New Orleans-based Naked Pizza, one of the world's fastest growing franchises, celebrated the opening of its first international location in Dubai Marina.
Naked Pizza — whose recipe is based on the use of all-natural ingredients with no added sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hormones or preservatives — chose Dubai as its global beachhead based on the city's standing as a magnet for entrepreneurship, attractive demographics, and access to investment partners throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
"Our beachhead in Dubai is part of acting on the promise at the core of our business mission – to launch the world's largest grassroots health movement on the back of a $50 billion global industry," says co-founder Randy Crochet. "The U.A.E. is facing the same health issues as the U.S. In fact it's a global problem as more people move from rural areas to cities in places like India with a surging middle class."
The company continues to attract international media and investment attention for its mission to demonstrate that fast food can be part of the solution for a host of health issues. It is also recognized for its disciplined and highly profitable business model, as well as its pioneering use of technology and social media to engage its audiences.
The company currently has 8 open stores in the U.S. and is on pace to open 75 stores this year, including locations in Boston, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Denver, and New York City. Naked Pizza has more than 450 stores under contract around the world.
