Blaze Pizza, the US-born fast-casual pizza brand known for its signature 180-second fast-fired pizzas and highly customizable dining experience, is set to enter the Indian market through master franchise partners Sumit Goel and Labhansh Uchhariya.
Founded in 2011, Blaze Pizza has built a strong presence in the international fast-casual pizza segment, with its proposition centred around speed, freshness, customization and quality ingredients.
The India entry will take a distinctly local approach. Rather than simply replicating the American menu, Blaze India plans to develop a proposition suited to Indian tastes, preferences and eating habits, with a strong focus on vegetarian choices while retaining the core Blaze experience.
For Sumit Goel and Labhansh Uchhariya, the India opportunity is about more than bringing an international brand to the country. Their vision is to build Blaze into a long-term, nationally recognized pizza brand, combining its global identity with a deep understanding of the Indian consumer.
In this exclusive conversation, Sumit Goel and Labhansh Uchhariya discuss why they chose Blaze Pizza, the significance of its 180-second proposition, the importance of menu localization, the franchise vision and their ambitions for Blaze Pizza in India.
Sumit Goel
Why Blaze Pizza for India?
“Blaze Pizza has a proposition that is genuinely differentiated — 180-second pizzas, complete customization and a fresh, made-to-order experience,” says Sumit. “We were looking for a global brand that had a strong identity but also had the flexibility to evolve for India. We believe Blaze has that potential.”
What does the 180-second concept mean for Indian consumers?
“180 seconds is not just about speed; it is about the entire experience,” he explains. “Customers choose what they want, see their pizza being prepared and have it freshly fired within minutes. Today’s consumer values both quality and convenience, and we believe Blaze brings those two things together exceptionally well.”
How will Blaze adapt to India?
“We are very clear that India cannot be treated as an extension of the American market,” Sumit says. “The Indian consumer has different tastes and preferences, and our menu has to reflect that. Vegetarian options will be extremely important, alongside exciting choices for non-vegetarian consumers. We want to localize the menu without losing what makes Blaze, Blaze.”
What makes you confident about Blaze’s potential in India?
“India’s QSR consumer is becoming more experimental, more quality-conscious and more open to international brands,” he notes. “Blaze brings something different to the table. Our opportunity is to combine that proven global proposition with a deep understanding of the Indian consumer.”
What is your expansion vision?
“Our ambition is to build Blaze as a long-term national QSR brand, not simply focus on opening outlets quickly,” Sumit says. “We want to get the product, customer experience and operations right, and then build a strong franchise network across India.”
What do you want consumers to remember about Blaze?
“I want people to remember three things — it was fresh, it was made their way, and it was incredibly fast,” he concludes. “If we can deliver that consistently while making Blaze relevant to Indian tastes, I believe we can build something very special in India.”
Behind this India launch is IGNI Sovereign Hospitality LLP, the company that is bringing Blaze Pizza to India as its master franchise entity, working with Sumit Goel and Labhansh Uchhariya to build the brand's presence across the country.
Labhansh Uchhariya
What excites you most about bringing Blaze Pizza to India?
“What excites me most is that Blaze is bringing a very different way of experiencing pizza,” Labhansh says. “It is fast, fresh and highly personalized. The 180-second concept immediately stands out, but beyond speed, it is the freedom customers have to create their pizza exactly the way they want it. We believe that experience can connect very strongly with Indian consumers.”
What do you think today’s Indian pizza consumer is looking for?
“The Indian consumer has evolved significantly,” he observes. “People are no longer looking only for a familiar brand; they want quality, variety, value and an experience. They are also much more willing to experiment. Blaze gives us an opportunity to offer something new while still adapting the product to what Indian consumers actually enjoy.”
Blaze has a strong international identity. How important is it to retain that identity while entering India?
“It is extremely important. We don’t want to change the essence of Blaze,” Labhansh explains. “The 180-second experience, customization, freshness and fast-casual environment are fundamental to the brand. At the same time, India has its own food culture, and respecting that is equally important. Our approach is to keep the soul of Blaze intact while making the experience relevant to India.”
What role do you see vegetarian offerings playing in Blaze’s India strategy?
“Vegetarian food will be a very important part of our India proposition,” he says. “India has an incredibly diverse food culture, and we want our menu to reflect that diversity. We see a huge opportunity to create vegetarian pizzas and combinations that are not just alternatives, but are genuinely exciting choices for consumers.”
Blaze is also looking at franchise expansion. What kind of franchise partners are you hoping to build the brand with?
“We are looking for partners who believe in building a brand for the long term,” Labhansh says. “For us, it is not simply about opening another outlet. Franchise partners need to understand the importance of product quality, customer experience, consistency and local market understanding. We want to create a strong ecosystem of partners who share the same vision for Blaze in India.”
What is your personal vision for Blaze Pizza in India?
“My vision is to make Blaze a brand that Indian consumers genuinely connect with — not simply because it is an international name, but because they love the product and the experience,” he says. “We want consumers to say, ‘Let’s go to Blaze,’ because they know they will get fresh pizza, made their way, in minutes. If we can achieve that connection, the possibilities for the brand in India are enormous.”
With Sumit Goel and Labhansh Uchhariya at the helm as master franchise partners, Blaze Pizza’s India journey is set to begin — combining a proven global fast-casual formula with a menu and experience built for the Indian consumer.
