Returning ex-pats Declan Breen, David Fitzpatrick and John Nolan are hoping to open a total of 30 outlets of healthy pizza venue NKD Pizza in Ireland over the next few years, following the launch of their first Irish branch on Dublin's Orwell Road last month.
Speaking to The Sunday Business Post, Breen explained, "[NKD is] not a health food company, but it does offer a healthier version of pizza. The bases are between 15 and 18% protein, and we prove them for 48 hours, so they're light and easier to digest."
Breen continued, "We are employing 15 people at the moment, and the goal is to grow that to between 450 and 500 once we get to 30 branches. Those branches will be a mix of ones owned by us and franchises. We hope to open our second branch by the end of this year, and then be ready to go down the franchising route by 2020."
Emphasizing their desire to use as much Irish produce as possible, Breen added, "The flours for our bases are blended by Shackletons Milling in Meath, we buy all our fresh veg from the Dublin Fruit and Vegetable Market, our brownies are made by Bia Glanbrise in west Cork, and our ice-cream is from Murphy's in Dingle. We could buy cheaper stuff, but we believe the quality of our food is what will give us a point of difference."
