Husband and wife bring a slice of Italy to North Devon

A husband and wife duo behind the Pig and Olive have successfully elevated their takeaway pizza business to a thriving local enterprise.

Pig and Olive began in 2015 when Simon and Rachel purchased a £200 pizza oven from eBay.

After relocating to Devon and transitioning from roles in hospitality, they saw an opportunity in the market for authentic stone-baked Neapolitan pizzas.

Their venture now includes two mobile units, a takeaway and delivery site in Barnstaple, and a casual dining venue in Westward Ho!

Despite enjoying high demand, rising operating costs threatened profitability, reducing their margins from 40 per cent to 12 per cent.

Recognising the need for external support, the couple have gone back to school to take their takeaway pizza business to the next level.

Rachel enrolled in the Help to Grow: Management Course at the University of Exeter Business School. 

The 12-week program is designed to bolster the growth and resilience of small businesses.

The course equipped Rachel with the tools to streamline operations, reduce costs, and refine Pig and Olive’s mission.

Armed with a renewed focus, Rachel hired a marketing and operations manager, growing the team to 28. This strategic shift has allowed Pig and Olive to improve profit margins to 39 per cent and increase pizza sales by 48 per cent, with a goal to sell 40,000 pizzas this year, up from 19,406 last year.

Rachel Hicken, co-owner of Pig and Olive, said: “I have worked in the hospitality industry most of my life before my husband and I launched Pig and Olive. Despite being very confident about my knowledge of the industry, I had very little understanding of operating and growing a business.

“While the business is loved by many across Devon, to keep the momentum up and cover our overheads we needed to put plans and processes in place that would sustain growth over a long period of time. The Help to Grow: Management Course has been pivotal in our efforts to evolve the way we operate and change the way we approach growth.

“Since completing the course, the business’ profit margins have bounced back and 2024 is set to be a record year for us. But more importantly, I now have the time to focus on our strategy and developing our purpose. I’m excited to invest more time into our vision and see what heights we can take Pig and Olive to.”

Michael Hayman MBE, Chair, Small Business Charter, added: “The Help to Grow: Management Course gives business leaders like Rachel the knowledge and skills they need to maximise the commercial success of their business even in today’s tough market conditions.

With the help of experienced small business practitioners, Rachel was able to understand how to structure Pig and Olive for sustainable growth and then to implement the changes with confidence. This is a great example of the invaluable support that the Help to Grow: Management Course is giving to small business leaders across the UK.

We wish Rachel and Simon every success as they continue to implement their vision and strategy.”