Pizza Express Business Model

[Cramlington567]

AIBU to wonder how they survive.

Went in tonight to use the last of the Tesco vouchers (will only be 2x from now so doubt I will be back). The restaurant was huge, city centre and only about 10% full.

4 pizzas and a small plate of dough balls £67 (without the vouchers). We drank tap water too. Could easily be double that with drinks and dessert.

There are better pizzerias nearby doing £9 neapolitan amazing pizzas in a really nice setting too and are packed.

How do PE continue to survive? Is the Tesco voucher thing going to hurt them now it has been diluted so much?

I don’t go to PE very often but even I can see it serves a need. The pizzas are very good.

What other pizzerias are you talking about? Locally we have the usual suspects (Pizza Hut, ASK, Zizzi’s).

The pizzas are excellent. And their takeaway / collection options locally are superior and cheaper to Dominos.

Rudy's is the one I was thinking of. More if a Manchester chain but expanding fast.

Because you know exactly what you get regardless of which particular restaurant, because there are always offers even without club card points, because theyre prices are the same as other big chains such as Zizzis, because pizza raw ingredients cost fuck all. Good business plan!

The one near us is always rammed.

Cheap, cheerful and you know what you are getting

Pretty sure they are barely surviving and have been in financial trouble for a while.

The ones near us are always busy too. The pizzas are nice, the kids like them but I do agree they are way overpriced.

Last time we went it was really awful. They’d run out of half the stuff on the menu. Pizza was cold and cold drinks were warm.

I really like Pizza Express - the food is consistently good quality, and the service is usually good as well. We use Tesco vouchers and offers from the Pizza Express app to make it better value.

Yeah, I agree the pizzas in store are nice but not amazing (especially considering the price) and I would much rather see them survive than some of the other crap.

I think you are right @titchy its so consistent which seems to be critical to success.

I know what you mean op. I would see the likes of Franco Manca or Rudys as far better options over Pizza Express if you’re going for a chain pizzeria. Not only is PE dearer, but they have gone too far down the road of taking a basic idea and messing about with it - pizzas with salad in the middle, menus that are trying to be all things to all people.

Better yet, go for a local pizza place just like all three of those started off life as.

A few years ago, when they closed several sites, I remember reading that the company had debts that worked out at over a million pounds per restaurant. I find that bonkers. But there again I'm not a multi millionaire entrepreneur. I don't understand the economics of businesses, especially restaurants and airlines

In Manchester there’s absolutely no need now to go Pizza Express. Rudy’s, Franco Manca, Nell’s and others are all so good. It served its purpose when the alternative was Pizza Hut.

Also, a Pizza Express pizza is a very particular thing. It’s not like any other pizza from any other restaurant. It’s a kind of flat bread that’s not akin to other pizzas.

Nell's does pizza for £7.77 on a weekday!
Rudy's prices have gone up a bit, it's only around £11 a pizza, but still better value than Pizza express.

I went to Rudy's last week with a pal. 2 (brilliant, decent size) pizzas, a negroni, a large glass of wine, a coke, and 2 puddings was less than £65. The only people I know who go to PE have two or more kids and only go if they have vouchers.

Yes, I can't say I'm impressed with PE. Feel ripped off even when using Tesco vouchers!

Was talking about this to DH earlier.

Used to go all the time as they had frequent offers but they stopped those. So now I never go.

It's always mostly empty when we pass. I can't see it lasting in this climate. Shame because it used to be great:

Omg Rudys 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

I'd take Rudy's over Pizza Express anyday. Recently discovered the Chorlton one, thanks to student DS, and it was bloody lovely.
I think Pizza Express is going to have to start doing its own loyalty scheme or 2 for 1 offers or something if it really was reliant on Tesco vouchers. I suppose it's saving grace is that you know what you're getting in there whereas you're taking a chance if you try a local unknown.

We used to be in there all the time until ds2 decided he didn’t like pizza. Great pizzas and there was always a discount code we could find online to take down the cost. I also don’t live in a big town - round here it’s still easily the best pizza option available.