New Restaurant Chains Are Vying To Be The 'Chipotle Of Pizza'

Several restaurant chains are vying to be the "Chipotle of pizza."

Pizza's delivery-dominated status is being challenged by a move to fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Panera Bread, reports Sam Oches at QSR Magazine.

He spoke to Rick and Elise Wetzel, the founders of a new chain called Blaze Pizza that has 150 stores in the pipeline.

The couple, who also founded Wetzel's Pretzels, started Blaze in 2012 after struggling to find pizza they liked.

"The restaurant applies 'the Chipotle model' to its ordering process, letting customers choose from among seven meats, 15 vegetables, seven cheeses, and six sauces to build their own customized pies, which bake for about two minutes and sell at around $7," Oches writes.

Other pizza chains looking to expand include spin-offs from better-burger chains Smashburger and Umami Burger.

The restaurants focus on customized pizza, served quickly in-store.

Pizza is the logical next category for fast-casual because it is an American classic like burgers, sandwiches, or burritos, Oches writes.