By Karen Peattie
A WEST Lothian-based pizza oven company, which claims to be “the world’s number one” in its sector, is to increase the minimum entry level salary for employees to £25,000.
Ooni Pizza Ovens, founded by husband-and-wife team Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland, said the pay is 54 per cent higher than the UK national minimum wage and 45% higher than the Living Wage Foundation’s real living wage. It means that all staff receive a 10% salary increase.
The Broxburn firm, which took the decision to increase the entry salary at the beginning of 2021, describes itself as “one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies”, with offices in Scotland, the US, Germany and China. Mr Tapaninaho and Ms Garland said that when they launched the business in 2012, they created a brand new category by offering a “small, fast and accessible wood-fired pizza oven that gave ordinary people the critical tool to make great pizza at home”.
“People are at the heart of our business and our culture focuses on people and passion,” said Ms Garland, Ooni’s chief experience officer. “We believe that by investing in our team everyone wins. Our employees are crucial to the success of our business deserve to be empowered and know that what they do nine to five, Monday to Friday, is helping to make the world just a little bit better – one slice at a time.”
With 20 million pizzas cooked in Ooni ovens since 2013 and the business growing at 400% year on year, Ooni now has about 120 employees. It offers full range of pizza ovens and tools and was named “one to watch” at the UK EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 virtual awards. It also featured in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 list in 2019 and 2020.
Chief financial officer Andrew Brown said: “There are loads of reasons to love working at Ooni Pizza Ovens but for me, our minimum salary increase stands out. It’s a simple, bold, progressive and empowering step to oppose unjust wage gaps and recognise that our people are our business and our success.”
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