Marco Pizza inks deal for 46 new stores in Phoenix market

Marco Pizza is on a roll.

The country’s fifth-largest pizza brand has entered into a development agreement that will bring 46 new stores to the Phoenix metro area during the next six years, with six locations projected to open in the next 18-months. Site selection is underway on the first store which is slated to open in the third quarter.

The agreement contributes to Marco’s overall goal to grow to 1,500 units by 2023. The company plans to open more than 150 stores this year.

The Phoenix development agreement is with 11-year Marco's area representative and franchisee Robert Pina, who joined the brand in 2011 in Houston, Texas. He currently oversees development in Houston and San Antonio with his business partner Uyen Tran, which together boasts 67 stores, 20 of which are owned by Pina. An additional 25 locations are in development across both markets.

Marco's said it is experiencing record-breaking double-digit same-store-sales increases year-over-year and continues to pilot new programs – investing millions of dollars into technology and innovation – to sustain its performance. The company is on track to reach $1 billion in annual systemwide sales in 2022.

"When one of your seasoned, top-performing franchisees commits to 46 new stores, it speaks to the tremendous belief they have in our brand, our business model, and our people-first culture,” said Keith Sizemore, VP of development for Marco's Pizza.

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza operates more than 1,000 stores in 34 states and also has locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.