TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The combination of innovative financing plans, strategic partnerships and food standards that require fundamentals such as fresh, never frozen cheese and dough made daily at each location, have contributed to robust growth momentum for Marco's Pizza, quickly making the 325-unit takeout and delivery franchise a force to be reckoned with in the $40 billion pizza segment.
Among several indicators demonstrating its growth are industry rankings that have continuously spiked year over year. Marco's Pizza jumped 15 spots on Entrepreneur magazine's 2012 Fastest-Growing Franchise Rankings list, placing them at no. 49. In addition, Pizza Today magazine released the annual Top 100 Pizza Companies list. Ranking Marco's at no. 21 this year, a seven-spot increase over last year. Overall, the franchise opened 61 new locations in 2012 and budgets opening 104 more in 2013. Since 2007, the Marco's Pizza franchise system took less than five years to more than double in size.
"Our rankings and other great achievements are due first to an often overlooked fundamental, the pizza really is good. Beyond that, innovations in financing coupled with the shear energy to grow by franchisees and employees have been the keystones," said Jack Butorac, Marco's Pizza CEO. "With 2013 forecasted to be the biggest year for expansion in the brand's history, we are both humbled and stoked that our strategies, from creating our own financing programs and strategic partnerships to the relentless focus on food quality, have proven to be such a success for the brand."
With banks making it challenging for entrepreneurs to secure loans, Marco's Pizza continues its explosive growth through internal and external financing for franchisees. Additionally, Marco's Pizza entered into a $100 million deal with privately held movie rental chain, Family Video, to open Marco's outlets in as many as 350 of its movie stores within the next seven years.
The rankings for Entrepreneur's Fastest-Growing Franchises are determined based on the number of new franchise units added in the United States from July 2011 to July 2012; whereas, Pizza Today's Top 100 Pizza Companies list is compiled based on gross annual sales. Ranking no. 21 on Pizza Today's Top 100 list is due to Marco's Pizza's gross annual sales which increased by nearly 25 percent when compared with 2011 sales.
To view Marco's Pizza's full ranking in Entrepreneur's 2013 Fastest-Growing Franchises list, click here. In order to view Marco's Pizza's full ranking in Pizza Today's Top 100 Pizza Companies list, click here.
ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA:
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza (Marco's Franchising, LLC) is the fastest-growing pizza company in the U.S. (based on the number of stores signed into development since 2007). Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian born, Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and is committed to making Italian Pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 325 stores in 26 states, the Bahamas and Panama. Marco's Pizza recently ranked 11th place in the "2012 Pizza Industry Top 100 Movers & Shakers" article sent out by PizzaMarketPlace.com. To inquire about franchise opportunities with Marco's Pizza visit marcosfranchising.com.