American restaurant chain Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza has signed a deal with LA Metro Blaze Pizza Holding to open 20 franchise outlets in the greater Los Angeles area over the next five years.
Blaze Pizza currently has seven franchise groups developing 56 stores in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin and California.
The chain is seeking to further expand into all major metro markets by 2014.
Franchisee LA Metro is led by Peter Koral, founder of premium denim brand 'Seven for All Mankind', and entrepreneur Daniel Driz, Koral's business partner.
Restaurateur Chris Heyman, founder of Table 8, is also involved in the franchise venture.
Previously, Rolling Hills BP, a franchise group also controlled by Koral and Driz, executed a five store franchise agreement.
The two franchise entities plan to open 25 Blaze Pizzas in the area south of Sunset Boulevard and west of the Los Angeles county line.
Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza also announced that three new Los Angeles-area restaurant leases have been signed in Torrance, La Canada and Culver City.
