Announcement posted by Invigorate PR 24 Jun 2025
The pizza is so loaded you need two hands. But Il Locale Pizza, founded by French-born entrepreneur Mat Bourget, has perfected the art of folding every slice into a hand-held pizza pie - no mess, just pure flavour. The brand's signature succulent pizzas, made fresh using traditional Italian methods and top local ingredients, have taken Western Australia by storm. Now, Il Locale is preparing to roll out franchise stores across the country.
These are not ordinary pizzas. The stunning sourdough base is slightly crispy with a satisfying chew, deep enough to carry generous layers of artisan sauce, herbs and bold toppings. Every bite is rich, balanced and packed with flavour.
"Naturally, if you want to eat with a knife and fork, you can do this too, but our pizza is designed to be eaten anywhere and however you like," Mat Bourget said.
"We have created and perfected the 'Aussie hold' - a clever and inventive way to eat your pizza. You simply pick up a piece of our Il Locale Pizza slice and place it in your hand with the outer part of the pizza triangle across your fingers and the point facing towards your wrist.
"You then close your hand up slightly, folding up the pizza slice into an easy to eat pie. It is magic. No other pizza folds like ours. Our secret base recipe is firm enough to hold the pizza together in place, yet malleable enough to fold into a pie in your hand.'
Bourget added that many pizza bases are hard and more like cardboard. Ours is different. Il Locale pizza is like an explosion of excitement in your hand that then becomes pure joy in your mouth.
"Our pizzas are made with real love and real technique. We follow old-school Italian methods, we use only the best ingredients and we don't hold back on flavour. It's pizza that eats like a meal, folded in your hand, devoured in minutes."
Since launching in Scarborough, Il Locale has expanded to six thriving stores across WA. Each location draws crowds nightly, with fan favourites like the Hot Box foldable pizza, the Burrata, and the fiery XXXTRA Hot topping the must-eat lists. The dessert pizza, Nutellino, also has its own cult following.
The menu's popularity and the brand's electric atmosphere have fuelled a national franchise expansion, with a $2 million raise underway and new locations soon to launch along the east coast.
"This is not just pizza. It's an experience. A flavour bomb you can fold into your hand and eat with joy. From best in the west, we're now heading east and we're just getting started."
About Il Locale Pizza
Founded in Perth by Mat Bourget, Il Locale Pizza is a fast-growing, independent pizza brand known for its sourdough artisan pizzas, modern Italian street food flavour and electric energy. With six locations and a national franchise program on the horizon, Il Locale is flipping the script on what it means to run a pizza business in Australia.
Social handles
Website: www.illocalepizza.com.au
Instagram: @illocalebestinthewest
Founder Instagram: @mateuspipa
Osteria Concept: @osteriaillocale
Bodega Scarborough: @bodega_perth