Build-your-own pizza chain Blaze Pizza should worry traditional pizza retailers from Pizza Hut to Domino's. The LeBron James-backed company has gone from an idea in 2011 to nearly 160 locations nationwide, with an additional 94 restaurants in the pipeline.
The company racked up $130 million in 2016 sales through September, up 86% year over year. Revenue is on track to hit $300 million in 2017, according to a company spokesperson.
We visited Blaze Pizza's Fremont, California, restaurant to see whether the pizza really is fit for a king — King James, that is.
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On a weekday night, I stopped by Blaze Pizza's sunny Fremont, California, location.
The chain's blend of industrial design pieces and reclaimed wood was influenced by fast-casual competitor Chipotle, according to Blaze Pizza president and COO Jim Mizes.
Executive chef and cofounder Bradford Kent greeted us at the door. Blaze Pizza's founders enlisted the help of the so-called "Pizza Whisperer" at the start.
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