Pizza Pilgrims - Thom Elliot

Say hello to Thom Elliot. Back in 2012, he and his brother James founded Pizza Pilgrims - a remarkable journey that turned a simple tuk-tuk into a pizza empire spanning over 20 locations. Fueled by a passion for authentic Italian pizza and disillusioned with their previous careers in advertising and TV production, the brothers bought a Piaggio Ape and set off on a month-long pilgrimage across Italy. They immersed themselves in the art of pizza making, studying ingredients and flavours, and brought their newfound knowledge back to London. Starting with a single oven in their vehicle at Berwick Street Market in Soho, they captured the hearts of Londoners, epitomising the street food revolution. From a target of selling 350 pizzas a week in their early days to now selling 45,000+ week, Pizza Pilgrims has grown meteorically. With 20 pizzerias in London and additional outlets in Nottingham, Cambridge, Leeds, and Brighton, the brand has become synonymous with authentic Neapolitan pizza in the UK. Despite this rapid expansion, Thom and James have maintained a close-knit company culture, employing around 500 people who share their passion and vision. In this episode, we chat with Thom Elliot about turning a street food stall into a beloved chain, how the pizza landscape has changed over the last decade, the importance of staying true to your roots and what the future holds for Pizza Pilgrims.