Zia Lucia targets 100 restaurants in international franchise push

London-based pizzeria Zia Lucia has secured GNF Worldwide as its franchise partner as it looks to open 100 new restaurants over the next five years.

Founded in 2016, Zia Lucia has become known for its four types of dough, including the vegetable charcoal variety, and won a rave review from Giles Coren in the Times in 2019.

It currently operates ten sites across the UK and recently launched its first branch outside of London in Reading.

Zia Lucia is also due to open another restaurant in London’s Chelsea later this month, which will offer an Aperol-infused dough.

Founders Claudio Vescovo and Gianluca D’Angelo are preparing to roll out Zia Lucia sites internationally under a franchise model, starting with Europe and the Middle East.

D’Angelo said: “We have received lots of inbound interest to bring Zia Lucia to new markets. We strongly believe there is a massive space in Europe and beyond for an innovative pizza brand like us.

“Our differentiated product offering anchored around the four doughs coupled with the true Italian heritage of the group allow us to offer something distinctive in the casual dining segment.

"We will partner only with high quality and vision-aligned operators while continuing to grow our corporate stores in a controlled way. We see a path towards 100 stores in the next five years.”

Zia Lucia, which translates to ‘Auntie Lucia’, opened its first independent pizzeria in Holloway Road before expanding into Canary Wharf, West Hampstead, Wandsworth and Aldgate East.