D J Patel, Monaliza Patel to lead expansion in India.
By Sujeet Rajan
NEW YORK: The Toledo-Ohio based Marco’s Pizza, the fastest-growing pizza franchise in the United States, has struck a franchise deal in India, with plans to open 400 stores over the next 10 years.
Leading the expansion in India are D J Patel and Monaliza Patel who have a combined 33 plus years of experience working in the pizza and franchise sectors, according to a press release issued by the company. D J Patel is a successful area developer for Marco’s Pizza who oversees 40 Marco’s Pizza units in Georgia, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia. Monaliza Patel is also an area representative and partners with DJ Patel to co-manage stores in Atlanta and the Southern Georgia region.
“We are thrilled to launch operations in an untapped market such as India with two phenomenal Marco’s Pizza area representatives native to the area,” said Bryon Stephens, President and COO of Marco’s Pizza, in a statement. “We look forward to the expansion goals DJ and Monaliza have put in place in India, based on their sound market research, with their first store opening before the close of the year.”
No details were given as to which city in India the first store is going to be opened, or when.
Marco’s Pizza’s has also the distinction of being the only national franchise chain founded by a native Italian, Pasquale Giammarco, in 1978, and have styled themselves as a chain which uses only fresh ingredients in their food products.
In the US, Marco’s Pizza has around 500 locations in 35 states and the Bahamas. They had more than 1,500 new franchise deals signed in 2013. According to the release, the company is on track to quadruple its store count in the coming five to seven years. They are reckoned to be the fastest-growing pizza company in the U.S. based on the number of stores signed into development since 2007.
The company recently took the no. 3 spot in Consumer Reports’ pizza category restaurant rankings and was no. 8 on Franchise Times’ “2014 Fast and Serious” list.