Dodo Pizza

Dodo Pizza is an international pizza and fast-food restaurant chain founded in 2011 by Russian entrepreneur Fyodor Ovchinnikov. The first restaurant opened in Syktyvkar, Russia, and the company subsequently developed a franchise-led expansion model supported by proprietary information technology. The brand is known not only for selling pizzas, snacks, drinks and desserts, but also for treating restaurant operations as a technology and data problem. Its central operating platform, Dodo IS, is a cloud-based system that gathers information from restaurants, processes operating data and provides real-time business analytics. The system is designed to support decisions by franchisees, kitchen teams and delivery staff, including order management, production coordination, performance monitoring and delivery efficiency. This technology orientation became a major part of the brand's identity and helped distinguish Dodo Pizza from more conventional quick-service restaurant chains. The business began franchising in 2012. Its network grew from 25 locations in 2014 to 50 in 2015 and more than 200 by 2017. In 2014, Dodo Pizza also conducted what was described as Russia's largest crowdfunding initiative at the time, raising more than $2 million from 180 private investors. The company experimented with novel delivery methods during this period, including a commercial pizza delivery by drone in Syktyvkar. Dodo Pizza pursued international development through both directly operated experiments and master-franchise arrangements. It opened pilot restaurants in Mississippi in 2016, although the United States locations closed soon afterward. It later entered Nigeria through an agreement with Quality Foods Africa, opened restaurants in China, expanded its presence in Kazakhstan and maintained operations across several European, Middle Eastern, Asian and African markets. The China business was closed in 2021 after weak performance and intense competition, while the chain's five United Kingdom locations were closed in 2022 amid declining sales and the effects of international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The brand's operating footprint has been concentrated in Russia and Kazakhstan. The cited company profile describes more than 1,500 locations in 29 countries, including approximately 1,150 in Russia and 131 in Kazakhstan. The legal domicile was moved from the British Virgin Islands to the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan in June 2025. In the same year, the company ended operations in Ho Chi Minh City and announced a Moroccan market entry through a master-franchise agreement with M&I Group, initially targeting two Rabat restaurants in 2026 and a long-term network of 35 locations by 2034. Dodo Pizza has also faced operational, legal and reputational challenges. These include a 2018 incident involving illegal narcotics found at a Moscow franchise location, a 2019 kidnapping and extortion case involving co-owner Vladimir Goretsky, a 2021 franchise dispute in Russia, and criticism associated with market withdrawals. In February 2026, a reported dismissal of a delivery driver in Chelyabinsk after the driver helped a stray dog triggered a nationwide online backlash and boycott calls; founder Fyodor Ovchinnikov subsequently apologized publicly. The episode illustrates both the reputational exposure of a highly visible franchise network and the speed with which social-media controversies can affect a consumer brand.

Dodo Pizza was established in 2011 by Fyodor Ovchinnikov, a Russian entrepreneur and former bookseller. Its first restaurant opened in Syktyvkar, a city in Russia's Komi Republic. From the beginning, the company pursued a model that combined a recognizable pizza chain with proprietary software and transparent operational data. The first major structural turning point came in 2012, when Dodo Pizza began franchising. Franchising enabled the chain to expand faster than a wholly company-owned model and became the principal mechanism for building its restaurant network. The reported location count rose to 25 in 2014, 50 in 2015 and more than 200 by 2017. During this growth phase, the company attracted outside capital through a 2014 crowdfunding initiative that raised more than $2 million from 180 private investors. It also attracted attention for an experimental commercial pizza delivery by drone in Syktyvkar. Technology became a defining part of the company's operating architecture. Dodo IS, its cloud-based information system, collects restaurant and delivery data, produces real-time analytics and supports decisions by franchisees and staff. The platform is intended to improve kitchen coordination, delivery performance and management visibility. In 2018, Ovchinnikov said the company planned to expand its IT department from approximately 60 to 250 developers over two years; by October 2019, the IT workforce had reportedly doubled. Dodo Pizza tested international markets through different formats. In March 2016, it opened two pilot outlets in Mississippi, in Oxford and Southaven, but those restaurants closed soon afterward. In 2018, the company sold Nigerian franchise rights to Quality Foods Africa. The first 20 Nigerian restaurants opened in Lagos in October 2019. Dodo Pizza also opened a cashless store in China in September 2019 and received the GRLC Distinction Award for Innovation at a Singapore restaurant-industry conference in November of that year. The company encountered serious incidents alongside its expansion. In February 2018, illegal narcotics were found at a Moscow franchise location operated by a franchisee allegedly connected to drug trafficking. In 2019, co-owner Vladimir Goretsky was reportedly kidnapped in Latvia and extorted. In 2021, franchisee Evgeny Tkachev sued over the removal of his Yaroslavl restaurant from the chain, alleging unjustified pressure and attempts to force a transfer of the business. Several international operations were later withdrawn. The Chinese restaurants closed in April 2021 because of competition and weak performance. Dodo Pizza closed its five UK stores in 2022, with the decision associated with declining sales and sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company also shut its Ho Chi Minh City stores in May 2025. In June 2025, its legal domicile moved from the British Virgin Islands to the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan. In August 2025, it announced a Moroccan master-franchise agreement with M&I Group, with two planned Rabat restaurants in 2026 and a stated long-term objective of 35 Moroccan locations by 2034. The reported network has exceeded 1,500 locations in 29 countries, with the largest concentrations in Russia and Kazakhstan. The brand remains active and is characterized by a combination of pizza delivery, franchising, international experimentation and data-driven restaurant management. Its public reputation was challenged again in February 2026 after a Chelyabinsk delivery driver was fired for helping a stray dog during freezing weather. The dismissal generated a major online backlash and boycott calls, followed by an apology from Ovchinnikov.

