German pizza and pasta brand L’Osteria has purchased a majority stake in the Pizza Pilgrims restaurant group, aiming to grow the business internationally.
Founded in 2012, Pizza Pilgrims has since expanded to 26 locations across the UK.
L’Osteria, founded in Nuremberg, Germany in 1999, is best known for its signature 45cm pizzas. The brand has grown to more than 200 restaurants across 10 European countries and is backed by the investment fund McWin, which also supports Gail’s, Big Mamma Group, and Sticks ’n’ Sushi.
The partnership will allow Pizza Pilgrims to leverage L’Osteria’s European network as it pursues growth both in the UK and abroad.
Despite the deal, both companies will continue to operate as independent brands, with international expansion led by their existing leadership teams.
Pizza Pilgrims will now be headed by Gavin Smith as chief executive and Sophie Gilchriest as chief financial officer. Meanwhile, co-founders Thom and James Elliot will continue to play a full-time role in the day-to-day running of the business.
The brothers highlighted a “strong cultural alignment” between the two businesses and described a “huge opportunity” to learn from both L’Osteria and its backer, McWin.
Thom and James Elliot, said: “We are so excited about our partnership with L’Osteria – and the opportunity it presents for the business that we love and our wonderful teams. We have constantly strived to make Pizza Pilgrims a better business every day since we started out on our market stall in Soho – and we would like to thank our longstanding board and all of our outgoing investors for their support and shared wisdom over that time.”
Jacek Trybuchowski, chief executive of FR L’Osteria SE, said: “This investment marks another milestone on our journey of becoming ‘European Champion in Casual Dining’. Together with Pizza Pilgrims’ team we are looking forward to entering the next phase of growth.”
In 2024, Pizza Pilgrims became one of the few UK hospitality businesses to achieve B Corp certification. Most recently, the group was named Restaurateur of the Year – Group at the 2025 Cateys.