Mr. Pizza

Mr.Pizza, Inc.
Company type
Public company (KOSDAQ-listed; majority owned by Pelicana-backed private equity fund since 2020) [1]
IndustryRestaurants
Founded(1990 (1990))
FounderJung Woo Hyun
Headquarters132 Hyoryeong-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea 137-849
Number of locations
400 (Korea)
28 (worldwide in 2013)
Key people
Jung Woo Hyun (founder; chairman until 2017) [2]
Moon Young Joo (CEO)
ProductsPizza, pasta, salad, appetizer
Number of employees
250+
Websitewww.mrpizza.co.kr

Mr. Pizza Inc. (Korean: 미스터피자) is a South Korean pizza chain established in 1990. It began as a franchise partner of a Japanese pizza brand of the same name, then seeking expansion into the Korean market; Jung Woo-hyun purchased the brand from the Japanese owner in 1996, acquiring full rights to the trademark outside Japan.[3] It is the top pizza brand in Korea in terms of the number of franchisees and sales.[4]

Mr. Pizza has won recognition overseas. In 2009, 2010, and 2011, China's restaurant review site Dazhong Dianping (大衆點評) included it as one of the "50 Restaurants Beloved by Chinese Diners;" further, the restaurant guide Zagat named it the "Best Pizza Store".[5]

Mr. Pizza was the first pizza franchise to be listed on KOSDAQ;[6]in 2013, the chain had 400 outlets inside Korea and 28 stores in China, two in the United States and two in Vietnam. Mr. Pizza's first overseas restaurant had opened in Beijing, China, in 2000, and the chain reached its 100th location in China by October 2015.[7]

In 2010, the brand of Mr. Pizza in Japan was also fully acquired.[8]

Overview

The Shanghai Ruzhonlu store, 2013

The founder and chairman of Mr. Pizza was Jung Woo Hyun (정우현). He stepped down on June 26, 2017, amid controversies including allegations that he purposely opened competing stores near former franchisees to obstruct their businesses, and charges of forcing franchisees to purchase cheese from relatives at above-market prices. Jung was subsequently arrested in July 2017 for alleged embezzlement and malpractice.[9]

MPK Group was listed on KOSDAQ in August 2009[10] from Korea Pizza Corporation. In December 2018, the Korea Exchange's corporate evaluation committee moved to delist MP Group from KOSDAQ, citing sustained operating losses every quarter since 2015, accounting irregularities, and governance controversies tied to the former chairman's arrest.[11]

New store identity

Mr. Pizza developed a new store identity to strengthen its foothold in the global market and unveiled it at the opening of a Fuzhoulu location in Shanghai in March 2013.

Advertising

Mr. Pizza's September 2011 mockumentary-style commercial, "The True Origins of Pizza",[12] had more than a million views on YouTube. It received high praise and in-depth analysis in a journal article by two New Zealand-based Asian studies professors. They stated that "the level of skill and irony that went into its making is noteworthy among commercial ads anywhere".[13]

MPK Group Inc.

MPK Group Inc. is a restaurant company with a selection of premium brands including "Mr. Pizza",[14] a handmade muffin and coffee franchise, "Manoffin", and "Jessica's Kitchen" Italian buffet restaurants. In November 2020, a private equity fund backed by fried chicken franchise Pelicana Chicken closed an approximately 20 billion won ($18.1 million) deal to acquire a controlling stake in MP Group, aiming to stabilize operations and avert delisting from KOSDAQ.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Pelicana-backed PEF to close W20b deal to acquire Mr. Pizza".
  2. ^ "Mr. Pizza CEO resigns after former franchisee owner's suicide".
  3. ^ L, Aaron (2011-10-31). "The True Origins of Pizza: Irony, the Internet and East Asian Nationalisms ピッツァの真の起源−−イロニー、インターネット、東アジアの国家主義". Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  4. ^ 미스터피자, '2013 대한민국 브랜드스타' 5년 연속 1위. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 20 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ^ 미스터피자, 美 '베스트 피자 스토어' 3년째 뽑혀, Maeil Business Newspaper, 16 October 2012, retrieved 16 October 2012
  6. ^ 미스터피자, 피자업계 최초로 코스닥 상장, Maeil Business Newspaper, 8 January 2013, retrieved 8 January 2013
  7. ^ Staff, The (2015-10-20). "Korea's Mr. Pizza Opens 100th Location in China". Branding in Asia. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  8. ^ 미스터피자, 20년만에 日원조 삼키다. Money Today (in Korean). 11 October 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  9. ^ 송승현 (2017-06-27). "Mr. Pizza CEO resigns after former franchisee owner's suicide". THE INVESTOR. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  10. ^ 미스터피자 코스닥행. The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Mr. Pizza faces delisting from Kosdaq - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  12. ^ "Mr Pizza: The True Origins of Pizza". Extreme Reach - Shots. November 11, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Sakamoto, Rumi; Epstein, Stephen (31 October 2011). "The True Origins of Pizza: Irony, the Internet and East Asian Nationalisms ピッツァの真の起源−−イロニー、インターネット、東アジアの国家主義". The Asia-Pacific Journal, Japan Focus. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Mpk Group Inc. Company Profile - South Korea - EMIS". EMIS. EMIS. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  15. ^ Ji-hyoung, Son (2020-11-17). "Pelicana-backed PEF to close W20b deal to acquire Mr. Pizza". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
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