Blaze Pizza

Food

Quick-service chains are turbocharging menu innovation to drive traffic. It’s working

Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Blaze Pizza are pushing new products out of the pipeline at a fast and frequent clip to excite younger guests and bring more of them through the doors.

Operations

Blaze Pizza fans the flames of fast-casual pizza with brand overhaul

As the fast-casual pizza niche tries to find its post-pandemic path, Blaze Pizza hopes to regain leadership with a new menu and mission.

The fast-casual pizza chain, which was “born” in California more than a decade ago, believes the cross-country move will further growth.

Blaze Pizza is preparing for a brand relaunch, but the concept must first solve some fundamental problems laid bare by the pandemic. CEO Beto Guajardo outlines his strategy for profitability.

Brad Kent, who developed and evolved the fast-casual chain's menu over nearly 12 years, said it was a surprise. Company officials told him they wanted to move in a different direction.

Guajardo replaces Mandy Shaw, who led the fast-casual chain through the pandemic.

The chain’s new CEO sees opportunities for evaluation and renewal as it prepares for a next trajectory of growth.

Sources say she is leaving the fast-casual pizza chain, though details of the departure and its timing are not yet clear.

Yancey, an industry veteran, has served as vice president of franchise development at the fast-casual pizza chain since 2020.

The fast casual, which did the majority of its business in-restaurant before the pandemic, is navigating the new reality amid a tight labor market.

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