The story of PizzaExpress Cyprus goes back to 1998, when Faloremo Trading Ltd (a subsidiary of Schoeller Holdings Ltd) acquired what was then the only PizzaExpress restaurant in Cyprus. Very soon it was realised that the newly acquired venture was not going to be ‘all smooth sailing’. Although PizzaExpress was a well established restaurant chain in England and one of the pioneers in introducing authentic Italian recipes in Europe, in Cyprus it was still an unknown brand name.

One of the major challenges was to promote PizzaExpress as an authentic Italian restaurant which could offer ‘more than just pizza’.

The menu selection consisting of a variety of gourmet pizzas, pastas, fresh salads, homemade desserts and the unmatched quality has helped to set PizzaExpress apart from the competition and made the brand name synonymous with good food, quality and pleasant surroundings.

A huge contribution to the success that PizzaExpress restaurants enjoy today is the various Events that take place in the restaurants throughout the year. Live Music Nights on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with talented musicians, Kids Day every Sunday with magic shows and face-painting, School Programs involving school educational visits allowing children to interact in our kitchen operations and learn about hygiene. We also hold Art Exhibitions, Carnival Parties, Theme Nights and many more!!

It is also worth noting that much of our success was also influenced by the relationship with Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. The reputation of CSM’s passion for quality and excellence was soon transferred to the new company and to this day it remains an invaluable asset. After all a very common phrase among Cypriots is “If Columbia is involved then it must be good!”.

In the year 2000 we expanded our operations with the addition of two more restaurants (one in Paphos and a second one in Limassol). The restaurant in Paphos is located in the tourist area with internal and external seating for 145 people. Similarly, in the heart of Limassol’s tourist area, the 200 seating ‘al fresco’ restaurant offers a unique outside dining experience.

In 2001 a new restaurant and a new concept opened in Nicosia. The new concept Marzano was jointly developed by PizzaExpress International Team and our team in Cyprus. It was the first franchised Marzano opened worldwide. With a selection of the very best Italian recipes and with the addition of grilled dishes, fish, pure beef burgers, Argentinean beef steaks, pastas, fresh salads and an extensive wine list, Marzano was soon very popular among Nicosians. This modern and elegant three level restaurant with 240 seats is located in a prime venue in Diagorou Street in Nicosia and incorporates all the Events that happen in our other restaurants. A unique feature of the restaurant is the retractable sliding roof on the third floor where diners can enjoy a romantic meal under the stars.

A milestone in the Company’s history was the development of the Centralised Kitchen and the Warehouse facilities in 2003. This project set the standards in the catering industry and is considered by many as the benchmark in its segment. It was designed especially to support the restaurants operations and to ensure the highest quality, freshness and consistency to taste at all times. The Central Kitchen prepares on a daily basis various components like sauces, dressings, desserts and our own homemade Italian style ‘Columbia’s Best’ ice cream. Our established ‘Express Catering’ business with our professional team of experienced personnel can also provide top-notch varieties of gourmet and other cuisines for high standard events with full catering options.

We work in accordance with the latest EU regulations and the production operates according to an effective HACCP system which guarantees the optimal hygiene and management system to food safety.

The future will see further growth in our existing concepts and the Company will be adding new concepts to its portfolio in 2008.