Sacco - Italian Pasta Express joins EquityPilot to scale high-quality, sustainable pasta fast food

Italy & Dubai, UAE - February 18, 2026
Urban diners increasingly demand food that is fast, affordable and better for people and the planet. Sacco - Italian Pasta Express addresses a clear gap in quick-service dining: there is no major fast food chain focused on pasta, despite pasta's global popularity, low production cost and smaller environmental footprint compared with meat-heavy fast food options.

What the Startup Delivers?
Sacco will operate a chain of fast-casual restaurants serving classic Italian pasta dishes (carbonara, bolognese, pesto and more) prepared to high-quality standards but delivered with the speed, pricing and operational efficiency of fast food. Key differentiators include the exclusive use of durum wheat pasta, a menu designed for low environmental impact, and a proprietary preparation and short-term storage method that enables ready-to-serve pasta at the cashier, with no service time.

Why Now?
Shifts in consumer preference toward healthier, sustainable convenient meals, combined with proven high margins for pasta dishes (example: a 100 g portion of pasta plus 80 g sauce produced for €0.89 and sold at €9), create a favorable window to introduce a pasta-first fast food model. Rising interest in international concepts across the GCC and similar markets supports rapid local adoption and scale.

Program Plan (first 30-60 days)
Through EquityPilot, FasterCapital will work with Sacco to: - Refine operational SOPs for high-turnover preparation and in-store flow - Validate pricing and menu engineering in the pilot location - Strengthen brand positioning and the first-launch marketing plan tailored to target neighborhoods in Dubai - Prepare scalable materials for a centralized production hub to support multi-unit rollout.

Leadership Comment
Hesham Zreik, Founder and CEO of FasterCapital, said: 'We're excited to support Sacco - Italian Pasta Express through EquityPilot. Our team will focus on execution milestones and connecting the startup with the right ecosystem stakeholders.'

Next 90 Days
Sacco will pilot its flagship store, finalize its standardized operating model and service workflow, complete initial hiring and training, and execute a launch campaign targeting high-footfall locations. Insights from the pilot will inform plans for a second and third store and the design of a centralized external kitchen for semi-finished product supply.

Competitive landscape
While fast food incumbents dominate quick-service dining, none have built a pasta-first category. Sacco's model combines the operational repeatability of fast food with menu quality and authenticity more typical of independent Italian restaurants, creating differentiated consumer value in an underserved segment.

Founder background
Founder Umberto Sacco combines Italian culinary tradition with fast-food operational design. The concept leverages his collaboration with professional chefs to develop a method that preserves finished pasta dishes for immediate sale, enabling fast service without compromising on authentic ingredients.

Address 1: Grandstand, 0612, 6th floor, Meydan Freezone, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai

Media Contact:
Lydia Zeng
Email: lydia.zeng@fastercapital.com
Phone: +1 (512) 400-0256
Website: https://www.fastercapital.com

About Sacco - Italian Pasta Express - https://www.saccofastfood.com/
Sacco - Italian Pasta Express - Italian Pasta Express is a fast-casual restaurant concept delivering authentic Italian pasta dishes with fast food speed and affordable prices. The brand emphasizes durum wheat pasta, replicable operations, modern dining spaces and a lower environmental footprint. Founder: Umberto Sacco.

About FasterCapital
FasterCapital is a global venture builder and online incubator dedicated to co-funding and co-founding innovative startups. Established in 2014, we are now #1 venture builder in terms of number of startups that we have helped, money invested and money raised. It supports startups worldwide through various programs, including funding assistance, business development, and technical support. The EquityPilot program is designed to help early-stage startups build scalable solutions with mentorship, strategic guidance, and network support.

This release was published on openPR.