What Franco Manca does

Franco Manca is a UK-based Neapolitan sourdough pizza chain operating approximately 54 restaurants across England, Scotland, and Wales after a 2025 CVA-led restructuring that closed 16 venues. The company is the trading brand of Franco Manca 2 UK Limited (incorporated 2008 in England), itself owned by Fulham Shore plc, which in turn is owned by Japanese restaurant group Toridoll. Its core product is handmade sourdough pizza using a proprietary 18th-century sourdough starter and Wildfarmed regenerative TYPE 0 flour with a 24-hour fermentation process and no added yeast.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model spanning owned restaurant locations for dine-in (with walk-ins and SevenRooms reservations), an Order & Collect web platform (order.francomanca.co.uk, built on MyCheck/5Loyalty infrastructure), third-party delivery partnerships (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat), and a Cook at Home retail range launched in 2024 through Ocado, Tesco, Londis, Budgens, and Amazon Fresh. Pricing is transactional and segmented: ~£8.25 kids meal deals, £10-£15 lunch bundles, £24.50 pre-theatre menus, plus a 6-stamp loyalty app (Franco's Rewards) with student acceleration and segment-specific discounts via StudentBeans, UNiDAYS, and Blue Light Card.

Customers are predominantly UK general consumers with targeted sub-segments including students, families, marathon runners, and hospitality workers. Revenue is diversified by site, channel, and customer type, with the only material concentration risk being exposure to a small number of retail grocery distributors. FY2024 revenue was £70 million (9% year-over-year growth), and the company is currently navigating a strategic review at the parent-group level under Alvarez & Marsal's advisory mandate.

Name

Franco Manca

Legal name

Franco Manca 2 UK Limited

Website

https://francomanca.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Franco Manca is a UK Neapolitan sourdough pizza chain operating ~54 restaurants and a supermarket Cook at Home retail range, serving general consumers with dine-in, takeaway, delivery, and loyalty rewards, and is owned by Fulham Shore (Toridoll).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Pizza QSR (THAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Neapolitan sourdough pizza
• Pizzeria restaurant chain
• Casual Italian dining
• Cook at home pizzas
• Pizza takeaway delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Brixton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Revenue from customers dining in at Franco Manca pizzeria locations across the UK, including food, beverages, and optional service charges (10% outside London, 12.5% inside London).
2. Takeaway and Delivery: Revenue from takeaway orders placed via phone, in-person, Order & Collect portal, and delivery through third-party partners (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat).
3. Retail Cook at Home Products: Pre-made pizzas sold through retail partners (Ocado, Londis, Budgens, Amazon) for customers to prepare at home.
4. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in-restaurant and online with values from £10 to £50, valid for 12 months from purchase or last top-up.
5. Loyalty Program: Stamp-based loyalty system where customers earn stamps per purchase that can be redeemed for free pizzas and drinks, encouraging repeat visits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Franco Manca operates a UK chain of Neapolitan-style pizzerias selling handmade sourdough pizzas (24-hour fermented dough from an 18th-century starter and Wildfarmed regenerative flour), served dine-in, via takeaway, or through third-party delivery. The brand also sells a 'Cook at Home' retail pizza range through supermarkets including Ocado, Tesco, Amazon Fresh, Londis, and Budgens, and runs a stamp-based loyalty programme accessible via a mobile app and web platform.

