One of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza franchises plans to add 33 locations in the Phoenix area
Marco’s Pizza® franchise plans to open more than 30 locations in the Phoenix, Arizona, area within the next five years. Marco’s has enjoyed explosive growth in 2016, with a new store opening, on average, every other day. Earlier this year, we opened our milestone 700th store and we are on track to reach 1,000 locations by the end of 2017.
We already have successful franchises in Tucson and Mesa, with a Glendale location set to open in November. Ten out of the 33 targeted Phoenix sites have been sold with two locations slated to open by the end of October. These new expansion plans will create more than 600 jobs.
“The metro Phoenix region is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, making it a prime location for growth in local communities,” Chief Development Officer Cameron Cummins says. “We are still at the ground floor of our development in Phoenix, making it an exciting expansion region for us. Our development team is poised for success and we’re eager to bring Marco’s back to both old and new customers in the area.”
Popularity of fast-casual pizza concepts drives growth
The fast-casual restaurant segment is big as today’s busy consumer craves quality food made with fresh ingredients and served quickly. In Phoenix, fast-casual pizza concepts are especially popular as pizza restaurants have opened at a steady pace during the last few years. Phoenix is no different than other U.S. cities, where fast-casual sales are booming, with Marco’s Pizza being a preference among consumers. Many Marco’s customers in the Phoenix area are “snow birds” escaping the bitter cold of the Midwest where the Marco’s brand has been well-established for three decades.
Fast-casual sales in 2015 grew by 11 percent, according to Technomic’s 2015 Top 500 Chain Restaurants report, and the top 500 largest restaurant chains reported growth of 4.9 percent in 2015, with total sales of $288 billion. This topped the 2014 growth rate of 4.2 percent.
“The popularity of fast-casual dining is one of the biggest restaurant success stories of the past few years, and Marco’s is riding that wave of success,” Cameron says. “In a market filled with pizza franchises, Marco’s stands out on several levels. We were making artisan pizzas long before they became a trend. Our handmade pizza starts with fresh dough made daily on-site. Every step of the pizza-making process at Marco’s features unique blends and recipes, such as our proprietary three-cheese blend and secret pizza sauce recipe.”
Our growing pizza franchise seeks passionate entrepreneurs in Phoenix
Marco’s has prime locations available in the Phoenix area for passionate entrepreneurs to start building their franchise restaurants. “Our franchisees come from a remarkably wide variety of backgrounds. But there’s a common thread among our franchisees — passion for the Marco’s product. Many of them were Marco’s consumers first. They fell in love with our product,” Cameron says.
Marco’s Pizza is seeking quality franchisees who are committed to making their restaurants places where customers want to buy fresh, delectable pizza — welcoming, friendly individuals who remember customers’ names and are passionate about the Marco’s product. The investment required to start a Marco’s Pizza franchise is typically $350,000. The pizza franchise is looking for people who have a net worth of $350,000 and a minimum liquidity of $100,000.
Previous restaurant experience is not necessary to open a Marco’s Pizza. The company’s team of veteran pizza executives has experience growing brands and is always ready to help franchisees throughout their careers.
Marco’s Pizza franchise supports and trains franchise owners
In an eight-week training program, franchisees learn how to own and operate a Marco’s Pizza franchise through the company’s Marco’s University and in-store training. In addition to teaching about the product and how it is made, the company helps franchisees learn to manage the business side of the franchise, including training staff, managing finances and incorporating savvy marketing strategies.
Founded in Toledo, Ohio, in 1978, Marco’s Pizza features homemade recipes and fresh ingredients in the Italian tradition. We are the only top 20 pizza franchise in the country that was founded by a native Italian. We are led by veteran pizza executives who have experience growing brands and supporting franchisees as they grow their businesses.
Learn more about Marco’s Pizza
For in-depth details about the Marco’s Pizza franchise opportunity, download our free franchise report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages.
