Pizza fanatic turned multi-unit franchisee, Ernie Amorim has been one of Pizza Factory’s biggest advocates since opening his first location in Gustine, California in 2005. From then on, he has opened two other locations in Salinas. “Pizza Factory is a great brand that offers guests high quality food and serves as a meeting place for the community,” says Amorim.
This community feel is a big part of the Pizza Factory culture and something that is attracting new and existing franchisees to continuously invest in the concept. Franchisees are actively involved in their communities, creating a hometown vibe that’s second to none. “Pizza Factory means tradition for so many—we have a game room and party room that guests use for special events and regulars that come to watch sporting events on our TVs every week,” says Amorim.
Beyond being a go-to spot for locals, Pizza Factory is also known for providing awesome development opportunities for its restaurant crew members. Amorim, for example, recently sold his first Pizza Factory location in Gustine to his longtime store manager who now operates the successful location.
The final piece of the community pie is the way the Pizza Factory corporate team is so closely aligned with its franchisees. Amorim, who owns several franchise brands, serves on the Pizza Factory Franchise Advisory Council where he helps keep the channels of communication open between the corporate office and franchisees so that all are informed and on the same page. “I represent 20 stores and facilitate the exchange of ideas between the corporate office and franchisees,” says Amorim.
Pizza Factory got its start in Oakhurst, California in 1978, maintaining its reputation as a West Coast staple for decades and growing to 100-plus restaurants across the country. As Pizza Factory continues to develop into new markets, the company’s philosophy remains simple: go into towns of all sizes to become part of the fabric of the community.
After record-breaking franchise growth in 2021, Pizza Factory is leveraging a lucrative segment and its future is looking bright. The pizza industry generated an estimated $47.5 billion in revenue in 2021 and the market size of the pizza restaurant industry is expected to increase 2.8% in 2022. And, 83% of consumers eat pizza at least once a month. There’s a market with room to grow!
There are many reasons, Amorim says, that Pizza Factory is a great brand. “We only use the highest quality ingredients like dough made in-house daily, homemade sauce, hand-shredded cheese, and fresh toppings,” says Amorim.
Pizza Factory offers a variety of ways for franchisees to open a location. Restaurant operators can build their own location or open via conversion options. There are fast-casual and quick-serve prototypes with footprint requirements ranging from 1,000 – 4,000 square feet. There are even non-traditional location opportunities like colleges, airports, and travel centers.
On top of these flexible buildout options, Amorim says the brand provides all the support a franchisee needs to be successful. “They offer us everything from marketing and operational support to training and technical support,” he says. “They are always available and can help with any need you have.”
Up until now, Pizza Factory has been concentrated on the West Coast. Now the brand is looking for franchise partners in other markets across the nation where single and multi-unit opportunities are available. In fact, two milestone agreements led the brand into two new states: Texas and Georgia.
This brand momentum has not gone unnoticed as Pizza Factory made a number of award lists. In fact, Pizza Factory ranked on Franchise Times Top 400 list, placed in the top 50% on Entrepreneur’s 2021 Top Franchises for Veterans list and was named one of the Top Food & Beverage franchises by Franchise Business Review.
Want to be your own boss, aided by the support of a corporate team, and a passionate peer group of other like-minded franchisees? To discover more about franchising opportunities with Pizza Factory, visit pizzafactoryfranchises.com or call 949-510-6607.
SPONSORED BY:
Pizza Factory
Pizza Factory houses hardworking owners, family-friendly dining and high-quality products. Restaurant design options include a Pizza Factory Express model and off-premise dining with delivery and mobile ordering available through our app. Learn More