The "Slice" Goes 3-D: Pizza-in-a-Cone Debuts in South Jersey

Just in time for the holiday rush, shoppers at the Cherry Hill Mall, located at 2000 NJ-38, will be able to experience a more convenient way to enjoy one of their favorite foods – pizza, in-a-cone-- with the introduction of the first “The Original” Kono Pizza kiosk starting Saturday, Nov. 21.

Local entrepreneurs and father and son team Gino and Eric Ciancaglini are set to open the first “The Original” Kono Pizza kiosk in the Cherry Hill Mall as part of a multi-unit franchise development deal to bring mobile carts and kiosks to the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. This will be the second unit for the duo, who opened their first mobile cart in Philadelphia in June. “The Original” Kono Pizza is the fast-casual pioneer behind the introduction of the European pizza cone in America.

Served in a cone and filled with fresh, quality ingredients, with its dough and sauce imported straight from Italy, “The Original” Kono Pizza offers consumers an on-the-go alternative to one of their favorite foods.

Gino, owner of a construction company and two restaurants in New Jersey, and Eric, a 23-year-old graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, said they were intrigued with the innovative concept that has already been internationally tested and proven successful around the world.

“As a traditional Italian family that’s passionate about food, we loved the product. The cones are delicious, easy to eat and less messy than a typical triangle slice of greasy pizza,” said Eric Ciancaglini. “We opted to bring the kiosk model to the Cherry Hill Mall because our products are perfectly suited for on-the-go shoppers, and look forward to making their shopping experience more enjoyable and convenient.”

In addition to the brand’s existing traditional retail stores, “The Original” Kono Pizza offers franchisees the option to purchase rights to operate sleek and sophisticated mobile carts, kiosks and in-line store models, giving them the ability to operate in a variety of high-traffic areas – from malls and hospitals to colleges and amusement parks.

David Ragosa, co-founder of “The Original” Kono Pizza, said he expects the success in South Jersey to act as a further catalyst for expansion across the state, inspiring like-minded entrepreneurs to get in on the ground floor with an innovative franchise in the fast-casual pizza segment. The brand’s first kiosk model debuted at the Orlando Mall in Florida this year and the company’s flagship unit soon followed suit, relocating from a brick and mortar store in Edison, N.J., to a kiosk in the Newport Centre Mall.

Recently, “The Original” Kono Pizza signed a 10-unit development deal in the Dallas market with the first location slated to be open in the first quarter of 2016, and also signed its first lease to be open inside a Walmart in Lancaster, S.C., with more locations in various Walmarts nationwide in the pipeline.

“We’re changing the pizza game. In a marketplace with more than 70,000 pizzerias and fast-casual pizza concepts, we stand alone with a unique pizza product,” Ragosa said. “The momentum we have built and continue to sustain has put us on track for a total of 50 locations in various stages of development in the pipeline by the end of the first fiscal quarter in 2016.”

About Kono Pizza USA
Founded in Edison, N.J., Kono Pizza USA was established in the United States in 2013 by seasoned entrepreneurs David Ragosa and Carlo Ruggiero, who took the already popular European concept and brought it to America. Kono Pizza cones are filled with fresh, quality ingredients inspired by original Italian recipes, giving consumers an on-the-go, healthier way to enjoy their favorite food. There are currently 130 Kono Pizza locations operating in 20 countries, with over 20 additional locations in various stages of development across the United States. For more information about Kono Pizza USA, including franchise opportunities, visit franchise.konousa.com or call (855) 566-6872. To learn more about “The Original” Kono Pizza, visit www.konopizzausa.com.