Pieology and Blaze Top of the List

Pieology and Blaze made the top of the list for the fastest-growing small chains in the U.S.

“The Future 50” is an annual ranking by Restaurant Business magazine of the fastest-growing small restaurants in the nation. It offers a snapshot of the up-and-coming restaurants to watch, invest in, or be inspired by.

Two California chains, one based in Pasadena and the other one in Rancho Santa Margarita, made the top 10 list.

1- Pieology

Pieology in Pasadena on South Lake Ave. (Photo – Staff).

Based in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Pieology sales grew to $44.6 million with an estimated growth of 230.4%.

Upon entering Pieology, guests are greeted with a “quote board” filled with inspirational messages. They offer individual-size custom pizzas on housemade New York-style crust, baked in an open-flame stone-deck oven that cooks the pie in less than three minutes. For $7.95, customers pick a style of fresh dough (white, whole wheat or gluten-free) and a sauce, then proceed down a line choosing from some 30 toppings, ranging from prosaic pepperoni to Gorgonzola and cilantro. Guests—dubbed “pieologists”—also can “shake it up with a flavor blast” by adding an after-bake finish of barbecue, pesto or Buffalo sauce.

2- Blaze

Blaze in Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. (Photo – Staff).

Based in Pasadena, CA, with sales of $33 million and an estimated growth of 230%.

Like much of its competition, Blaze is a fast-growing, build-your-own pizza place. The three-year-old Blaze claims to be the most ambitious, adding delivery and boasting that it has the most locations open, the most in the pipeline, low opening and operating costs. It boasts made-from-scratch dough and “clean ingredients” echoing its 180-seconds service promise.

Top 15 list

Here’s the list of the top 15 fastest growing small chains in the U.S in 2015.

The list is compiled by Technomic, and spotlights chains with annual sales between $25 million and $50 million and unit growth of at least 10% last year, a milestone signaling chains on the brink of national recognition and remarkable growth.