Marco's Pizza exceeds 2014 expansion goals, adding 131 restaurants this year in its roster.
The pizzeria targets to open its 1000th store by 2016, after launching its 500th location in June. It already has 565 restaurant locations, exceeding its expansion goals by 40 percent. Its growth fast puts the restaurant to be the fourth-largest pizza chain in the country.
Vice President for Development, Cameron Cummins, said, "With our growth and momentum picking up, we are becoming a well-known brand that is beginning to own the 'better pizza' category like Five Guys did with hamburgers."
As the franchisees of the pizzeria grows in numbers in prime locations, Marco's Pizza gained a market share of $40 billion in the annual U.S. pizza market. They open restaurants in locations ideal for new restaurants, while its competitors like Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's and Domino's Pizza infiltrate already saturated market.
In Baltimore alone, the restaurant plans to open 13 pizzerias in the next three years, three of them are planned for opening within the year.
The "Franchise Times" ranked the pizzeria No. 8 in its Fast & Serious list, which includes restaurants for its growth and staying power. In 2013, Marco's Pizza added 109 restaurants in its total number. It has more that doubled in size in the past three years.
Marco's Pizza is also included in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, ranking at 104th place. Franchise Business Review also includes the pizzeria in its Top 200.
Priding itself as the only pizza franchise chain started by an Italian, Marco's Pizza has been making artisan pizza since 1978, way ahead of the rise of artisan pizzerias in the country. They swear to use only the freshest ingredients in their pizza, including the premium meat, cheese, in-store prepared vegetables, and specially-concocted sauce.
Marco's Pizza encourages interested franchisees to visit www.marcosfranchising.com for opportunities.
