Entrepreneurship is the heart of the franchise community. These visionaries make the franchise business model work and give the opportunity of business ownership to anyone who wants to achieve the American Dream. Each year, the International Franchise Association (IFA) honors entrepreneurs with the Entrepreneur of the Year award during the IFA Annual Convention. For 2020, Scott Svenson, co-founder & CEO, and Ally Svenson, chief purpose officer of MOD Pizza, get to add this prestigious award to their list of accomplishments.

Scott and Ally created a successful business enterprise through franchising. Their fast casual pizza brand, MOD Pizza, was the fastest growing restaurant brand in the U.S. for four years (2015-2018). With over 490 MOD Pizza locations in 28 states and Canada, this is just the beginning for Scott and Ally. They have an aggressive growth plan to remain the brand leader in the fast casual pizza market. When the popularity of the fast casual pizza segment exploded two years after the first MOD Pizza location opened, Scott and Ally quickly pivoted. By partnering with multi-unit franchise operators, they were able to scale the brand to what it is today.

Scott and Ally are committed to making a positive social impact through their culture-focused and people-centric brand. MOD Pizza provides employment opportunities to people who face barriers such as those who were formerly incarcerated, young people from the ages of 18-24 who are not in school and individuals with disabilities. Working with community-based partners on hiring initiatives helps MOD Pizza sustain this purpose-driven cause that lessens the burdens on families across the U.S.

Scott and Ally’s success in franchising and commitment to leading with purpose earns them the recognition of the 2020 IFA Entrepreneur of the Year Award. We are honored to have members like Scott and Ally!