Pizza chain to open latest outlet and major training academy
A new Rudy’s pizza outlet is to open in Manchester, including a Rudy’s Pizza Academy to train the chain’s pizzaiolo talent.
Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, owned by Manchester-based hospitality operator Mission Mars, will open an 8,000 sq ft location on Portland Street, in the former Dawsons Music & Sound site.
Spanning two floors, including a mezzanine, the space will be home to a Rudy’s pizzeria and Rudy’s Pizza Academy.
Serving Neapolitan pizza since 2015 from its original Rudy’s in Ancoats, Manchester, the pizzeria has since opened 17 sites across the UK, with the new 120-cover pizzeria in Portland Street being its sixth location in Manchester.
Rudy’s follows the authentic Neapolitan tradition of pizza making, serving classic recipes such as Marinara, Margherita and Calabrese, all originating from Naples, the birthplace of pizza.
The chain has been praised by many and is renowned for its consistency and quality in Neapolitan pizza making.
The academy will take just over half the space at Portland Street, providing a structured training programme and open to both experienced pizza chefs, wishing to learn the Rudy’s way, and to those totally new to making pizza.
Every new Rudy’s back of house team member will start their journey at the academy. The space has been earmarked to extend to a Mission Mars Hospitality Academy, too.
Rudy’s Fast-Track Pizzaiolo Programme combines both practical training, theoretical aspects of a Neapolitan pizza and extensive knowledge of their ingredients.
The academy is set to welcome more than 100 pizza chefs in the first year.
Jo Branney, people and culture director of Mission Mars, said: “Rudy’s Pizza Academy will be our very own Pizza school – and we look forward to growing the academy into a world class and leading training space for Neapolitan pizza making.
“The Portland Street location will also house the Mission Mars Hospitality Academy, providing an inspiring, innovative and dedicated environment for our management training and development.
“The hospitality sector is facing many challenges, and we firmly believe that investing in developing our managers and future leaders is key to retention and engagement. In 2022 we delivered over 50 days of hospitality management training courses and workshops, and we have big plans to take that to the next level at our hospitality academy.”
Jo added: “Our managers can learn expertise in management and leadership including how to be a great trainer, coaching, and engaging teams.
“We are currently building upon our existing training programmes and have new courses in development for 2024. Our people are the key to our success, so we are really excited to welcome them to our academy this summer.”
The new location at Portland Street will also be the HQ for the brand’s Pizza-at-home arm, as it relaunches Rudy’s Bake at Home. Developed during lockdown, Bake at Home is handmade by Rudy’s pizzaioli using the same fresh dough and Neapolitan ingredients used in the pizzeria, then blast chilled and vacuum-packed and delivered to customers’ doorsteps. Rudy’s Bake at Home will be available for nationwide delivery and will relaunch this spring.
