How Your Pie Founder Drew French Changed The Pizza Industry With A Unique Concept And Strong Knack For Marketing And Sales
When Drew French founded Your Pie nearly ten years ago, he didn’t set out to create another brand to simply exist in the booming pizza industry. He set out to change the game by introducing a concept that no other pizza restaurant offered.
It all started back in 2006 when French was visiting his wife’s family in Ischia, a small volcanic island located outside of Naples, Italy. He was drawn to the region’s use of brick ovens and fresh, crisp dough—the combination created a smoky flavor that he hadn’t experienced anywhere in the U.S. So, he decided to bring the idea back home to Georgia.
“When I first opened Your Pie, we were entering a category that hadn’t been explored yet. That was entirely by design—I wanted to create a specific niche within the craft pizza industry,” said French. “Since day one, the Your Pie brand has been about creating a unique, one of a kind experience for every one of its customers.”
His Entrepreneurial Spirit
For French, that entrepreneurial spirit and drive to launch something new started long before he ever thought about opening up his own pizza franchise. He’s been involved with sales for as long as he could remember—he even turned his yard raking business into a neighborhood empire while he was growing up.
That’s why it’s no surprise that French decided to study business and marketing while attending the University of Georgia. By taking classes and continuing to work various jobs in the marketing and sales fields, he was able to build up years of experience that helped him successfully launch Your Pie.
“Everything I learned both in my career and in school leading up to Your Pie has played a big role in how I run my business,” French said. “The most important takeaway has been creating something unique—at its core, marketing any business comes down to being able to differentiate yourself and stand out from the competition.”
Your Pie’s down-the-line concept and commitment to a true craft experience definitely stands out. And with plans in the works to add another 49 units to the brand’s rapidly growing system, it’s clear that the brand’s efforts to distance itself from the competition are successful.
“I’m excited to see how Your Pie is improving the communities we serve. There’s no doubt in my mind that by continuing to focus on creating delicious pizza served by the best people, the brand will continue to grow across the country at rapid rates,” said French.