Product overview

Franco Manca is a UK-based Neapolitan sourdough pizza chain whose core product is its restaurant pizzeria offering — dine-in, takeaway, and delivery — across approximately 54 UK locations. The company operates its own Order & Collect online platform (order.francomanca.co.uk) and distributes through third-party delivery aggregators (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat). A complementary loyalty programme (Franco's Rewards) is accessible via a mobile app and web, earning stamps toward free pizzas. A Cook at Home pizza range — sold at Ocado, Amazon Fresh, Tesco, Londis, and Budgens — extends the brand into supermarket retail. Additional revenue streams include pizza masterclasses, private hire/events packages, gift cards, and a community donations programme. The company is owned by Fulham Shore, itself owned by Japanese restaurant group Toridoll.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Franco Manca Pizzeria (Dine-In, Takeaway & Delivery) Chain of UK-based Neapolitan-style pizzerias serving handmade sourdough pizzas (24-hour fermented dough from an 18th-century starter), freshly prepared daily. Available for dine-in (walk-ins and reservations), takeaway via phone, Order & Collect, and delivery through Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Pizzas include classic Margherita, seasonal specials, and gluten-free / vegan options.
• Order & Collect (Online Click & Collect) Franco Manca's proprietary online click-and-collect ordering portal at order.francomanca.co.uk that lets customers browse the menu, place takeaway orders, and collect in person at their chosen pizzeria. Loyalty stamps are automatically earned on qualifying orders.
• Franco's Rewards (Loyalty Programme) Mobile and web-based loyalty programme where customers collect stamps per qualifying purchase that can be redeemed for free pizzas and drinks. Includes referral bonuses, student bonus stamps, and in-app ordering.
• Cook at Home Pizza Range Supermarket-ready range of Franco Manca sourdough pizzas for at-home preparation. Variants include Halloumi & Hot Honey, Meatball & Tomato Ragu, Salami 'Nduja & Hot Honey, Quattro Formaggi, and Greek-Inspired Chicken Gyros. Sold through Ocado, Amazon Fresh, Tesco, Londis, and Budgens.
• Pizza Masterclasses Hands-on pizza-making experiences run by Franco Manca's pizzaioli at the Richmond pizzeria, plus private 'pizza making party' bookings for groups. Participants learn to make Franco Manca's signature sourdough pizza.
• Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards sold online and in-restaurant in £10–£50 denominations, redeemable for dine-in at any Franco Manca pizzeria. Valid for 12 months from purchase or last top-up.
• Groups & Events / Private Hire Group dining, event hire, and private packages offered at many pizzerias, including set menus for groups of 8+, event packages (pizza + dip + soft drink or alcoholic drink), and pre-theatre menus at selected locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9% turnover growth to £70m in FY 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DeliveroocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partnership enabling Franco Manca pizzas to be delivered to customers' homes through the Deliveroo platform. Orders placed through Deliveroo earn loyalty stamps in the Franco Manca app.
• Uber EatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partnership enabling Franco Manca pizzas to be delivered to customers through the Uber Eats platform. Orders placed through Uber Eats earn loyalty stamps in the Franco Manca app.
• Just EatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partnership for takeaway delivery from participating Franco Manca locations.
• OcadocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partnership for Cook at Home pizza products sold through Ocado's online grocery platform.
• TescocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution for Cook at Home pizza products available in Tesco stores nationwide.
• Londis and BudgensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConvenience store distribution for Cook at Home pizza products through independent retailers.
• Amazon (Amazon Fresh)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline retail distribution for Cook at Home pizza products through Amazon Fresh.
• WildfarmedcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier partnership for bespoke TYPE 0 flour made from regenerative wheat. Wildfarmed flour is produced using farming methods that encourage biodiversity, restore soils, and is free from chemicals.
• Food Banks and Homeless CharitiesminorOthersCharitable donations programme where Franco Manca donates thousands of pizzas annually to food banks, shelters (St Mungo's, Centrepoint, Crisis), homeless charities, and emergency services. Christmas Day openings at Soho and Bristol specifically for emergency services and vulnerable groups.
• Sofar SoundsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for exclusive summer pop-up gigs combining live music events with Franco Manca dining experience in pizzerias.
• SevenRoomscoreTechnology or IntegrationRestaurant booking platform enabling table reservations across participating Franco Manca locations. Integrated booking system for events and private dining.
• UNiDAYSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent verification partner for discounted meal deals. UNiDAYS verified students receive pizza + soft drink for £10.45, with 4 stamps to earn free pizza (vs 6 for non-students).
• StudentBeansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent discount platform providing 20% off food and drink for verified students, valid Sunday-Thursday dine-in with minimum £12 spend.
• Blue Light Card / Defence Discount ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount partnership providing 20% off food for NHS staff, emergency services, and armed forces cardholders Sunday-Thursday.
• UK Marathon EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with marathon events (London Marathon, Manchester Marathon, Brighton Marathon, etc.) providing free pizza to finishers showing medals. Valid at participating locations on event day and following day.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pizza Express: Major UK casual-dining pizza chain operating ~370 restaurants. Closest direct competitor to Franco Manca in the sit-down Italian pizza segment, with overlapping customer base and similar mid-market price positioning.
• Zizzi: UK Italian casual-dining chain offering pizza and pasta across ~135 restaurants. Comparable in customer segment, mid-tier pricing, and nationwide UK presence, with overlap in family and student dining.
• ASK Italian: UK Italian casual-dining chain with ~65 restaurants. Directly comparable on casual Italian dining positioning, pizza-led menu, and UK regional footprint.
• Prezzo: UK Italian restaurant chain with pizza-led menu and ~150 sites post-restructuring. Comparable casual-dining positioning and pizza-focused menu, with a CVA-style turnaround history analogous to Franco Manca's current position.
• Pizza Pilgrims: London-founded Neapolitan sourdough pizza chain. Most direct conceptual peer to Franco Manca given its authentic Neapolitan positioning, sourdough bases, and London-centric estate with expansion into regional UK cities.
• The Real Greek: Sister brand to Franco Manca under Fulham Shore ownership. Operates as a UK casual-dining chain under the same corporate parent, providing direct comparability on operations, UK estate, and parent-level strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Pizza Hut UK: Major UK pizza chain offering dine-in, delivery, and takeaway under a globally recognised brand. Comparable on product category and broad UK consumer base, though positioning skews more family/value than Franco Manca's authentic-Neapolitan angle.
• Carluccio's: UK Italian casual-dining chain offering pizza and pasta in a sit-down format. Comparable customer segment and Italian-cuisine positioning, though menu is pasta-led rather than pizza-led.
• Domino's Pizza Group: UK's largest pizza chain with ~1,200 stores, predominantly delivery-led. Overlaps with Franco Manca on product category and UK customer base but operates a fundamentally different delivery/takeaway-led model at scale.

Regional players

• Mod Pizza: US-origin fast-casual pizza chain with limited UK presence. Comparable on fast-casual pizza category and made-to-order positioning, though primarily operates in the US market with select UK sites.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franco-manca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franco Manca