PERHAPS only the most hardcore Dundee United fan will know Gavin Ritchie.
But if you’re a fan of pizza and live in Glasgow, there’s a chance that if he’s not already your go-to man for a slice of Napoli‘s finest, he could be soon.
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Ritchie, 24, came through the ranks at Tannadice and made two Challenge Cup appearances but that was as good as it got for him on the football pitch.
The defender suffered a horrible leg break that kept him out of action for a year and in the end up, all but ruined his footie career.
He was released by United in 2019 and found himself at a career cross roads – and with more free time on his hands.
Ritchie found himself enjoying watching cooking shows and a light bulb went off when he saw an advert for an Ooni pizza oven.
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After some trial and error, he and wife Nicola soon started making pizzas regularly for family and friends.
Then Covid hit in 2020 and he had even more spare time.
He and Nicola decided to start selling pizzas from their driveway and from that side-hustle, a booming independent business has blossomed.
His mobile food truck carries the name of the business, Pizza B. Goode and has been regularly stationed at Glasgow’s Dockyard Social for two years now alongside the city‘s best street food vendors.
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The quirky van has three wheels and has also been spotted at private events such as weddings.
Ritchie admits it was a happy accident and that one of the main reasons for keeping customers happy amidst a cost of living crisis is ensuring he keeps his prices as low as possible, so that he can beat out competition from restaurants.
He said: “Coming from professional sport I have no cooking background, I just caught the bug and went for it. Thankfully the pizzas are better now than they were at the start!
“Our margins have gotten tighter because of the cost of living crisis, but we’ve continued to use the best ingredients from our suppliers because we believe that’s what keeps you busy and keeps customers returning.
“That, and we’ve kept our prices low despite the increasing costs, £8 for a margherita is as cheap as it gets these days.
“People come because its a cheaper alternative to eating at a restaurant.”
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