Fast-casual restaurant chain Blaze Pizza promoted Mandy Shaw to president and CEO from chief financial officer, a position she held since 2018. Shaw also served as Blaze Pizza’s interim CEO since August 2019, when Jim Mizes announced his retirement.

A far cry from historic mom-and-pop concepts, pizza chains such as MOD Pizza, Pie Five, Your Pie and Blaze continue to capitalize on the fast-casual, prep-on-display model. With an emphasis on transparency, these designs play on the open-kitchen format, with prep and cook areas both in full view of customers. Operators use a combination of heat and speed to turn out a high-quality product in a minimal amount of time.

Yum! Brandsappointed CEOs for its Taco Bell and Pizza Hut divisions, effective August 5. Mark King, former president of Adidas Group North America, will serve as CEO of the Taco Bell division and Artie Starrs was promoted to CEO from president of the Pizza Hut division.

John Reale was hired to serve as chief operating officer for Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza. A restaurant industry veteran, Reale’s background includes serving in a similar role for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and multiconcept operators Focus Brands.

Private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has acquired an ownership stake in MOD Super Fast PizzaHoldings, a fast-casual pizza chain with 433 locations systemwide. The $150 million investment will help accelerate MOD’s continued expansion, per a release announcing the transaction.

LloydPans

Pizza Al Taglio Pans are designed for rectangular Roman-style pizzas. The pans are suitable for situations where operators serve pizza by the slice or bring pizza to tables. Features include 12-gauge aluminum construction and stick-resistant coating.

www.lloydpans.com

The American consumer never seems to grow tired of that irresistible combination of bread, cheese and sauce. These days, pizza styles reflect specific regions, places or traditions, with a greater emphasis on dough.

In a deal valued at $190 million, MTY Food Group has reached an agreement to acquire Papa Murphy’s Holdings, a take and bake pizza concept. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Unique Foods Corporation has acquired fast-casual concept Pizza Fusion, a gourmet concept with franchised locations in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Stoner's Pizza Joint tapped Glenn Cybulski to serve as president and chief culinary officer for the quick-service pizza franchise.

Proofing cabinets are essential for pizza operations that make crust in-house and/or bake from scratch. Unlike the open air, the temperature and humidity levels reached in a proofing cabinet are ideal for allowing dough to rise to perfection.

What distinguishes a prep table for pizza production is its raised condiment rail, which situates the topping pans higher than the surface on which the staff member makes the pizza.

Pizza operations typically utilize deck or conveyor ovens. When producing Neapolitan pizza, though, operators turn to wood-fired ovens. All three ovens operate in vastly different ways.