Name

Cigierre

Legal name

Cigierre - Compagnia Generale Ristorazione S.p.A.

Website

https://cigierre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Franchising

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Concept / Global QSR Chains (Mixed Menus) (THAFAAAO)

Keywords

• Restaurant franchising
• Casual dining
• Multi-brand restaurants
• Franchise management
• Quick service dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Tavagnacco

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees (Entry Fees): One-time entry fees charged to franchisees upon signing the franchise contract. Entry fees range from 30,000€ to 50,000€ depending on the brand format.
2. Royalties: Ongoing royalties calculated as 5% of franchisee sales, providing recurring revenue based on restaurant performance across all brand formats.
3. Marketing Contributions: Mandatory marketing fees ranging from 2-3% of franchisee sales, contributing to centralized marketing activities and brand promotion campaigns.
4. Direct Restaurant Operations: The company also operates restaurants directly, contributing to overall network revenue which reached 545 million euros in 2023 across more than 370 locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cigierre develops, operates and franchises six multi-ethnic themed restaurant brands (Old Wild West, Pizzikotto, Wiener Haus, Smashie, America Graffiti, Shi's) through a franchise model that grants independent operators the right to open restaurants under its formats. The company sells franchise rights (entry fees, royalties of 5% of sales, marketing contributions of 2–3%) and provides turnkey support including location research, design and construction, centralized logistics, training through Cigierre Academy, and ongoing supervision via a 20+ field-supervisor network, in addition to operating some restaurants directly.

Product overview

Cigierre - Compagnia Generale Ristorazione is a restaurant franchise group operating 6 distinct themed restaurant brands through a franchise model. The portfolio includes Old Wild West (western-style burger steakhouse, founded 2002), Pizzikotto (contemporary pizzeria, 2013), Wiener Haus (beer hall and restaurant, 2007), Smashie (quick-service smash burger, 2023), America Graffiti (1950s American diner, 2008), and Shi's (Asian cuisine, 2010). Supporting the brand network is the Cigierre Academy training platform and centralized franchise support services covering location selection, logistics, marketing, and operational assistance. The company positions itself as Italy's leader in casual dining franchising with over 370 locations and consolidated experience of approximately 30 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Old Wild West: The original Burger Steak House leader in Italy: grilled meat, maxi hamburgers and Tex-Mex specialties in a distinctive western atmosphere. Founded 2002, with 260-266 restaurants.
• Pizzikotto
• Wiener Haus
• Smashie
• America Graffiti
• Shi's
• Cigierre Academy

Products and services

• Old Wild West Original Italian Burger Steak House franchise brand featuring grilled meat, maxi hamburgers and Tex-Mex specialties in a distinctive western-themed atmosphere. Targeted at casual diners, families and groups seeking quality grilled meat and an immersive themed experience; operated by independent franchisees under a franchise contract with an entry fee of 50,000 EUR, 5% royalty and 3% marketing contribution.
• Pizzikotto Contemporary pizzeria and delicatessen franchise format offering a wide selection of pizzas in three crust styles (high, medium, low) using type 0 or semi-wholemeal flours, traditional Italian dishes and artisanal desserts produced in an in-house laboratory. Targeted at consumers seeking quality pizza and Italian cuisine at accessible prices; operated by franchisees under a 50,000 EUR entry fee, 5% royalty and 2% marketing contribution model.
• Wiener Haus Classic beer hall and restaurant franchise concept featuring European beers (including five craft beers under the Wiener Haus brand) and Central European cuisine with Italian influences; signature dish is Wiener Schnitzel. Targeted at consumers seeking beer tasting, schnitzel and a social dining atmosphere; operated by franchisees under a 50,000 EUR entry fee, 5% royalty and 2% marketing contribution model.
• Smashie Quick-service smash burger franchise concept inspired by 1920s American style, where hamburgers are cooked and 'smashed' for a crunchy result and accompanied by milkshakes, fries and donuts. Targeted at consumers seeking fast, value-oriented American-style burgers; operated by franchisees under a 30,000 EUR entry fee, 5% royalty and 2% marketing contribution model.
• America Graffiti American diner franchise concept in pure 1950s style offering a wide range of US cuisine (burgers, ribs, classic American dishes) with table service. Targeted at families and consumers seeking an immersive, value-oriented American dining experience; operated by franchisees.
• Shi's Asian cuisine restaurant franchise concept offering reinterpreted Asian dishes (sushi, rolls, Asian-inspired dishes) with fresh, high-quality ingredients; made-to-order preparation, Friend of the Sea certified seafood, biocompostable packaging, and delivery/take-away services. Targeted at consumers seeking refined Asian cuisine and delivery convenience.
• Cigierre Academy Corporate Excellence Training Center providing customized training programs, courses and in-depth development pathways for talents, directors and franchisees across all Cigierre restaurant formats. Presided over by Alessandro Rosso ('Il Prof').
• Franchise Support Services Comprehensive franchise support offering for prospective and existing franchisees, covering location research and commercial inspection, feasibility analysis, design and construction, centralized logistics and supply chain, standardized operating procedures, a network of 20+ field supervisors for ongoing performance monitoring, centralized marketing, and pre-opening, opening and post-opening assistance. Sold as a service bundle alongside each brand-format franchise contract.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network revenue of 545 million euros in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gruppo Cremonini: Italian food group that owns Roadhouse Grill, Italy's leading casual dining steakhouse chain, and operates across food service and food processing. Directly comparable as a multi-brand Italian casual dining operator with franchising and direct-operated locations.
• Roadhouse Grill: Italian casual dining steakhouse chain owned by Gruppo Cremonini, serving burgers, ribs, and grilled meats in a western-themed setting. Closely comparable to Cigierre's Old Wild West brand in concept and target customer.
• Azzurri Restaurants: UK-based multi-brand restaurant operator (Zizzi, ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Pod). Comparable as a multi-concept European casual dining group with mixed brand portfolio, central support functions, and franchise/owned-unit model.
• Pizza Express: UK casual dining pizza chain operating a network of company-owned and franchised restaurants across the UK and internationally. Comparable to Cigierre's Pizzikotto brand in menu, dining occasion, and franchise economics.
• Vapiano: European casual dining restaurant chain specializing in fresh pasta, pizza, and salads with own-operated and franchised locations. Comparable to Cigierre as a multi-country European casual dining operator with central brand management.

Broad incumbents

• Autogrill: Italian-based global travel foodservice operator present in motorways, airports, and train stations. Comparable as a large-scale Italian foodservice group with multi-brand restaurant operations, though its channel focus (travel hubs) differs from Cigierre's mall and high-street locations.
• Eataly: Italian-founded global retail and restaurant concept combining Italian food retail with full-service restaurants. Comparable in Italian cuisine focus and global brand presence, though it operates via large-format retail destinations rather than franchised units.
• McDonald's Corporation: Global QSR leader with a massive franchised footprint including Italy. Competes with Cigierre for shopping-center locations and casual dining occasions; relevant benchmark for franchise unit economics and digital ordering maturity.
• Burger King: Global QSR burger chain competing in the same casual dining and quick-service burger occasions as Old Wild West and Smashie. Relevant as a franchise-heavy international competitor in Italy and Europe.
• Pizza Hut: Global pizza casual dining and QSR chain with franchised locations worldwide. Comparable to Pizzikotto in pizza occasion and franchise-led international expansion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cigierre-compagnia-generale-ristorazione-spa

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cigierre