• 2025

  Legal domicile moves to Kazakhstan

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The company's legal domicile changes from the British Virgin Islands to the Astana International Financial Centre.

• 2022

  United Kingdom operations close

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The chain closes its five UK locations amid declining sales and sanctions-related conditions.

• 2021

  China operations close

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Dodo Pizza exits China after competition and weak performance.

• 2019

  International technology and franchise expansion

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The company opens Nigerian stores and a cashless Chinese restaurant and receives an innovation award.

• 2017

  Network exceeds 200 locations

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The reported number of Dodo Pizza locations surpasses 200.

• 2014

  Crowdfunding and drone-delivery experiments

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Dodo Pizza raises more than $2 million from 180 private investors and carries out a commercial pizza delivery by drone.

• 2012

  Franchising begins

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins franchising, accelerating the growth of its restaurant network.

• 2011

  First restaurant opens in Syktyvkar

  [1]Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org

  Fyodor Ovchinnikov establishes Dodo Pizza and opens its first location in Syktyvkar, Russia.

Mid-market quick-service pizza chain combining franchise expansion with technology-enabled restaurant operations.

• Core restaurant offering · 2011

  Pizza

  Pizza is Dodo Pizza's central product category and the basis of its restaurant and delivery model. The chain prepares pizzas for in-store consumption, takeaway and delivery, with production and fulfillment supported by its Dodo IS operating platform.

• Fast-food accompaniment

  Side dishes and snacks

  The chain's broader fast-food menu includes side dishes and snack items designed to accompany pizza orders and increase the range of meal occasions served by its restaurants.

• Drinks

  Beverages

  Beverages form part of Dodo Pizza's standard quick-service restaurant assortment and are commonly sold with pizzas and other menu items.

• Dessert

  Desserts

  Desserts extend the menu beyond savory food and provide an additional component of the chain's fast-food offering.

• Restaurant technology platform

  Dodo IS

  Dodo IS is the company's cloud-based operating system for restaurants. It collects operational data, generates real-time analytics and helps franchisees, kitchen employees and delivery teams coordinate work and make more informed decisions.

• 2026

  Backlash over delivery-driver dismissal

  The reported firing of a Chelyabinsk driver who sheltered a stray dog led to boycott calls and severe online criticism, followed by a public apology from the founder.

  Source

• 2021

  Franchise removal lawsuit

  Franchisee Evgeny Tkachev challenged the removal of his Yaroslavl restaurant and alleged harassment and pressure connected with transferring the business.

  Source

• 2019

  Kidnapping and extortion of co-owner

  Co-owner Vladimir Goretsky was reportedly kidnapped in Latvia, had money taken from him and was forced to sign debt obligations.

  Source

• 2018

  Narcotics discovered at Moscow franchise

  An employee found illegal narcotics at a Moscow restaurant operated by a franchisee allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

  Source

Read more

• 2014Russian crowdfunding initiative

  Russia

  Dodo Pizza used crowdfunding to raise more than $2 million from 180 private investors during its early expansion.

  Outcome. The initiative supplied capital and became a notable example of alternative financing for a Russian restaurant company.

  Source
• 2014Commercial drone pizza delivery

  Russia

  The company demonstrated a commercial drone delivery of pizza in Syktyvkar.

  Outcome. The experiment reinforced Dodo Pizza's technology-oriented image, although drone delivery did not become its standard operating model.

  Source

• 2025

  Move legal domicile to KazakhstanStrategy

  Background

  The company changed its legal domicile during a period of international expansion and geopolitical pressure.

  Action taken

  Dodo Pizza moved its legal domicile from the British Virgin Islands to the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan.

  Aftermath

  The company became legally domiciled in Kazakhstan while continuing to operate across multiple international markets.

  Source

• 2025

  Enter Morocco through a master franchiseStrategy

  Background

  Dodo Pizza continued international expansion through local operating partners.

  Action taken

  The company signed a master-franchise agreement with Morocco's M&I Group.

  Aftermath

  The agreement provides for two initial Rabat restaurants in 2026 and a stated ambition of 35 Moroccan locations by 2034.

  Source

• 2022

  Exit the United KingdomStrategy

  Background

  The UK business faced declining sales and an increasingly difficult sanctions environment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

  Action taken

  The company closed its five UK stores.

  Aftermath

  Dodo Pizza withdrew from the UK market.

  Source

• 2021

  Exit ChinaStrategy

  Background

  The Chinese operation faced strong competition and poor performance.

  Action taken

  Dodo Pizza closed its stores in China.

  Aftermath

  The closure ended the company's Chinese restaurant experiment after its cashless-store initiative.

  Source

• 2018

  Scale the technology organizationStrategy

  Background

  The company regarded software and operational data as strategic capabilities supporting its franchise network.

  Action taken

  Fyodor Ovchinnikov announced plans to increase the IT team from about 60 to 250 developers over two years.

  Aftermath

  The IT workforce reportedly doubled by October 2019.

  Source

• 2016

  Test the United States marketStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to test its restaurant and franchise proposition outside Russia.

  Action taken

  Dodo Pizza opened pilot locations in Oxford and Southaven, Mississippi.

  Aftermath

  Both locations closed shortly afterward.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopt franchise-led expansionStrategy

  Background

  Dodo Pizza needed a scalable way to expand beyond its first company-founded restaurant.

  Action taken

  The company began franchising its brand and operating model.

  Aftermath

  The network grew rapidly, reaching more than 200 locations by 2017 and later expanding internationally.

  Source

1. 1Dodo Pizzaen.wikipedia.org