Hospitality has always been our heartbeat. Long before this merge, MPZ Holdings was already known for building high-performing teams, creating standout guest experiences, and scaling some of the most exciting food brands in America. Simple Ventures was building energy on a different front with category-defining concepts in wellness, beauty, and immersive experiences.
Two companies with different strengths.
One shared belief in people, performance, and possibility.
When the teams came together, it didn’t feel like a merger. It felt like ignition. A moment when everyone could sense something bigger rising.
That moment became our new identity: Built Different Brands.
Seven powerhouse brands.
One united mission.
A company raised on heart, hustle, hospitality, and purpose.
We’re not just opening restaurants. We’re building places where people feel seen, cared for, and energized. From Marco’s Pizza to Dave’s Hot Chicken to PopUp Bagels, our food brands bring people together. Our wellness and experience brands keep communities healthy, inspired, and fully alive.
One standard: make every moment count
Our story accelerated when our CEO, Kal Gullapalli, left Wall Street to enter franchising. What started as a bold leap turned into a decade-long journey of growth.
He built Orangetheory Fitness studios. Revitalized wellness and spa concepts. And eventually found a true home in foodservice. By 2023, he was one of the top Marco’s Pizza franchisees in the country, earning the International Franchise Association’s Franchisee of the Year award.
Kal’s drive has always been people. Opportunities. Impact.
Not numbers on a spreadsheet.
That belief shaped MPZ.
Now it fuels Built Different Brands.
A chance to set a new standard for hospitality, wellness, and what leadership looks like in the franchise world.
This is Built Different Brands.
Born from two strong companies.
Fueled by seven standout brands.
Grounded in core values that guide our every move.
Strengthened by a commitment to schools, first responders, and the military.
Driven by thousands of people who show up hungry for growth, fun, and impact.
We’re not here to blend in.
We’re here to lead with heart, build with purpose, and raise the bar for everyone we serve.
And the best part?
We’re just getting started
Built Different Brands is rooted in five values that shape every decision, every store, and every experience.
Told through our people. Proven by their stories.
These values didn’t start as words.
They started as stories.
We asked our people to tell us about their teams.
Who they trust on a tough shift. Who makes work better. Who shows up the right way, every single day.
They shared stories about teammates who step up without being asked. Leaders who listen first. People who care deeply about the guest, the team, and the moment they’re in.
When we listened closely, patterns showed up.
Those patterns became our five core values.
Each value reflects the habits our teams see and feel every day. Not theory. Not slogans. Real behavior, lived out on the floor, in the rush, and in the quiet moments too.
These values matter because they honor the people who make this place what it is.
They remind us that greatness isn’t loud. It’s consistent. It’s human. It’s earned.
That’s what it means to be Built Different.
Our values aren’t something we aspire to someday.
They’re already happening.
Our frontline teams are the stars. Our general managers are the directors. Our leaders are the coaches. Culture isn’t delivered from a boardroom. It’s created in the heat of the kitchen, in the speed of the drive-thru, in the small moments when someone chooses to care a little extra.
We grow because our people grow.
We win because our people win.
Our giving pillars are simple and deeply rooted in who we are:
We invest in students and educators because the future starts in the classroom.
We honor those who protect and serve by showing up with gratitude and support.
We partner with organizations that give families access to food, safety, and opportunities.
Looking for support? We’re here to help!
Click donation tab at the top and fill out our online donation request form. It’s quick and easy.
