Oath Pizza Looks to Grow Its Feel-Good Brand By Awarding More than a Dozen New Franchises by End of 2022

The restaurant industry saw many ups and downs throughout the pandemic, but one segment remains strong: pizza. Americans spend billions of dollars a year on pizza and the industry is expected to grow, yet consumers are becoming increasingly ingredient-conscious. That puts Oath Pizza, a Nantucket Island-born franchise, on a mission to make it easy for people to eat better without giving up the foods they love and to make people feel good about pizza again. The brand is in a position to not only separate itself from other pizza chains, but become one of the strongest opportunities in franchising. 

Oath Pizza is a fan-favorite of foodies, families, and ingredient-conscious folks alike with its emphasis on feel-good pizza made with real, fresh ingredients. Oath currently has 29 locations and aims to grow with new franchisees.

“Oath is focused on high quality ingredients and is a leader in the better-for-you segment, a critical differentiator for our consumer.” said Drew Kellogg, Oath Pizza’s CEO and former Executive Team Director at Chipotle Mexican Grill “And we have the opportunity to expand to hundreds, if not thousands, of locations in the coming years because of our efficient business model that is simple to operate, delivers best-in-class margins, and has high growth potential.”

From Seaside Shop to Feel-Good, Low-Cost Franchise 

Oath Pizza’s promise to serve a better pizza experience began on Nantucket Island in 2015 with a quest for a better crust. Today, the brand’s pizzas continue to be crafted on its proprietary crust that is grilled, seared in avocado oil, topped with real, fresh ingredients, and quick-cooked to delicious perfection. Oath not only delivers an exciting, elevated take on flavors customers already love, but it offers build-your-own options and ingredients for all kinds of dietary preferences, like vegan and gluten-free. Oath’s flagship location on Nantucket is one of the busiest locations serving island residents and tourists alike from its small 600sq/ft footprint.

Oath’s reach has expanded quickly to share its better pizza with as many communities as possible. In six years, Oath signed multi-unit franchise deals with Aramark and Covelli Enterprises, and opened locations all across the country. Additionally, Oath ships nationwide through a partnership with Goldbelly®. Oath plans to keep growing by signing more franchise partners by 2022, with sights set on populated suburban markets.

Oath Pizza’s simple, low-cost, community-focused business model is ideal for a franchise concept. The opportunity features some of the lowest requirements in the restaurant industry - an initial investment of $350,000 – $505,200, a $30,000 franchise development fee, and 5% gross sales royalty.

Because of the oven technology, commissary-produced crusts, and quick-cooking technique, Oath locations do not require gas or hooded exhausts. This makes the buildout process efficient, and even more affordable. It also gives franchisees the flexibility to open almost anywhere and results in lower overhead, labor, and turnover costs. With a turn-key operation backed by quick training, easy-to-use digital ordering, and flexible footprints, transactions are seamless and convenient.

“We have a strong foundation to continue to meet growing consumer demands for quality ingredients, convenience, and customizable options,” said Oath’s Chief Marketing Officer and former National Field Marketing Director at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Stacie Colburn Hayes. “Now, we are looking for more franchisees who are passionate about bringing our unique product and experience to their deserving communities.”

A Best-in-Class Leadership Team Dedicated to Creating a People-First Culture 

So who are the leaders behind this franchisee-focused concept? Kellogg and Hayes worked together at Chipotle, known to be the first fast casual concept, where they learned the ins and outs of the industry and led some of the company’s largest operations and marketing teams. They were brought on to position Oath for sustainable growth.

“The first order of business was to meet our people and evaluate the strengths and opportunities of the culture,” said Kellogg. “Next, we collaborated with our managers and teams to update our vision, mission, and values, outline our commitments to supporting one another, and define our short and long-term goals.” 

“We looked at all of the messaging, design and what the brand stood for. At the time, the branding was culinary-focused with an edge,” said Hayes. “Our target customer is anyone seeking better pizza and uniquely skews female. We softened our branding to be more neutral in tone with a focus on sharing who we are, the community we serve, and how we’re different throughout all of our messaging and materials.”

Over the years, Kellogg and Hayes hired and developed an elite team dedicated to elevating and supporting the day-to-day business alongside sustainable, long-term corporate and franchise expansion. 

“We have strategic plans for Oath’s growth,” said Kellogg. “We’re looking forward to finding franchise partners who share a passion for people and pizza, and the excitement to be leaders in the $46 billion pizza industry.”

The cost to open an Oath Pizza franchise ranges from $350,000–$505,200, including a $30,000 franchise development fee. For more information on franchising with Oath Pizza, visit https://www.oathpizza.com/franchise.