From Mom-and-Pop Shop to Family Franchise: How a Punjabi-Inspired Pizza Brand Took Off

Building a unique business from the ground up is one thing; evolving into a franchise spanning 30 locations over 10 years is an entirely different entrepreneurial challenge.

That's exactly what Roop and Raj Dhillon did with Pizza 64, which brings the vibrant, aromatic cuisine of Punjab, India, to pizza.

The couple had moved from India to Surrey but missed the flavors of home. Identifying an opportunity, they opened a modest restaurant in 2010 that bridged the gap between their original and new cultures with tandoori chicken, paneer, and fresh cilantro-flavored pizza. It was a creative way for Canadian diners to experience a familiar food with a Punjabi twist.

Three successful years later, they began to franchise, which meant they were in store for a steep learning curve.

"Our first franchise required us to deliver the same quality and consistency while preserving the family recipe and learning how to handle finances and business at a larger scale," Roop said. "Then we started to understand what an expansion for Pizza 64 could look like."

And expand they did. Pizza 64 quickly grew to 30 locations in Canada and the United States. This required a more efficient distribution system and bringing on people with complementary skills to help run the business, including a professional to handle daily operations and online sales. Their two sons also joined the business, retaining Pizza 64's family business identity even as it grows.

"We envision Pizza 64 being a business that others can look at for inspiration to grow their own family-owned business," Roop said.

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