The fast-paced pizza chain brand from India that’s moving global amidst the pandemic

Kartik Anand

The starting point

Circle of Crust is the brainchild of Kartik Anand who is not just a total foodie, but also the founder and executive chairman of the parent company, Kings Group Ventures.

Having sampled some of the best pizzas in almost every continent, Kartik Anand noticed that there is a huge unexplored market within the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry when it comes to handcrafted thin-crust pizzas. apart from serving the crowd's favorite pan-based pizzas, Circle Of Crust wanted to reinvent the wheel and go where no one has ventured before. The mission is to provide flavors that are creatively mixed with high-quality ingredients, consistently creating an experience that is as unique as our pizzas!

The uniqueness of Circle of Crust

Circle of Crust is here to break the misconception that pizzas cannot be healthy with their tantalizing guilt-free pizzas. They offer customers six artisan bases to choose from. With three vegetable-based crusts like corn, beetroot, and spinach, a whole wheat base with the goodness of flax seeds, a multigrain base, and even one for those who are gluten intolerant, these bases appeal to people with any dietary restriction. With 60% vegetables in the crusts but all of the crusts offer wholesome goodness so you get wholesome goodness in every bite.

Experience in setting up a completely new brand in the current scenario

If there is a great concept and the right people to execute it, it should not matter what the scenario is, as there's always the first mover's advantage. With an understanding that in the food delivery market, pizza deliveries play a huge part, Circle of Crust changed things up by offering guilt-free pizzas that are hot, ready to eat, and delivered on-time. With these principles in mind, we also recently bagged the ‘Best Pizza Delivery' and ‘Delivery Icons' award facilitated by the Times of India.

Number of outlets and the key focus of the region in the future

Circle Of Crust recently opened its 5th outlet in the food court of Phoenix MarketCity, Pune, and is launching its 6th outlet in Hinjewadi, Pune in September 2021 which would further ensure that no customer in Pune is unserviceable.

Circle of Crust also hit the international market this year by launching two outlets in Dubai, one in

Dubai Mall in March 2021 and one on Sheikh Zayed Road in June 2021. In 2022, the brand plans on entering Singapore and by 2024, London. The pizza connoisseur definitely sees itself as a global chain by 2025.

Even with everything that's happening in Dubai, the focus has always been India. The brand is extremely bullish in India and will always remain a strong part of its growth contributor.

Growing global while restaurants were shutting down due to the Pandemic

Pune is a tough market and the pandemic just added to it. Having said that, Circle Of Crust is confident of its offerings and our core team's experience. Going global was always the plan and Dubai came as an opportunity that couldn't be turned down. It's a country with over 200 nationalities and people from all walks of life. It helps to understand the global market better.

The demand and idea for opening a Circle of Crust outlet in UAE

Dubai has always been a global city and was always a part of the Circle Of Crust expansion plan. By doing business in the UAE, you will have access to the markets of the Middle East. The UAE has a well-established reputation. This makes it the ideal location for the brand to expand into the Middle East, South Asia, and African markets. Dubai continues to welcome and support businesses of all types from around the world. If one was to open in Dubai, Dubai Mall is the perfect location to reach residents and tourists alike. It's the pinnacle of luxury and instantly puts us on the world map.