Sbarro

Overview

Sbarro, LLC

type	Private
key people	J. David Karam (CEO and President)
industry	Restaurant
genre	Italian-American cuisine Pizzeria
products	Pizza, pasta, salads
foundation	1956 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
founders	Gennaro Sbarro Carmela Sbarro
location	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
locations	600+
area served	United States (incl. Guam), Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Iceland, India, Mexico, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uruguay, United Kingdom
homepage	sbarro.com
revenue	US$185 million (US, 2021)

Sbarro, LLC ( : stylized in all caps) is an American fast food restaurant that specializes in New York–style pizza sold by the slice and other Italian-American cuisine. In 2011, the company was ranked 15th in foreign sales among U.S.-based quick-serve and fast-casual companies by QSR Magazine.[1] In 2008, Sbarro was rated the No. 1 Quick Service Restaurant in the Italian segment by Entrepreneur magazine. However, diners and critics have criticized the quality of the food,[2][3][4] with some suggesting a link between food quality and the company's two bankruptcies.[5] Sbarro has over 600 locations in 28 countries.[6] Sbarro stores are located in shopping malls

History

20th century

Sbarro was founded in 1956 by Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro. The couple and their three sons, Joseph, Mario, and Anthony, immigrated to America from Naples, Italy. The same year, the Sbarro family opened their first salumeria (an Italian grocery store) at 1701 65th Street and 17th Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, which became popular for its fresh food and Italian fare. Its original location closed in 2004.

The success of the Sbarro Salumeria led to the opening of additional locations in the New York City metropolitan area. In 1970, Sbarro opened its first mall-based restaurant in Brooklyn's Kings Plaza Shopping Center. One of their busiest outlets was one of two which were both located in the World Trade Center, with the busiest in the mall underneath the complex, while the other was at the observation deck on the South Tower.[7] However, both outlets were destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001.

The first Sbarro in the Philippines was opened in 1990. As of 2023, the country had 56 stores.[8]

21st century

In early 2007, Sbarro was acquired by MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm with offices in New York and London.[9] The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 4, 2011.[10][11] At the time it was ranked by Pizza Today as the country's fifth-largest pizza chain.[12] It was the third-largest pizza chain to declare bankruptcy in less than a year. Earlier, Round Table Pizza (ranked no. 10) and Uno Chicago Grill (ranked no. 11), through its parent Uno Restaurant Holdings, filed bankruptcy. Uno has since emerged.[12]

Entering the UK market

On November 5, 2020, Sbarro announced it had agreed a partnership with the EG Group, a UK-based retail group, to enter the UK market, with the first store opening in EG’s Armada location in Birmingham, West Midlands.[25][26] As of June 22, 2022, Sbarro has 15 stores in the UK, 7 of which are located within the North West of England. It plans to expand its locations throughout 2022.[27] Sbarro also have partnerships with Asda, and the sites from EG Group transferred to EG On The Move.[28][29]

Response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sbarro Pizza refused to join the international community's withdrawal from the Russian market. Research from Yale University that covered how companies were reacting to Russia's invasion identified Sbarro in the worst category of "Digging In", meaning "Defying Demands for Exit: companies defying demands for exit/reduction of activities". They received the lowest possible grade for continuing business as usual.[30]

Sbarro

History

20th century

21st century

Entering the UK market

Response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Pizza Cucinova

See also

External links

References

Entering the UK market