Local pizza brand making waves, generating employment in southern Cebu towns

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU Province -- Dhodz Pizza, a local brand is now making big waves in southern Cebu,. offers value for money products and increasingly a favorite among the residents in Dalaguete town where the main store is located and its 30 outlets in Cebu are generating employment amid the pandemic.

Dohdz Pizza owner, Benigno Niones said in an interview during the opening of its 30^th outlet in Poblacion, Liloan, Cebu on July 3 that their pizza has attracted many customers because of the quality of their products compared to other local pizza brands.

The Dhodz Pizza main outlet in Dalaguete, where the commissar is located, has 27 employees, while other outlets can generate seven to eight employees.

Niones bared that he was once an employee working for a popular pizza company in Davao de Oro for 11 years until he decided to open his own pizza business.

“I was an employee for 11 years working for a popular pizza business. I started working as a marketing, strategy, manager and as a right hand of the owner.  Somebody encouraged me to open my own pizza business,” Niones said.

He decided to start out and put up his own pizza outlet in Davao de Oro in 2019 and opened the Dohdz Pizza in Dalaguete, Cebu.  While many businesses were affected when the pandemic occurred, Dhodz Pizza was doing well.

 

With the lockdown implemented in 2020, Dhodz’s delicious but affordable pizza products have gained a following even during the pandemic. “We lavish on the toppings, it’s value for money and orders are always freshly baked,” he added.

A customer can also have a choice of 17 different flavors, from the classic cheese flavor to the Dhodz Special, an overload version.  For those who love the Hawaiian flavor, they have the Hawaiian load and the Meaty Flavor for those who prefer lots of meat on their pizza, Niones said.

Their pizzas are available in two sizes the 10-inch medium size and the 12-inch family size. One can also choose between quick-melt cheese or mozzarella cheese for a little bit higher price.

 

Aside from those already mentioned, the other flavors include Chocolicious Pizza, Cheesy Hotdog, Cheese & Ham, Bacon Delight, American, Veggie, Tuna Flakes, Pineapple Cheese, Pineapple Cookies, New Supreme, Cheese & Burger, Beef Pizza and Meaty Twin.

Aside from having value-for-money pizza, Dhodz also delivers their products for free within their service areas.

Dhodz Pizza has become a favorite among residents in Dalaguete and even passersby. Among those who tasted the pizza is Farvic Dayao, who had been considering going into business himself.  Dayao approached Niones to convince him to allow him to franchise the pizza brand so he could open an outlet in San Fernando town.

Another investor, Joseph Besin, has also put up a Dhodz Pizza outlet in Toledo City.  Dhodz Pizza has 30 outlets now, eight of these are company owned.  Aside from the Dalaguete outlet, the company-owned outlets are in Oslob, Alcoy, Argao, Toledo, Barili, Bogo and Ginatilan.

The other franchise branches are in Argao, Compostela, Alcoy, Oslob, Tabogon, Naga, Barangay Tisa (Cebu City), Talisay, Bogo, Tuburan, Dumanjug, Moalboal, Santander, Canduman (Mandaue), Danao City, Balamban, Pinamungahan, Cordova and Liloan. 

 According to Dayao, he has no regrets in operating a Dhodz Pizza franchise.  Although there is an existing local pizzeria in their town, San Fernando residents took a quick liking to Dohdz pizza products, he added.

Dayao also noted that in their own way they helped create jobs in the community at a time when many have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

Another franchisee, Joseph Besin, echoed this saying that opening the outlet in Toledo City also helped in providing employment.  He also expressed satisfaction over owning the franchise in Toledo.  He noted that despite the pandemic, their outlet is doing okay.

For an affordable and tasty meal try Dhodz Pizza, which available in-store or through delivery.