In an industry dominated by circular pies and cookie-cutter chains, &pizza emerged from DC with a radical proposition: what if pizza was an oblong canvas for culinary creativity? Born from a desire to break the mold—literally—the company has scaled to $104.5M in revenue by treating pizza not as a commodity, but as a customizable platform for flavor experimentation.

"They aren't selling pizza—they're selling a modular food system that happens to taste incredible."

The company's funding history of $79.2M and employee count of 470 reveal a scale that balances agility with operational rigor. Unlike many fast-casual chains that franchise aggressively, &pizza's structure—led by CEO Michael Lastoria—appears to maintain tighter control over the brand experience, which is critical when your core differentiator is a unique oblong shape and flavor combinations that defy traditional pizza norms.

• Oblong format: A physical differentiator that breaks visual expectations and maximizes topping real estate
• Craft-your-own model: Transforms customers from passive consumers to active creators, increasing perceived value
• Hyper-local SEO: Targets specific neighborhoods and dietary needs (gluten-free) rather than just generic 'pizza' terms