Just Pizza & Pasta

About Just Pizza & Pasta

Mitch Sorbie launched his Just Pizza & Pasta Italian restaurant in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, in 2016, and is now looking to expand throughout the UK through franchising. While visiting the TT motorcycle racing back in 2004, the Glaswegian fell in love with the friendly people and vibrant atmosphere of the island’s capital and was determined to find a way to tap into its energy and magic with his own venue. He tried a few different offerings before deciding upon Just Pizza & Pasta. Sorbie said: “December 2023 was the best month Just Pizza & Pasta has ever had, with the number of covers served up a whopping 30% on the same time the year before. Usually, June is the peak season on the Isle of Man thanks to the annual TT event, but not in 2023. Overall, Just Pizza and Pasta served 62,000 customers over the course of the year. That’s an incredible 1,200 customers every week! 2023 may have been the best year they have ever had since they opened in 2016, but this is just part of a fantastic story of growth which has seen this brand build into something truly special. Of those 62,000 customers who visited last year, a great number were families who live nearby, couples and local businessmen. They’re even seeing people come in now as adults and teenagers who first visited when they were kids when the restaurant opened. Customers who come back time and time again and have made Just Pizza & Pasta part of their lives. These are people who want more than just a generic pizza or bowl of pasta. They want a place to go and be a part of. This is a restaurant with heart.” In January 2024, Sorbie told Propel he is aiming to grow Just Pizza & Pasta to an estate of 32 over the next five years and is looking to ideally start in the north west. Sorbie first dipped his toes into the world of food and beverage franchising back in 1985, when he approached US diner chain Denny’s about bringing the brand to the UK, but said he “couldn’t come to an agreement with them”. In July 2024, the business said it is seeking a restaurant premises in Altrincham for its potential first franchise site, and later that same year, said it was closing in on a first mainland site, in the Manchester region.

Why franchise with Just Pizza & Pasta

• ✓Offering a model with an uncomplicated menu set within unpretentious décor means franchisees don’t need to have experience of working in, or running, a restaurant. Although it is an advantage if you do, the company’s training and support systems are designed to coach you in everything you need to know. The initial fee for becoming a Just Pizza & Pasta franchisee is just £15,000 plus VAT. This is a discounted rate for the first two franchisees only, after which it will rise to £20,000 plus VAT. Included in this fee is your own exclusive territory with excellent growth potential; trading under an established brand name; full and comprehensive training in all aspects of running the business including marketing, service delivery, customer care, and day-to-day operations; ongoing support from head office with access to expert advice and guidance; launch marketing to maximise the earning potential of your territory;
• ✓use of all branded materials and marketing including menus, branded packaging and stationery; being part of our continual, national marketing efforts, from website listings to social media, and registration on third party delivery platforms; and copies of the company’s comprehensive operating manuals. The initial franchise agreement lasts for five years, which is renewable subject to certain criteria being met by the franchisee and in agreement with the franchisor. The company charges an ongoing franchise fee of 5% of your gross turnover. There is also a fee of 1.5% of your gross turnover for our national marketing levy. The company will provide as much support as possible in the run up to your big launch, and during the critical first few weeks and months afterwards. It will also arrange at least 12 days per year to visit you and your staff to give you the opportunity to bring up any concerns or challenges. The company will carefully assess the location you are interested in to ensure it is viable in terms of customer base and future growth. It will guarantee there will be no other outlets in your area, but the exact size of the territory will vary greatly depending on where it is in the UK. For example, a large town in a more rural county will naturally have a larger catchment area than a dense, urban population centre, where outlets can be more closely located and still provide an ample customer base. Sorbie said: “Instead of taking the offer of more corporate involvement, we want to keep the fresh, dynamic, independent feel which has got us to where we are today. We don’t want to lose the personal connection we have with both our brand and our customers, but rather take everything which has made us so special and help others do the same in locations all around the UK. This is why we have chosen franchising as the route for our expansion, and why we are now in the position to offer you an unbeatable opportunity to build your own successful and rewarding business. We are looking for hard-working and capable individuals just like you who are ready to be their own boss and replicate our success in your own local area.”