IMAGE: Figs by Todd English
Renowned celebrity chef Todd English has plans to take his Boston-based pizza concept to a global market, and he’s partnered with an international franchising expert to do it.
When it comes to authentic Italian cuisine, Bostonians have no shortage of options. The city lives and breathes pizza, so it’s commendable that Todd English, chef, TV personality, and restauranteur, has made such an impact with his thin-crusted offering: Figs by Todd English.
The brand currently operates seven company-owned locations – four in the U.S. (throughout Massachusetts, New York, and Florida), and three international locations in the UAE and Kuwait – and has now announced plans for aggressive international growth. This expansion is in partnership with Fransmart, the global expert that took Five Guys Burgers and Fries to Europe, and has an impressive portfolio including Taffer’s Tavern, Slapfish, and The Pie Hole.
“I first saw Figs 10 years ago and saw it as a 1,000 plus unit neighborhood pizza, pasta, wine bar and have been chasing Todd ever since,” said Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart. “Figs is already a successful international brand with a footprint that will be easy to build on.”
Figs prides itself on its neighborhood feel, where customers can enjoy high-quality pizza at a reasonable price. Asserting that you should “never trust a round pizza”, Todd English proposes that the real taste of pizza is all about the crust. Figs’ crust is designed to be crunchy, with a little chew, and an abundance of flavor.
“When I was learning to cook in Italy, I had no money and pizza was all I could afford at the time,” said English. “The other chefs and I would frequent a family-run pizzeria and enjoy a nice bottle of wine with our meal. Nothing brings people together like pizza, and this feeling of comfort and warmth is at the heart of Figs. I look forward to sharing this experience with pizza lovers worldwide.”
