Your Pie, the originator of the down-the-line pizza category, welcomed Ken Caldwell as the vice president of development. Caldwell brings 20 years of franchising experience and a documented track record for growth to the brick-oven, personalized pizza brand. He will spearhead Your Pie’s expansion throughout the Southeast and beyond.
“Ken is one of those rare talents that truly understands and can convey the value of becoming part of a franchise family,” says Your Pie chairman of the board David Barr. “Ken brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team. We believe we have a special opportunity with Your Pie. Ken’s presence only makes us stronger, and we couldn’t be any more pleased to have him aboard.”
Caldwell began his career with Heavenly Ham alongside current Your Pie CEO Bucky Cook. Caldwell helped take the then-startup ham purveyor from 10 to 230 units before the brand was sold to competitor HoneyBaked Ham. He remained with HoneyBaked, which had just ventured into franchising. Under his leadership, the company grew from 35 to 180 units. Caldwell also aided in the transition after the merger and operated the HoneyBaked company-owned stores.
“This was truly a very easy decision for me,” Caldwell says. “Your Pie is an exciting, exceptional brand that offers franchisees that rare opportunity to get in at the start. We have a great story to tell about an authentic concept that will revolutionize the way that people look at pizza. I couldn’t be happier to be part of it.”
With a combination of company assets that includes Drew French, who conceived the concept of down-the-line pizza; a highly ranked franchise-development team; and a relationship with Georgia Oak Partners, the brand has established a formula to achieve and exceed goals for growth.
Caldwell is actively engaged with franchise partners interested in joining the brand. He is working with multi-unit franchise owners and franchise owners looking to diversify, he says.
The brand will add locations in Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Charleston, South Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Augusta; Georgia. Although the brand is looking for partners to join the Your Pie family in the Southeast, they also have a model to support locations in other areas of the country.
