Franco Pepe

Owner of the award-winning pizzeria Pepe in Grani in Caiazzo (Caserta), he is unanimously considered one of the greatest master pizza chefs in the world—a true revolutionary capable of elevating pizza to international gastronomic excellence.

Coming from a line of bakers and raised in the family business, he has masterfully combined ancient knowledge and traditional craftsmanship (such as the famous manual working of doughs in wooden troughs) with a scientific approach, a rigorous promotion of the short supply chain of the Upper Caserta area, and extraordinary attention to nutritional aspects, achieved through collaboration with dietetic experts.

Awarded the prestigious title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his contribution to promoting the agri-food heritage and regularly ranking at the top of global industry charts, he is the creator of contemporary icons such as the Margherita Sbagliata. A featured star of the Netflix docu-series Chef's Table: Pizza, he ranked first in the Italy standings of 50 Top Pizza for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 editions, and was recognized as the best pizza chef of the year at the Best Chef Awards in 2021 and 2022.