At just 21, Josh Stretch has gone from delivering pizzas after school to owning his own HELL Pizza store in Kāpiti.

Stretch originally joined HELL Pizza after finishing Year 13. Like many young workers, the job was meant to be a stepping stone while he saved money and worked out what came next.

But the role quickly became more than a part-time job. After giving university a go, Stretch realised he was more drawn to the pace, structure and opportunity inside the business.

He returned to HELL and began learning the operational side of the company, supported by his former boss and now business partner, Chirag Thour. That mentorship eventually helped him step into ownership when the Kāpiti franchise became available.

Stretch relocated from Palmerston North earlier this year to take over the store.

For HELL Pizza, the story reflects a wider pattern inside the brand, where young staff are being given a pathway into business ownership. Founded in Wellington in 1996, HELL now has 78 stores around the country and has built a reputation for backing operators who have worked their way up through the business.

Stretch is now focused on building a positive team culture and becoming part of the local Kāpiti community.

His story is a reminder that small business ownership does not always begin with a business degree, a corporate background or a large investment portfolio. Sometimes it starts with showing up, doing the work and being given the right support at the right time.