Technology

Round Table begins LA growth spurt with brand's 1st ghost kitchen

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April 26, 2021

Global Franchise Group, the franchisor of Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery and Pretzelmaker, has launched a ghost kitchen as a remote Round Table Pizza delivery/pickup store on West 38th Street in Los Angeles, a news release said.

Longtime Round Table franchisee, Leticia Vasquez, is at the helm of the operation which offers an abbreviated menu of large and personal pizzas, as well as garlic parmesan twists. This location marks the first of a planned brand expansion in the Los Angeles area including both traditional and non-traditional spaces, the brand said. Currently, Round Table Pizza has more than 415 locations across the country. With approximately 200 franchise agreements in the development pipeline, the brand footprint is expected to reach 500 locations in the next two years.

"Global Franchise Group is proud to introduce our first ghost kitchen location — the first of what we hope will be many for our family of brands," GFG CEO Paul Damico said in the release. "Our organization is committed to innovation and technology and we are constantly making investments to support the success of our franchisees and brands for years to come. The ghost kitchen concept is incredibly popular and perfect for Round Table Pizza. Congratulations go out to Leticia Vasquez on this monumental opening and our thanks to CloudKitchens for being a great partner."

Ghost kitchens operate entirely as a vehicle for pickup and delivery services and allow brands to expand their footprint while dramatically reducing overhead costs. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced restaurant closures across the country and dramatically reduced in-store dining capacities, ghost kitchens have continued to prove a cost-effective alternative to brick-and-mortar build-outs for a variety of brands.

"I am thrilled to open the first ghost kitchen concept for Round Table Pizza and Global Franchise Group," Vasquez said in the release. "We've seen a significant shift in consumer dining trends since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as more customers begin to rely on takeout and delivery options. Now, with the opening of our first ghost kitchen we can bring Round Table Pizza to a larger customer base and I see huge potential for the continued growth of the brand. Any new restaurant opening can be overwhelming and I am extremely grateful to have navigated the entire process with the support of Global Franchise Group behind me. The corporate team has been knowledgeable, supportive and communicative every step of the way."