Nour Rabai, founder and CEO of PITA Mediterranean Street Food, announced his Georgia-based fast casual brand’s plans for growth in 2021. PITA will open new locations in Alabama, Chicago, Florida and Georgia, while also streamlining its online ordering process through the launch of a new app. The brand’s proficient response to COVID-19 related changes in the restaurant industry this year has led to improved operations and profitability, priming the company for continued growth in the new year.
“Providing fresh, authentic Mediterranean cuisine without the long wait continues to be our priority, and we’re excited to bring our delicious, fast casual fare to new markets while also providing a more convenient process for mobile ordering,” says Rabai.
As dine-in service has waned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PITA has pivoted to enhance new ways to get its cuisine out the door more quickly for delivery and curbside pick-up. Rabai and his team remodeled the menu to feature profitable items that travel well, including family meals, Street Wraps, rice bowls and more. The company is now in the process of developing a mobile app that provides guests with convenient options for ordering in addition to loyalty rewards. The new mobile app will launch this spring and will be available for Android and iOS.
PITA patrons also can look forward to new restaurant locations opening in northern Alabama (Madison/Huntsville area), in central Florida (near Maitland/Orlando), in Georgia (Dawsonville) and in Chicago throughout 2021.
Rabai and his operations team spent 2020 responding to consumer demands, providing franchisees one-on-one support and working diligently to enhance the online ordering process and add more customizable menu options as PITA’s off-premise dining sales have nearly tripled since the spring. At one of its new Chicago locations, PITA debuted a “hot line” to shorten ticket times, allowing guests to better customize their orders. Earlier this year in Atlanta, the brand launched customizable Street Wraps letting guests create delicious hot wraps packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. The wrap’s unlimited options are convenient for both takeout and delivery, without sacrificing PITA’s fresh-to-order commitment.