Backed by Domino’s, Costa, and more, Racz Group is scaling success across every sector 

Bringing investment opportunities and beloved brands to communities across the UK, Racz Group enjoys rapid expansion and enduring success. Managing a diverse range of businesses, Racz Group delivers on everything from pizza to popcorn, as founder, Mike Racz, begins: “Racz Group is an entity comprising multiple different brands and operations. We predominantly work in the franchise sector, with our primary business being Domino’s Pizza, for which we have 70 stores across England and Northern Ireland. We also operate franchises for other well-known brands, such as Costa Coffee and Anytime Fitness.   

“In addition, we have some of our own start-up brands, such as Headquarters, which is a chain of barber shops. While we mainly operate in the retail, food service, and leisure markets, we have also diversified into digital services, with our very own social media marketing company.   

“Additionally, we have an import and export operation, supplying electronic components to big names in e-commerce such as Amazon. We’re also investing in the residential market, building a few houses in regions where we operate.   

“Over the years, we’ve come to work in a diverse range of markets. It all started in Hartlepool in 2006, with our first Domino’s Pizza franchise. We worked to establish our network of Domino’s locations for ten years before branching out into other brands. We learned about different industries, built up our network, re-strategized, and expanded.   

“Once we had several brands in operation, it made sense to rebrand as Racz Group. This is an umbrella term, which brings all the different aspects of our identity together. Each brand had a unique purpose and vision for the future — with Racz Group, everyone is united by the same values and goals. Whether we’re selling pizza, coffee, or digital services, we remain dedicated to customer service and excellence above all else.”   

Drive and determination 

For 18 years, Racz Group has strategically expanded in towns and cities across the North-East of England. As Mike details: “When I opened my first store in Hartlepool, I’d never even been there before in my life. I could have opened another Domino’s in Manchester, but I felt like the city was already full. Smaller towns and cities would see a new local pizza chain as more of a draw. From there, my mission was to invest in areas that were often overlooked by major brands.  

“I enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to build something new. Investing in locations like Hartlepool helps bring jobs and opportunity to the area, and the business itself becomes a part of the local community. The work is very rewarding, you can look at the before and after and really see the impact that’s been made.   

“From that first location, we picked up steam. We’ve continued to grow, and our long-term strategy is to continue expanding, as fast as we can, for as long as we can. It must remain manageable, of course, but so far, the business has shown no signs of slowing down.”  

Having built Racz Group from the ground up, Mike’s personal and professional journey continues to define the company’s legacy of success. “I had been working for Domino’s for some time, as a delivery driver and store manager. I really loved the brand and its culture. I liked the teamwork, the organization, and interacting with customers. It felt so much better than anything I’d done before.   

“I climbed the ladder, and within six months I was an area manager. I had a real passion for it, and that sort of thing always shines through. Before long, it was time to open my own store. I knew the day-to-day operations of the business inside out, but I still had a lot to learn. I was 22 years old and doing my best to keep my head above water. My English wasn’t perfect, and I had to act as an authority figure to whole teams of people. It was daunting, but I pushed through.   

“I had to learn a lot of things as I went along. I worked hard to get my head around different licensing standards, accounting, payroll, even marketing. I made some mistakes along the way, but the hard work paid off and it was a huge success.  

“At that time, there was almost no awareness of the Domino’s brand in Hartlepool. I had to build brand awareness throughout the community. I had no friends, no family, and no connections. Everything was riding on the success of that one location. It forced me to grow up quickly, but it also made me a much better leader and entrepreneur. It’s those skills that got me where I am today,” Mike shares.   

Backed by well-known brands and an impressive growth trajectory, Mike considers what’s next for Racz Group: “Looking ahead, scale is going to be key. We’re not looking to add any more brands without potentially moving away from another. We want to remain lean and stay focused on growth areas for the business. We’ve got a handful of incredibly strong concepts — moving forward, I want to continue investing in those and strengthening the Racz Group at its core,” he concludes. 

www.raczgroup.co.uk