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Pizza 4P’s has become a household name in Vietnam, known for its fresh homemade cheese and sustainably sourced. What began as a small restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City has grown into a thriving business with international ambitions. At the core of its success are the vision and leadership of co-founders Masuko-san and Sunny-san, who are now focused on taking their brand global, with recent expansions into India and upcoming ventures in Japan.
In the recent episode of Vietnam Innovators, the couple reflected on their journey, their business mission, and how they’ve maintained the values that made Pizza 4P’s a success as they scale up their operations around the world.
What drives Pizza 4P's
Founded in 2011, Pizza 4P’s quickly became a well-known name in Vietnam’s culinary scene, and its expansion has been driven not only by the quality of its food but by a profound sense of purpose. For Masuko-san and Sunny-san, it’s not just about delivering pizzas; it’s about creating happiness and a sense of oneness through food.
Masuko-san explained, “Our journey started with a vision—happiness and connection through food. We felt the world needed this, and that became the foundation of Pizza 4P’s.”
This vision has taken them from Vietnam to India, where they recently expanded, and soon to other international markets like Japan.
Defining 'Oneness Through Food'
A central theme discussed during the podcast was the idea of "oneness through food." For Masuko and Sunny, this concept captures the connection between people through shared meals. Drawing on their own experiences and memories, they created the philosophy to represent the unity they aim to foster in their restaurants. This value has become a guiding principle in all their global locations, influencing not only their culinary offerings but the overall dining experience.
Interestingly, while the founders initially struggled to translate this idea into Japanese, they chose to keep the term in English, as it more accurately reflected their vision. This decision underscores the global nature of their message and how it resonates with customers across different cultures.
Purpose-Driven Leadership And Cultural Fit
A major focus of their leadership philosophy is purpose-driven management. For Masuko and Sunny, it’s crucial to have a strong connection between their employees and the company’s vision. They revealed that after the challenges posed by COVID-19, the employees who stayed were those who deeply aligned with the company’s mission.
This realization led them to prioritize culture fit in their hiring process, ensuring that every decision, from recruitment to business strategy, is rooted in their overarching purpose.
Sunny mentioned that one of the ways they identify this fit during interviews is by asking candidates what motivates them to work. Through these discussions, they aim to understand whether potential hires share the company's core values, which include authenticity, compassion, and the Japanese concepts of "Omotenashi" (hospitality) and "Kaizen" (continuous improvement).
More Than Just Great Food
With new locations set to open in both India and Japan, Masuko and Sunny continue to push the boundaries of what Pizza 4P’s can achieve. They’re planning to build a cheese factory in Japan to meet the growing demand for their cheese, which has become highly sought after not only in their restaurants but also by other businesses.
When asked about the ultimate goal for Pizza 4P’s, the founders revealed that they aspire to be the most inspiring F&B brand in the world. With a vision that emphasizes happiness and global unity, they hope to expand their brand to a global audience while staying true to their roots in both philosophy and food.
As they continue to grow Pizza 4P’s globally, it’s clear that their success is built on more than just great food. It’s about the values they instill in their business, the connection they foster with their employees, and the happiness they create for their customers.
