Crust Pizza was started in New South Wales, Australia. The first store was opened in the Sydney suburb of Annandale in late 2001 by founder Costa Anastasiadis.
Crust Pizza Co. originated in The Woodlands, Texas in 2011 as a result of a partnership between childhood friends Mark Rasberry and Clint Price. Despite life taking them in different directions, the duo reunited with Mark's business acumen and Clint's restaurant expertise.
Yes, the popular gourmet pizza chain Crust Pizza is Australian, founded in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2001, with its first store in Annandale, and has grown into a large national network with numerous locations across Australia. They are known for their gourmet toppings and innovative flavors, offering a premium pizza experience in Australia.
Modern pizza evolved from similar flatbread dishes in Naples, Italy, between the 16th and mid-18th century. The word pizza was first documented in 997 CE in Gaeta and successively in different parts of central and southern Italy.
Crust Pizza (Australia) is owned by Retail Food Group (RFG), an ASX-listed franchisor that also owns brands like Donut King and Gloria Jean's. RFG acquired Crust in 2012, expanding its portfolio of food and beverage franchises.
Crosta's pizza started out as experiments in the home kitchen of accidental restaurateur Ingga Cabangon Chua. Originally a real-estate practitioner, she spent hours and hours making pizza in her apartment trying to get the type of pizza she wanted because she couldn't get it anywhere in Manila.
Italian and Greek immigrants brought pizza to Australia, especially after World War II, with early family-owned shops opening in the 1950s and 60s in areas like Melbourne's Lygon Street, though it took time for wider acceptance before booming in the 1970s and 80s with chain stores and local variations like the famous 'Aussie' pizza with bacon and egg.
Top 10 countries that consume the most pizza
Who invented pizza? The answer most often points to Raffaele Esposito, a clever baker from Naples, Italy. In 1889, Esposito is believed to have made what could be considered “modern” pizza, a delicious flatbread topped with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil.
There are 37 Crust Pizza Co. locations in the United States of America as of December 01, 2025. The state or territory with the most Crust Pizza Co. locations is Texas, with 32 sites, accounting for roughly 86.5% of the total.
The biggest pizza chain in Australia is Domino's, leading significantly in both store numbers (over 700 locations) and market share (around 50-58% of the out-of-home pizza market). Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (DPE) operates as the master franchisor, making it the world's largest franchisee for the Domino's brand.
From Vision to Impact: Carl Comeaux, CEO of Crust Pizza
The podcast begins with an introduction to Carl Comeaux, the CEO of Crust Pizza Co., and a look at the brands origins.
There is also a style of thin-crust pizza known as "tavern style". Residents of two cities claim to have originated it in the 1940s: Milwaukee and Chicago.
Carl Comeaux is the CEO of Crust Pizza Co., a fast-growing limited-service pizza chain that has redefined the local pizzeria experience.
The “Aussie” was invented by the late Salvatore Della Bruna, the Picasso of Australia's pizza heritage who established this country's first pizza parlour, Toto's on Melbourne's Lygon Street.
As the largest pizza company in the world, Domino's is in more than 90 international markets and we're still growing!
If we are talking about the places in the world to have the best Pizza, then the best way to begin is with the land of Pizza. Naples, a city in southern Italy, is famous all around the globe for its pizzas, pizzas, and some more pizzas.
While there's no single official title, recent research often points to Sydney as Australia's top pizza capital due to the sheer volume of pizzerias, diverse styles (Neapolitan, deep dish, street pizza), and high search interest, closely followed by Melbourne, known for its strong Italian heritage and world-class pizzerias. Both cities boast top-rated pizza restaurants and a passionate foodie culture, though Sydney leads in quantity and variety, while Melbourne is praised for its high-quality, craft pizzas, with spots like SHOP225 earning global recognition.
There's no single "No. 1" pizza brand, as it depends on whether you mean the biggest chain (Domino's), a top-rated artisan place (like L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele), or the best supermarket option (like Kirkland Signature or Destination Italy), but Domino's generally leads in global sales and locations, while authentic pizzerias like 400 Gradi and L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele win high awards for quality.
Before 1788, the continent we call Australia was known by different names, primarily "New Holland" by the Dutch (who explored its west and north coasts) and the theoretical "Terra Australis Incognita" (Unknown Southern Land) by Europeans; the British later named the east coast "New South Wales" in 1770, leading to a mix of these names until Matthew Flinders successfully promoted "Australia" in the early 1800s.
The cheapest franchises in Australia often fall under $10,000, with options like Milagro CBD Oil ($1,700), iOB Business (digital agency, $7,000), Young Engineers ($6,000), and Speaking Roses ($9,000) representing very low entry points, while other popular low-cost models include Fantastic Services ($3,750) for home services and mobile options like Fox Mowing ($16,000) or car detailing, providing diverse service sectors for minimal investment.
In February 2011, Retail Food Group acquired the Australian and New Zealand master franchise license for the Esquires Coffee House. In 2012, RFG acquired the 118-store Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen and the 119-store Crust Pizza chain.
While exact owner profits vary, Australian KFC stores average around $4 million in annual turnover, with the largest franchisee, Collins Foods, reporting an average profit of about $773,000 per store in the last financial year (FY25), though this includes corporate overheads, not pure owner-operator take-home. Actual franchisee earnings depend on location, costs, and sales, but potential profits can be significant, balanced against high investment (up to $3.75m) and operational responsibilities.