While Blaze Pizza is keeping the fire lit for guests with in-restaurant dining, curbside, pick-up and delivery options, the famed fast-casual pizza concept is strategically adding new team members to its executive line-up.
Most recently, the brand announced the addition of Marie Zhang as Chief Supply Chain Officer and Ed Yancey as Vice President of Franchise Development to its corporate team.
“I am thrilled that Marie and Ed have joined the Blaze leadership team,” says Mandy Shaw, CEO. “Their individual 25-plus years’ experience building world class organizations with some of the best brands in the business will help propel us into the next phase of growth. Their talents and experience also dovetail perfectly with personal commitments to quality and integrity that are the core values at Blaze.”
As Chief Supply Chain Officer for Blaze Pizza, Zhang is leading the enterprise-wide supply chain function including sourcing, distribution, demand planning, manufacturing and quality assurance to support the company’s growth strategies in U.S. and international markets. Her immediate task is to develop and maintain good relationships and partnerships with suppliers and distributors to ensure acceptable product cost, quality and service, and to build the scalable supply chain and quality assurance infrastructure and processes that can take Blaze Pizza to the next level as a global brand.
“I’m thrilled to work alongside such an intelligent and driven team, especially during the nature of our industry today,” said Zhang. “Obviously, the entire modern supply chain has been disrupted, but there’s a tremendous opportunity to evaluate and adapt. I’m looking forward to leading the charge on this with Blaze Pizza in the months and years to come.”
A seasoned executive, Yancey joins Blaze Pizza with a demonstrated history of working in the restaurant industry. Growing from an owner / operator to a skilled franchise sales leader, he brings a breadth of knowledge and skills to the table. Prior to Blaze Pizza, he earned his development stripes working for notable restaurant brands such as Jersey Mike’s, B. Good and Dunkin’ Brands. Now, Vice President of Franchise Development, Yancey will focus his efforts on expanding Blaze Pizza’s footprint nationwide through multi-unit deals.
“Continuing to connect, on a personal and professional level, with leads is important now more than ever,” adds Yancey. “We’re having genuine conversations about their long-term goals as it relates to financial security, and there are promising developments coming down the pipeline. I’m honored to work with a brand that stays true to its authentic roots no matter the circumstance.”
Blaze Pizza is continuing to serve up artisanal pizzas that are both fast and affordable, all while Blazin’ It Safe. Some of the new safety protocols include Plexiglas partitions, social distancing markers, team member wellness checks and bags to safely store masks while diners eat. Plus, most locations have a designated host in the dining area to assist guests throughout their visit.
The brand’s business model, made up of extensive site selection procedures, training programs and marketing support, is designed to attract individuals and operator teams with a strong business acumen, proven restaurant industry success and an interest in multi-unit franchising.
