1000 Degrees Pizzeria, a fast-casual Neopolitan pizza franchise, will be setting up its first international market outlet in Kuala Lumpur by end of this year.
The location of the new outlet is expected to be in the city centre. The Malaysian business will be a collaboration with a local partner.
Kuala Lumpur was chosen because the city is said to be experiencing tremendous economic growth and is now ready for something new in the name of pizza.
1000 Degrees Pizzeria prides itself as a specialist in thin-crusted pizzas fired at 1,000-degree Celsius constantly to perfection in just about 2 minutes.
Its authentic hand-tossed dough will have a crispy crust topped with the freshest ingredients and the highest quality meats, veggies, cheeses, plums, cherries, spices and a variety of sauces including the homemade Buffalo sauce and the San Marzano-sourced tomato sauces.
In addition to its menu of pizzas, customers will be able to mix-and-match and build their own 11″ or 14″ pizzas from a selection of recipes.
1000 Degrees Pizzeria says while Malaysia will be its first international market outside its US home base, talks were underway with potential experienced partners in Panama City, Qatar and Dubai.
In the US, this fast casual pizza artisan will welcome over 60 new franchisees by the end of the third quarter this year. At least 25 new restaurant locations have been confirmed.
Malaysia is already home to some of the biggest global brands in pizza business.
Nationwide, Pizza Hut has 328 outlets, Domino’s Pizza has 131 outlets while Papa John’s Pizza has 31 outlets. Other smaller competitors such as Vivo American Pizza & Panini and Canadian 2 For 1 Pizza have 15 and 11 outlets respectively.
Artisan pizza chains have also emerge successfully in recent times such as Capricciosa Pasta & Pizza, Tino’s Pizza Express and Mikey’s Original New York Pizza as well as Italian/Western-based restaurants that also serve dine-in pizzas such as Italiannies, d’italiane, Ben’s General Food Store and many more.
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Malaysia has seen the influx of international food and beverage franchise brands entering the market, with New York’s iconic frankfurter chain Nathan’s Famous making their Asian debut here recently.
Other recent openings included:
- CoCo Ichibanya;
- Yoshinoya;
- Hanamaru Udon;
- Fatburger;
- Red Lobster;
- LongHorn Steakhouse;
- Olive Garden;
- Tim Ho Wan;
- Magnum Cafe;
- Naughty Nuri’s;
- Nobu Restaurant;
- Milkcow Korea;
- Jamaica Blue Fine Coffees;
- Quiznos Sub Sandwich;
- Nana’s Green Tea;
- Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake;
- Pelicana Chicken; and
- KyoChon.
Japanese sushi restaurant Sushi Taira, Korea’s famed bakery chain Paris Baguette and US chains such as CaliBurger and Miami Grill will all debut here by the end of the year. According to a news report, all-American grub restaurant Hooters has also identified Malaysia as an overseas location.
America’s International House of Pancakes (IHOP) and Applebee’s Bar and Grill are reportedly entering Malaysia in 2016.