Having first attended the GRO Retail - Spring Event back in April, to now taking to the Soapbox stage at the GRO Retail - Autumn Event, Aladdin's Pizza has since gone from strength to strength, accelerating their franchise growth and expanding their footprint across the UK.
In this interview, we caught up with Roman Aslamzada, Head of Operations & Franchising at Aladdin's Pizza, to hear how connections made at the event have supported their journey, and why they’re returning to GRO Franchise and pitching on Soapbox to continue building on that success at the upcoming GRO Retail - Autumn Event. 🚀
Aladdin’s Pizza is a rapidly expanding F&B brand, renowned for delivering quality food at outstanding value. Their new website makes it easier than ever for customers to browse the full menu, unlock exclusive online deals, and enjoy fast, reliable home delivery with secure payment options. With ambitious growth plans ahead, Aladdin’s Pizza is using GRO Retail as the springboard to accelerate their expansion.
1. What have you gained from previous events in the series – what are you looking forward to about this one?
From the previous event, we gained real momentum in accelerating our property deal flow and strengthening brand performance. It opened doors to valuable connections that directly supported growth and expansion in the retail property sector. For this year, with Aladdin’s we are looking forward to building on that success and further expanding our network with landlords, agents, and partners who can help drive the next stage of our journey.
2. Why should potential franchisees and businesses looking for franchisees attend? What are the benefits?
It is an unmissable opportunity because the event creates a unique chain of connections between businesses, franchisees, landlords, and agents. For any brand, one of the most challenging aspects of growth is securing the right property in the right location. GRO is the platform that bridges that gap by helping businesses and franchisees gain access to a strong portfolio of opportunities, which in turn lays the foundation for successful expansion.
3. I understand that you are doing a Soapbox session again this year – what sort of things are you planning to talk about? What was last year’s Soapbox like? Did you learn anything? Did you get any good responses from people after your talks?
Last year’s Soapbox was a fantastic experience. It gave the brand I was representing the chance to establish a positive relationship with Hammerson, which owned Bullring at the time, and that conversation later evolved into multiple site opportunities. The event also strengthened our ties with CBRE and Savills, firms we were already working with, but meeting their directors in person gave us a stronger sense of partnership. The overall response was excellent, with lots of new introductions to landlords and agents that had a real impact on our growth.
This year, I’m planning to bring the same energy but with a focus on Aladdin’s, which is still a young and ambitious brand. We currently have 10 stores, with plans to open another 10-15 sites by summer 2026. The Soapbox session will be an opportunity to showcase how we plan to break into new markets, demonstrate what our brand can deliver on the high street, and, most importantly, highlight our mission of bringing food that truly offers something for everyone - as our slogan says.
Are you a franchise brand, or retail brand looking to expand your physical footprint in the UK?
Since 2014, the SOAPBOX stage has provided brands with a platform to showcase their business & present property requirements to a highly targeted audience of top UK agents, landlords & retail destinations who are keen to discover exciting brands matching their available sites.
All brand site requirements are welcome, whether it be for a bricks and mortar business, a kiosk, floor space, or a pop-up with a niche space requirement. GRO are proud to give brands a platform to showcase their business offerings, present their site requirements and make invaluable connections.
Applying for a complimentary 3-4 minute speaking slot on the SOAPBOX stage at our event is easy, simply tell us about yourself and your brand’s site requirements: HERE 🎤.
For more information on Soapbox or GRO Retail:
🌐 www.groevents.com/retail-autumn
🤝 Register to attend as a property professional: HERE