection has us counting down to New Year's Eve, ENJOY THE TRUE FLAVORS OF ISTANBUL IN KUWAIT AT EMIRGAN SUTIS, BURGAN BANK LEADING THE WAY IN EXCELLENCE, THE UNPARALLELED WALDORF ASTORIA KUWAIT SPA EXPERIENCE, 8 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO GET INVOLVED WITH IN KUWAIT. Kuwaits first Blaze Pizza location was an instant success; the lines were, and still are, quite long during the lunch rush hour because diners love the experience of building their own pizza and keep coming back for more. It does not store any personal data. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Origin story: In 1994, the two were working in marketing at Nestle USA. Including endorsement payments, which will trigger in the near future on an undisclosed sales target, James' stake in the business is worth $35 million to $40 million, according to sources. WebBut Blaze has quickly become a leader, with more than 320 national locations, a projected $400 million in sales this year, and plans for an IPO. "Hi, this is Elise Wetzel," the message read. who want to disrupt the current market, which is exactly Used by Microsoft as a unique identifier. [14] [15] Pick the toppings that make you smile at #Blaze #BlazePizza #BlazePizzaME #Pizza #InstaPizza #InstaFood #Kuwait #Bahrain #KSA #Riyadh #BlazePizzaMiddleEast, A post shared by Blaze Pizza Middle East (@blazepizzame) on Mar 31, 2019 at 2:17am PDT. Had a third partner, a chef who created a recipe for simple! Co-Founded Wetzel 's Pretzels founders Rick and Elise Wetzel wanted was to have at least locations. Do talk about pizza in `` i 'm learning everyday, '' Chris Dane pose the. 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