Marco's Pizza facts for kids
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Marco's Pizza, Van Buren Township, Michigan
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Trade name
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Marco's Pizza |
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| Private | |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1978 in Oregon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Founder | Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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 1,052 |
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Area served
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Revenue | US$3 billion (FY 2020) |
| Owner | Jack Butorac |
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Number of employees
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20,000 (2021) |
Marco's Pizza is a popular American restaurant chain. It is known for its delicious Italian-American cuisine, especially pizza. The company is based in Toledo, Ohio, and has many locations.
Marco's Pizza was started by an Italian immigrant named Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco. He opened the first store on February 18, 1978, in Oregon, Ohio.
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About Marco's Pizza
Marco's Pizza has grown a lot since it started. By September 2023, there were over 1,000 stores. You can find them across the United States and Puerto Rico. They also have locations in the Bahamas and India.
The company opened its 1,000th store in Kissimmee, Florida, on October 21, 2020. Marco's Pizza believes its success comes from its dedicated owners (called franchisees). It also comes from its special dough, three-cheese blend, and unique pizza sauce.
Unlike many big pizza chains, Marco's makes its dough fresh every day. Their cheese is also never frozen. This helps make their pizza taste great. You can easily order and pay for your food online.
How Marco's Pizza Started
The Founder's Story
Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, the founder of Marco's Pizza, was born in Sulmona, Italy. He moved to the United States when he was nine years old. Pat grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, where he worked in his family's pizzeria.
He and his father created the special sauce recipe. This is the same sauce used in Marco's Pizza restaurants today.
Growing the Business
In 2002, an expert named Jack Butorac looked at Marco's Pizza. He saw that it had a lot of potential to grow. He noticed that even though the stores looked different, the pizza always tasted the same. "It was delicious," he told The New York Times.
Jack Butorac had experience with big restaurant chains. He realized that Pat Giammarco had a great product. But he needed help to make it a well-known brand.
So, Jack Butorac started working with Pat Giammarco. In January 2004, he bought the rights to expand Marco's Pizza. His goal was to make Marco's Pizza a national brand.
Under Jack Butorac's leadership, Marco's Pizza grew very quickly. Since he took over, the company has more than doubled in size. It has expanded to over 35 states, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and India.
In 2016, Marco's Pizza was ranked among the top pizza companies in the U.S. It was also named one of the fastest-growing franchises. In 2016, the president of Marco's Pizza, Bryon Stephens, was even on the TV show Undercover Boss.
What's on the Menu?
Marco's Pizza offers many tasty items for delivery or take-out. Some locations also let you dine in or offer catering.
The menu includes:
- Pizza
- Subs (sandwiches)
- Chicken wings
- Salads
- CheezyBread
- CinnaSquares (dessert)
- Pizza bowls
- Ghirardelli brownies
Marco's also has special pizzas. One popular one is the White Cheezy pizza. It even won a gourmet competition in California!
Other unique pizzas you might find include Chicken Florentine and Pepperoni Magnifico. They also have Fresco pizzas like Chicken Fresco and Spicy Fresco. These pizzas use Marco's special giardiniera, which is an authentic Italian pepper relish.
Awards and Recognition
Marco's Pizza has received many awards over the years. These awards show how popular and successful the company is.
In 2014, Consumer Reports magazine named Marco's Pizza the #3 best pizza chain. This was based on surveys of customers. It was the first time Marco's Pizza appeared on this important list.
Some of their other recognitions include:
- America's Favorite Pizza Company in a 2017 study.
- Ranked highly on Business Insider's list of best fast food chains.
- Listed among the top chains by Restaurant Business Magazine.
- Recognized by Franchise Times as one of the "Fast and Serious" growing brands.
See also
