Domino’s Swaffham owner Alok Yadav tells of pizza success

The next words he learned were somewhat unusual - they included 'anchovy' and pineapple' and 'chicken'. 

That's because Alok Yadav, 36, used a Domino's pizza menu rather than a school book for some of his first lessons. 

Mr Yadav moved to the UK in 2007 on a year-long placement as part of his college course, and got a job as a cleaner at a Portsmouth branch of the fast-food chain soon afterwards.

He is now the firm's newest franchise partner, having just opened a branch in Market Place, Swaffham.

Alok Yadav, 36, opens his very first Domino’s store in Swaffham, 16 years after he joined the company as an in-store cleaner (Image: Domino’s)

Mr Yadav said: “I knew I had to learn the language quickly if I wanted to progress, but it was really hard.

“It was tricky when someone ordered a Meatilicious pizza because I couldn’t say it.

Alok Yadav, 36, opens his very first Domino’s store in Swaffham, 16 years after he joined the company as an in-store cleaner (Image: Domino’s)

“As I was young, I’d only heard of onions and tomatoes, so I had to learn the names of the other toppings and how to say them.

"That's how I learned English. It’s been an incredible journey and I couldn’t be happier.”

Mr Yadav said he used to "role play" with colleagues until he mastered the phrase: "Hi, this is Domino’s, my name is Alok, how may I help you."

More lessons followed, and he worked his way up to being a store manager and eventually an area manager.

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He even met his wife, Rachel, while they were colleagues at another branch of the pizza chain. 

Mr Yadav then left the company and launched a career as an entrepreneur, opening coffee shops and other pizza stores before returning to Domino's to take part in an in-house scheme called 'homegrown heroes', which paves the way to becoming a franchisee. 

He has now lived in the Swaffham area for more than 10 years.