From tomorrow, Friday 20 August, Pizza Pilgrims’ celebrated ‘at home’ pizza kits will be available to purchase exclusively from online supermarket, Ocado.
Pizza Pilgrims DIY pizza kits will be available directly for Ocado customers nationwide to enjoy fresh Neapolitan pizza from home. Following one of the restaurant industry's greatest lockdown success stories, Pizza Pilgrims founders Thom and James Elliot are determined to bring great pizza to as many people as possible.
Their Pizza in the Post business was born from covid temporarily closing their 15-strong group of pizzerias. A quick pivot saw them work out how they could help people discover the joy of cooking (and eating) authentic Neapolitan pizza at home - with minimal fuss and effort. Packaging up their hand-crafted 48-hour proved dough, plus pots of crushed Italian tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, fresh basil and other toppings, meant everyone could have access to the best quality ingredients delivered straight to their door.
Co-founder Thom Elliot from Pizza Pilgrims says:“Great dough is the key to excellent pizza - it all starts from there. Not everyone has the time to take on their own dough, it really is an art that takes patience and years of perfecting. So we're delighted to be able to help people get that puffy Neapolitan crust paired with authentic Italian ingredients.'
Pizza Pilgrims were blown away by the demand for the kits: what started in one of their pizzeria kitchens soon had to move into a dedicated production kitchen in south London. Kits have been sent all across the country, uncovering a whole new audience of pizza-lovers ready to discover Pizza Pilgrims.
Co-founder James Elliot from Pizza Pilgrims says: 'We expected a few people who knew our London pizzerias might be interested, but we've been so amazed at how many people from Scotland all the way down to Exeter have discovered the brand through our kits.'
The move to work with online retailers is the natural next step for the pizza brand, and Ocado's foodie customer base combined with their extensive range makes the partnership a great fit to explore the booming meal kit category. Ocado will stock both of Pizza Pilgrims' top-selling kits: the classicMargherita, and much-lovedDouble Pepperoni & Spicy Honey.
Managing Director Gavin Smith from Pizza Pilgrims says:'Working with a business such as Ocado that has a commitment to high-quality products, sustainability and unbeatable service is a great match for us. We're so excited for this step in our core goal of being at the forefront of great pizza in the UK.'
Laura Harricks, Chief Customer Officer at Ocado Retail says: “We’re so excited to be the only grocery retailer to stock Pizza Pilgrims' D.I.Y Pizza Kits. As appetite for meal kits increases, Pizza Pilgrims is a brilliant addition to our wide range of products on Ocado, helping our customers effortlessly bring some Neapolitan flair into their homes!”
Each kit contains enough to make two pizzas, starting with hand-stretching your base and garnishing with a variety of toppings. Though lockdown sales of home pizza ovens have boomed, Thom and James developed a technique that meant customers could achieve amazing results from simply using what's in anybody and everybody's kitchens: a frying pan, hob and a grill.
Their frying pan pizza technique starts by cooking the base with heat from the hob beneath, and finishes by lifting the whole frying pan under a screaming hot grill to get intense heat from above - which makes that characteristic puffy, charred crust.
The Margherita kit contains 48-hour proved, hand-cut dough using flour from the famous Caputo Mill in Naples. Lightly salted Italian tomatoes and Neapolitan fior di latte mozzarella are included for topping the base, with a sprinkle of Italian-matured hard cheese bringing a deep, savoury touch of umami flavour. Fresh basil is grown hydroponically in east London, reducing freighting miles and ensuring the basil arrives totally fresh.
Double Pepperoni & Spicy Honey was a pizza recipe inspired by a Pizza Pilgrims friend Paulie G and the 'Hellboy' pizza featured in his NYC pizzeria. The Pizza Pilgrims spin uses two types of traditionally cured Hungarian pepperoni, finished with a drizzle of spicy honey to bring an addictive sweet-savoury kick.
Whilst Ocado will stock the core range of their two classic kits, pizza lovers can also head to Pizza Pilgrims' online store to join their new Pizza Club concept which offers members regular kit deliveries and exclusive access to two brand new guest special kits each month, as well as a variety of pizza-themed perks and treats to claim in their pizzerias.