The MOD movement lands in Leeds
Ground-breaking US pizza pioneer
Seattle-based cult brand MOD Pizza is bringing its artisan-style pizza to the UK this summer with the opening of its first restaurant in Leeds on 2 June. Offering individual, Made To Order pizzas and salads – one price, regardless of the number of toppings – MOD promises something utterly unique for the Leeds market. MOD was recently named America’s fastest growing chain restaurant and its first international location sets the stage for continued expansion throughout the UK.
MOD’s individual pizzas are made to order with fresh-pressed dough and signature sauces, allowing customers to create their own pizzas and salads, using any combination of over 34 featured toppings or they can choose from MOD’s menu of classics. All pizzas and salads are the same fixed-price, £7.47. Pizzas are hand-cooked in a bespoke 300˚ͨ oven in less than four minutes, whilst salads are individually hand-tossed for each customer.
MOD Pizza, the pioneer of fast casual pizza, was founded in Seattle, Washington. With 125 locations across 16 states, MOD is committed to creating a positive social impact in the communities it works, by not only creating a cool place to eat but an inspired place to work.
MOD considers its main ingredient for success to be its employees, known as the MOD Squad. In line with the philosophy of the founding partners, the business has a unique people-led culture and MOD Squaders are encouraged to support their fellow employees and be active in the community.
Beginning the MOD tradition of home-grown involvement and community outreach the Leeds restaurant selected Breeze, who organise special city wide events, interesting schemes and bespoke offers to young people from 0 to 19 years old from all backgrounds in the Leeds area. Breeze received 100% of the proceeds from pizza sales from the grand opening day. Breeze, will be the MOD Leeds partner in a variety of different initiatives throughout the year including spreading MODness week in November. MOD Leeds will continue to work with and support Breeze, as well as other carefully-selected organisations and charities throughout the year as part of their genuine interest and concern for the community, which they refer to as “Spreading Modness.”
The MOD brand is the brain-child and rebel with a cause of Scott and Ally Svenson and is brought to the UK in co-venture with Sir Charles Dunstone and Roger Taylor.
Scott and Ally spent over a decade living and working in the UK, during which time they founded the Seattle Coffee Company, revolutionising the UK coffee scene and helping to build Carluccio’s brand. In 2008 they founded MOD Pizza in Seattle, taking inspiration from their time in the UK combined with their love for Italian style street pizza.
Leeds, Cardigan Street opened on 2 June 2016 at 11am with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
