Little Caesars to Expand Presence in Seven States with New 'POD' Locations

Little Caesars, the third-largest pizza chain in the country, has announced plans to increase the number of its stores in seven states. Additionally, the company is testing a new type of restaurant called "Little Caesars PODs."

Little Caesars Targets Seven Cities for Growth

The Detroit-based Little Caesars, recognized as the third-largest pizza chain globally, plans to open more than 30 new locations across the United States. These restaurants will be established in San Diego, Memphis, Tampa, Raleigh, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Antonio, and Eugene, Oregon.

New franchise agreements will facilitate the expansion. Leo Gonzalez, a seasoned franchise owner who manages several locations in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, is leading Little Caesars' growth in Southern California.

Gonzalez has committed to opening nine new restaurants in San Diego within the next four years, underscoring the chain's aggressive expansion strategy.

Little Caesars is expanding, bringing new locations to various markets, including Bradenton, Florida. Jocelyn Monperousse and Lissette Isabel, co-owners of RJBL Pizza, spearhead this move.

The pair, forming a dynamic female duo, are opening the first traditional Little Caesars restaurant in the area. They have committed to a five-unit franchise agreement to fuel their expansion plans in the Tampa region through 2027.

Patrick Cunningham, Vice President of U.S. Development at Little Caesars, expressed optimism about the company's growth. "The growth and momentum we've seen in the first three months of 2024 show the strength and potential of Little Caesars," he said.

"Our business model is designed to support our franchise owners and has attracted many experienced multi-unit operators." He added that the company's development pipeline is robust, and, looking ahead, Little Caesars is dedicated to continuing this growth, leveraging technology and innovation to meet customers' changing needs.

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Little Caesars Rolls Out New 'POD' Style Locations

Little Caesars has unveiled plans to expand its network with a fresh format called Little Caesars PODs. These innovative locations are constructed off-site using modular shipping units, significantly speeding up the building process.

Designed specifically to accommodate drive-thru and walk-up customers, POD-style restaurants cater to on-the-go diners. Little Caesars launched these first restaurants last month in Keokuk, Iowa, marking a new chapter in its service offerings.

While Little Caesars is expanding its footprint with new POD-style locations, Papa John's is also setting its sights on growth. The pizza chain plans to open 50 new stores in various states over five years. These new outlets will span from Pennsylvania to Arizona and include locations in the Midwest and Florida.

A significant figure in this expansion is Nadeem Bajwa, who began his career as a delivery driver and has risen to become a major franchisee and operator over the past thirty years.

"After starting his Papa Johns journey as a delivery driver, today he is one of the strongest ambassadors for the opportunities Papa Johns presents to its team members and franchisees," said Joe Sieve, Papa Johns chief restaurant officer.

However, not all pizza chains are experiencing growth. Last month, Mod Pizza announced the closure of 27 of its 500 US locations. Similarly, 1,000 Degrees closed two restaurants within two months, highlighting the variable fortunes within the industry.

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