Great North Pizza Co. has announced plans to open Big Poppa's, an Italian deli serving panuozzo sandwiches, in a prime Newcastle location in 2027. The new venture will focus on premium deli meats, cheeses, and panuozzo, a type of Italian street food sandwich made from fresh Neapolitan pizza dough.
New Venture in Grainger Market
The deli is set to open in the Grainger Market, in a former butcher unit in alley four, adding to the market's existing food outlets. The company shared the news on its Facebook page, assuring fans that it will not stop its usual pizza-making activities.
"Before anyone asks, we're not ditching the pizzas. Great North Pizza isn’t going anywhere," the company stated. "We’re simply creating something completely different for this new venture."
Planned Opening and Menu
Big Poppa's - Panuozzo and Italian Deli is currently in the planning stages, with the aim to open in November next year. The menu will include premium meat, cheese, and panuozzo sandwiches, as well as garlic and rosemary roast potatoes and cannoli.
Following a visit to Naples, the team has been developing "incredible combinations" for their panuozzo. The company promises "proper Italian ingredients, a bit of creativity and absolutely no boring sandwiches."
Expansion Plans
Great North Pizza Co. has been in business for seven years, expanding from the Great North Coffee Company, which started from a coffee van outside the Tyne Tunnel. It has served pizzas at events such as Tynemouth Market, Mouth of the Tyne Festival, and Slice Wars.
The company plans to share progress on its Instagram page and aims to build the shop "to the highest standard our budget allows." It added: "We’re putting just as much thought into the design, equipment and customer experience as we are into the food. We want somewhere that looks incredible, serves incredible food and brings something genuinely different to Newcastle."
