Korean pizza chain GOPIZZA opens first direct-run store in Indonesia

GOPIZZA‘s first direct-operated store in Jakarta, Indonesia [Photo provided by GOPIZZA]

GOPIZZA, the Korean pizza chain that specializes in robot-made single-serving pizzas, has been preparing to expand overseas since establishing its business in Korea and opened its first direct-run outlet in Indonesia.

On Monday, GOPIZZA announced its first direct-operated store in Indonesia, located in the busy commercial district in Jakarta. This is the brand’s first direct-to-consumer store, following a small outlet inside CGV Grand Indonesia in October last year in partnership with Korean multiplex operator CGV.

GOPIZZA said it was able to open its own store in Indonesia due to the K-wave in the country with a population of over 270 million people. In addition to its classic cheese pizza, GOPIZZA plans to offer Korean fusion pizzas, such as K-bulgogi pizza, K-chicken pizza and K-fried chicken, as well as tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake dish.

GOPIZZA is a pizza franchise with 114 stores across Korea, significantly fewer than 479 stores operated by Domino’s Pizza and 325 stores by Pizza Hut. However, GOPIZZA has established a unique presence in the Korean pizza market, which is already oversaturated based on its strength of automation.

GOPIZZA has been eyeing the overseas markets even before intensifying its franchise business locally. It has expanded to five countries, including Singapore, India, Hong Kong and Indonesia, where single-serving pizza is seen as convenient rather than a unique concept.

Currently, overseas sales account for more than 40 percent of GOPIZZA’s total revenue. The company plans to focus on overseas markets and aims to be listed in the U.S. or India.

GOPIZZA’s Chief Executive Officer Lim Jae-won [Photo provided by GOPIZZA]

To realize the concept of fast and delicious single-serving pizza like fast food, GOPIZZA’s Chief Executive Officer Lim Jae-won developed an automated oven.

The oven machine called GOven can bake six single-serving pizzas in just three minutes. When the pizza dough is inserted, the robot automatically bakes, slices and spreads the sauce using artificial intelligence technology. This system not only saves on labor costs, but also lowers the threshold to start a franchise business.

GOPIZZA has continued its rapid growth by focusing on the essence of franchising: selling unique entrepreneurial know-how. Starting with a food truck business in 2016, the company incorporated the following year and opened its first outlet in Seoul with a floor space of 3.3 square meters.