Twin brothers Luke and Owen Buckmaster, founders of the fast-growing frozen pizza brand Doughboys Pizza, have been named Young Entrepreneurs of the Year at the 2025 Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEA).
The 25-year-old pair, from Berkshire, were recognised for rapid growth and innovation in the food sector, transforming their startup into a business supplying thousands of hospitality venues as well as major retailers in the UK and overseas.
The awards, now in their 13th year and sponsored by Allica Bank, celebrate entrepreneurs driving innovation and job creation across the UK and are often referred to as “the Grammys for Entrepreneurship”.
Speaking after receiving the award, co-founder Luke Buckmaster said the recognition came at a challenging time for small businesses.
“Running a business in today’s climate is unbelievably tough,” he said. “Rising costs, constant pressure and competition with huge budgets make it harder than ever for young companies to survive and thrive. That’s why recognition like this means so much to us.”
He added that the support of the GBEA and the visibility it brings “motivates us even more as we move into our next phase of growth”.
The Buckmaster twins launched Doughboys Pizza in 2021 with £10,000 of savings earned through part-time work in hospitality and supermarkets. The brand began supplying pubs and restaurants with handmade frozen pizzas and bases produced in Italy, quickly gaining traction among venues seeking higher-quality products.
The business has since expanded to supply thousands of sites across the UK, including hotel chains, football stadiums and NHS facilities.
In 2023, Doughboys secured retail listings with Ocado in the UK and Spinneys in the UAE. Earlier this year, its Margherita pizza was named “Best Supermarket Margherita” by The Guardian.
Company revenue has surpassed £6 million since launch, with turnover rising from £320,000 in 2021 to a projected £2.75 million in 2025. The founders have also collected nine industry awards and previously reached the finals of the GBEA in 2021.
Luke and Owen made a high-profile appearance on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den in January 2025, where they received a £90,000 investment offer from Peter Jones for a 10% stake. Although they accepted the deal on-air, they later decided not to proceed due to contractual complexities.
The brothers said they remain on good terms with Jones’s team.
“Peter and his team have been incredibly supportive throughout the process and we hope to reunite with them in the future,” they said.
They credited the programme with giving their business valuable exposure and insight as they prepare for further expansion and new investment plans.
