Vocelli Pizza vs Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Vocelli Pizza vs Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Company Overviews

About Vocelli Pizza

Since 1988, Vocelli Pizza is a franchise company that has withstood the test of time serving high quality artisan pizzas and classic Italian dishes. With over 100 stores serving our award-winning pizza, people have come to know us as the "standard". Our stores are neighborhood shops that use the finest ingredients to prepare favorite family recipes. We aren't just another pizza chain; we're part of the community.

Our franchise system has had over 30 years proving itself in the highly competitive $40 billion per year U.S. pizza segment. Varol Ablak, the chairman & founder, felt that our artisan products could be delivered to your door in 30 minutes without sacrificing quality. As a result, Vocelli has been consistently ranked in the top 30, 40 or 50 of all the top chains in the U.S.

Much of Vocelli's success comes from a commitment to a high quality product. Our recipes are designed with color, texture and taste in mind. We utilize fresh ingredients instead of frozen and choose hand-crafted over off-the-shelf products. The result is a consistently better customer experience that keeps people coming back for more. This certainly affords our customers the comfort that when they order, they get the same superior quality product all the time. Great dough made from a proprietary blend of flour, sauce made from a blend of tomatoes that are fresh packed within 6 hours of picking from the vine and a never-frozen 100% real cheese are mainstays that support the stringent requirements we maintain throughout menu development.

Today, Vocelli Pizza has approximately 2,000 employees and over 100 stores open and in development. Varol has built a winning support team at the Franchise Support Center and a team of successful franchisees. "For us to succeed, the franchisees must succeed" says Varol.
Varol began his entrepreneurial dream with a wish for something better. Today, he offers franchisees a chance to make their own business dreams come true by sharing his proven recipe for success.

We receive many calls from customers inquiring about our franchise opportunity! Most of our franchisees first tasted the superior quality of our pizza and wanted to know how to get involved in the business. Yes, we request you submit a franchise application to show the minimum capital requirements of $250,000 net worth and $100,000 in liquidity, but our main focus is that you have a great attitude, are very customer service oriented, have some prior background in the food industry or have an operating partner who does, and be very community-minded.


We offer a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee to qualified military veterans.

About Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe

After working in the franchise and restaurant industry for 16 years Doug Stritzel, founder and owner of Pickleman’s, began his quest to realize his longtime dream of building a distinct new dining concept.
In October 2005 Doug opened the first Pickleman’s in Columbia, MO. In January 2008 the second Pickleman’s was opened. Today, Pickleman’s has 22 locations and counting, three in Columbia, MO, two in Springfield, MO, six in St Louis, MO, one in Lincoln, NE, one in Lawrence, KS, four in Kansas City, two in Omaha, NE, and one in Norman, OK.



Pickleman’s focuses above all on using the highest quality product and creating profound and unique flavor profiles people love. Offering a wide array of all natural products with the freshest ingredients gives our Toasted Sandwiches, Pizzas, Soups, Salads and Desserts a quality that sets us apart. Our Delivery and Catering services allow us to serve large groups, cater events, and provide you with our superior service at your door.
Doug has plans to expand the Pickleman’s franchise and share his passion for high quality food with the world. His goal is to establish and continue to develop his own brand and someday be successful enough to spend lots of time with two wonderful children, Jack and Audrey.