P.Pole: The Fast-Casual Pizza Prodigy
At just 25 years old, Giulia Carniato is shaking up the pizza world with her fast-casual chain P.Pole Pizza. Carniato grew up around her father's pizzeria Piola in South Florida, falling in love with "the chaos" and everything about the restaurant industry. "I was obsessed," she admits.
Though her dad initially resisted her career choice, Carniato persisted - determined to put her own spin on hand-crafted pizza. Her vision? "To provide pizza in a fast, effective, cost-efficient manner, which is also very creative and fun. And not too serious or boring."
A key part of that vision is a focus on healthier options. Carniato felt weighed down after traditional pizza, so she developed a nutrient-packed "chia dough" made with chia seeds for easier digestion. "I want us to be an alternative to typical fast food," offering high-quality, cost-effective fare, she explains.
At P.Pole, customers craft their own personal pies, choosing from the chia dough, regular, or gluten-free cauliflower crusts. They then add any toppings they desire - with fun options like gorgonzola, artichokes and jalapeños. The skateboard-shaped pizzas cook quickly in specialized electric ovens.
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"All you really have to do is know how to put a sauce on dough, put on the toppings and then put it in this oven," says Carniato. "It's ready in two minutes and 15 seconds." Unlimited toppings are just $13.
Beyond the pizzas, P.Pole's branding connects with Gen Z through lively social media content racking up tens of thousands of views. Carniato, a digital native, excels at platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
With four locations currently open in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Hallandale Beach, and Miami, Carniato hopes to one day grow P.Pole into a nationwide brand. If her early success is any indication, this young entrepreneur is well on her way to overhauling America's pizza scene.
