Our History and Comeback
The Legend Returns
Melville, Johannesburg
From local favourite to national phenomenon
- with Juan Engelbrecht (former Master Franchisor, Western Cape)
Where it started
Scooters Pizza fired up its first ovens in 2000 when the Gonzaga family de-franchised three KZN stores and launched a fresh, fast, fearless brand. By 2003 we’d scooted into Joburg and the Western Cape; by 2010 we’d topped 100 outlets and racked up FASA accolades as one of SA’s fastest-growing franchises.
Why it ended
In 2014, Taste Holdings signed a master agreement to roll out Domino’s across Southern Africa and invited Scooters and St Elmo’s franchisees to convert. That strategic shift slowly retired the Scooters brand. When Domino’s SA couldn’t find a sustainable buyer, Taste liquidated the food business in March 2020 and ~55 Domino’s stores shut, with assets later auctioned.
Why it’s back
Fans never stopped asking for Scooters. In 2025, franchise veteran Juan Engelbrecht (early Gauteng expansion partner and Western Cape master franchisor) relaunched Scooters Pizza through 1st Choice Business Brokers & Franchising to bring the legend back—smarter, faster, and fairer for owners.
The Scooters Pizza Background
Brand History Timeline
2000
Scooters Pizza started when the Gonzaga family de-franchised their three pizza outlets in KwaZulu-Natal to form a new entity named Scooters Pizza.
2002 – 2003
After extensive market analysis, the brand expanded to the Western Cape under Juan Engelbrecht, who was also the master franchisor.
2003 – 2004
The brand grew to nearly 40 outlets.
2010
Over 100 outlets operated nationally. The brand won various FASA awards and became one of the fastest-growing fast food franchises in the country.
2014
167 Outlets with St Elmo’s Pizza.
2016
The brand was liquidated after stores were converted to Domino’s Pizza.
2021
The last 55 Domino’s outlets were put on Auction.
2025
October 2025
The launch of the 1st re branded Scooters Pizza in Melville, Johannesburg.
Juan, through 1st Choice Business Brokers and Franchising, decided to re-brand and relaunch Scooters Pizza after noticing continued consumer demand for the brand.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
Juan Engelbrecht
Entrepreneur, Franchisor and Franchise Developer, Turnaround Specialist, Author
Juan Engelbrecht, Franchise veteran (early Gauteng expansion partner and Western Cape master franchisor) relaunched Scooters Pizza through 1st Choice Business Brokers & Franchising