Pizza Inn joined the growing throng of U.S. restaurant brands seeking opportunity in China when it opened its inaugural location recently in Hangzhou.
In addition, the company has plans to open four additional Pizza Inn units in that city as well as in Ning Po and Wenzhou, parent company Pizza Inn Holdings Inc. said Tuesday.
“We have a wonderful partner to grow the presence of Pizza Inn in China, and this new restaurant shows it,” Pizza Inn Holdings president and chief executive Charlie Morrison said in a statement. “This new concept is an exciting part of the evolution of the Pizza Inn brand to capture the great potential China has to offer.”
Pizza Inn is partnering with Hangzhou Restaurant Management Company Ltd. The Chinese locations are full-service restaurants that feature more menu choices to appeal to Chinese consumers, the company said.
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The menu of the Hangzhou restaurant features Pizza Inn’s traditional and specialty pizzas made with its Crispy Crackery Thin Crust and New York pan-style crust, as well as steak, duck, pasta and other dishes.
The restaurant’s ambiance and service aim to blend an upscale dining experience with both locally flavored and Western dishes, which are gaining popularity in China.
Pizza Inn Holdings Inc. has headquarters in The Colony, Texas. It operates five units and franchises about 300.
Contact Marcella Veneziale at [email protected].