Marco's Pizza

About Marco’s Franchising, LLC

Marco’s Pizza (Marco’s Franchising, LLC), headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is one of Pizza Marketing Quarterly’s Top 25 Pizza Chains. Founded in 1978 by Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco, Marco’s Pizza is committed to making Ah!thentic Italian pizza with fresh ingredients. Over the past 30 years, the franchise has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 170 stores in 14 states.

Background/History

Marco’s Pizza founder Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco moved to the U.S. from Italy when he was nine years old and grew up working in his family’s pizzeria. He later embarked on a mission to make high quality pizza on a larger scale using a secret sauce recipe that he developed and refined with his father.

Giammarco focused on three key areas: dough, sauce and cheese. He established three standards in order to deliver the consistent levels of quality and freshness expected of Marco’s products: dough made fresh daily in each store; a proprietary sauce recipe that blends imported spices and three types of vine-ripened tomatoes; and an exclusive blend of three fresh cheeses (never frozen, unlike many pizza chains).

The first Marco's Pizza store opened in Toledo in 1978. Gradually, stores opened throughout the Midwest and beyond. The Marco’s Pizza menu broadened as well, to include hot sub sandwiches, salads and Cheezybread for carryout and delivery.

Today, there are more than 170 franchised and company-owned Marco’s Pizza stores in 14 states.

Facts and Figures

• This past year, Marco’s Pizza experienced more than 12 percent same-store sales growth among company-managed stores, and more than six percent same-store sales growth across the entire Marco’s system
• Marco's Pizza has enjoyed positive same-store growth for the past nine consecutive quarters.
• Marco's Pizza is on track to open more than 25 new stores this year.
• Marco's Pizza anticipates having 500 stores in operation by 2010, more than triple its current number.
• Marco’s Pizza has stores in 14 states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Executive Spokespersons

• Jack Butorac, President & CEO
• Dave Black, Executive Vice President of Operations
• Debbie Allen, Compliance Officer
• Cameron Cummins, Vice President of Franchise Marketing & Recruitment
• Mike Jaynes, Vice President of Sales, Research & Development
• Bryon Stephens, Vice President of New Business Development
• Jim Strachan, Director of Franchising
• Ken Switzer, Vice President and CFO
• Don Vlcek, Vice President of Purchasing
• Peter Wise, Vice President of Marketing

Media Contact

SSG Marketing (734) 417-7663