For making the Korean-headquartered pizza brand among the fastest-growing pizza chains globally
Korea-headquartered pizza brand GOPIZZA has raised Rs 200 crore (30 Billion Korean Won) in a Series C funding round co-led by GS Ventures, CJ Investment, Mirae Asset Securities, NCORE Ventures, Woori Bank, Capstone Partners, Big Basin Capital, DS Asset Management, and Pureun Investment. The fresh capital will be utilised for aggressive expansion plans in the country, backed by new-age robotic and artificial intelligent (AI) technologies.
GOPIZZA is known for its one-person, oval-shaped, fire-baked pizza with quick serving speed and affordable price with 160 outlets across South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and Hong Kong.
In India, the brand has 15 outlets and opening its first store in Hyderabad next month. The brand aims to reach 25 outlets by the end of 2022 and more than 100 stores by 2023. The single-serving pizza brand will also introduce its patented in-house technology – The GOVEN, an automatic pizza oven, the ‘GOBOT’ a cooperative robot, and the ‘AI Smart Topping Table’ to ensure timely, standardized quality and service to customers at all outlets.
Buoyed by the inflow of new capital, Mahesh Reddy, CEO, of GOPIZZA India, says “The funding raised will allow us to massively scale our operations across the country and further cement our position in the Indian market in an aim to become the pan-India market leader in the segment. Our expansion plan is to launch 100 stores by 2023. The funds will also be deployed to bring the brand’s famed technology to all outlets in India providing speedy, superior quality pizzas that GOPIZZA is known for and loved by customers worldwide.”
In the next few years, GOPIZZA will establish outlets in Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and some key Tier 2 cities including Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kochi. Globally the brand will foray into new markets of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and United States.
Image caption: L- R- Jae won Lim, Global CEO and Founder & Mahesh Reddy, CEO India- GOPIZZA