Rapidly growing pizza franchise, Marco’s Pizza, is lauded for its commitment to supporting military veterans fulfilling their entrepreneurial dreams
It’s one thing for a business to say they support our nation’s veterans and it’s another to back that up with programs and results. At Marco’s Pizza® we truly are dedicated to providing a path to success for the men and women who have served our country. Our dedication to veterans has been recognized by Military Times, who just named us number 3 on their 2017 Best for Vets Franchises List and featured us prominently in an online article announcing the rankings.
Marco’s Pizza prides itself on making the best delivery pizza money can buy, and our growth is testament to our devoted fans nationwide. Marco’s Pizza is handmade in the Italian tradition, using fresh, never-frozen cheeses, making the dough by hand in stores daily and using only premium meats and vegetables. Founded in Toledo in 1978, Marco’s is the only Top 20 pizza chain founded by a native Italian. Our pizza franchise has enjoyed tremendous growth in recent years and is on pace to have 1,000 restaurants open by the end of 2017.
“Marco’s is committed to providing leadership and ownership opportunities for U.S. veterans and this recognition by Military Times, a highly regarded must-read news source for the military community, further legitimizes our commitment,” says Scott Quagliata, Vice President, Veterans Program and Recruitment. “We don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk.”
Scott knows firsthand that the hard work and dedication to teamwork that are instilled in veterans pays off when it comes to running a franchise. A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, Scott served in several leadership positions during his Army career, including Deputy Commanding Officer. “Veterans make great franchisees. The very nature of the franchise business is such that successful franchisees understand and adhere to operational standards. There is a direct correlation between success in the military and success in business,” Scott says.
This isn’t the first time Marco’s has been recognized for our commitment to recruiting veterans and supporting them as they grow their business. Entrepreneur magazine ranked us among the Top Franchises for Veterans in 2016, and we proudly participate in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran Program — which offers veterans a discount on their initial franchise fee.
Marco’s Pizza franchise provides a path to multi-unit success for veterans
Former Army Captain Joe Walker, who served as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq and is a multi-unit franchisee with Marco’s, was quoted in the Military Times article announcing the 2017 best for vets honorees. “Franchising brings a set of operational systems … build your platoon around your mission. … In this case, the output was pizza.”
Walker opened his first Marco’s Pizza location in 2011 after noticing that in the worst of the recession, as most businesses were shrinking, Marco’s seemed to be growing. Walker is now planning to open his 17th, 18th and 19th locations.
Veterans’ military service helps them develop leadership and tactical skills that translate well to successful franchise ownership. “Our structured operating systems at Marco’s have a systematic structure, which offers a degree of familiarity for veterans. If you follow our processes, then your prospects for success are favorable,” Scott says.
Marco’s Veterans Program is a path to small business ownership and a bright future
The Marco’s Pizza veterans program is an entry point into our franchise management pipeline. The long-term intent is that veteran candidates would go through the application and screening process, enter the program and rise through the ranks as general managers, go through the apprentice program and ultimately become Marco’s Pizza multi-unit franchisees. “At the end of the day, this is all about long-term career opportunities for veterans. We want to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides,” Scott says.
“At Marco’s, we live our cultural beliefs every day,” Scott says. “That’s apparent across the Marco’s organization, and it’s similar in nature to the service values with which veterans have lived and really resonates with them.”
Learn more about Marco’s Pizza
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