Celebrating 50 years in 2023, Hungry Howie’s continued to expand its horizons with new store agreements, new technology launches and Secret Menu items.

On the heels of celebrating 50 years in 2023, Hungry Howie’s plans on carrying its anniversary momentum into the new year. Based in Madison Heights, Michigan, the franchise has grown to more than 535 stores in 21 states as the originator of Flavored Crust Pizza, with 2023 marking an uptick in development growth.

The brand opened multiple new locations throughout the year across target markets with existing franchisees, ending the year with six signed agreements, while also adding 11 new franchisees to its system. Among these new developments include locations in Traverse City and Monroe, Michigan, as well as Alabama, Ohio and Texas, which are on pace to open through mid-2025.

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“We celebrated our 50th anniversary this year, and it proved to be a strong one in terms of growth, menu innovation and technology evolution,” Steve Clough, director of franchise development at Hungry Howie’s, said. “Through these enhancements and achievements, we’ve set ourselves up for success with a pipeline of development activities that span 2024 and beyond. In 2023, we had the privilege of announcing new store openings and agreements and welcoming new franchisees to the Hungry Howie’s brand. As we continue to reach our goals, we are grateful to our customers and team for the continuous support as our success continues.”

Hungry Howie’s celebrated several recent highlights and areas of focus in its 2023 wrap-up:

• As menu innovation and evolving technology continue to play a vital role in the company’s customer experience, the brand released its new pizza party planner website. It calculates the recommended amount of pizza customers should order based on the number of guests and their age range.
• Hungry Howie’s celebrated its 50-year anniversary with the launch of its Secret Menu, which includes a variety of new, customized pizza offerings available exclusively through a QR code. Each item on the limited-time menu, including the eye-catching Tie-Dye Pizza, pays tribute to the brand’s 50-year history while offering a twist on its Flavored Crust roots. In August 2023 alone, Hungry Howie’s sold more than 49,000 pizzas from the Secret Menu across all stores systemwide, resulting in more than $515,000 in sales (1.42% of total sales). The brand also saw an increase in direct website sales traffic, gaining 5,200-plus new users, with a user return rate of 19% in August.
• Industry accolades for the brand include rankings on numerous “top brands” lists. Samantha Hebel, Hungry Howie’s manager of advertising, was named a Young Leader to Watch by QSR magazine. And Hungry Howie’s ranked #103 on Technomic’s Top 500 Chain Restaurant list and #8 in the Limited-Service Pizza Chains list.
• Hungry Howie’s was ranked at No. 9 among the top pizza brands in terms of systemwide sales and number of units in 2022.
• Hungry Howie’s raised approximately $5 million in funds and spread awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) through its 15th annual Love, Hope & Pizza campaign.

Hungry Howie’s opened as a 1,000-square-foot hamburger shop in Taylor, Michigan, and has since evolved into a carryout and delivery pizza chain. Today, Hungry Howie’s specializes in offering 10 free Flavored Crust options, such as Asiago Cheese, Italian Herb and Disco Inferno. The brand continues to seek franchisees for growing its U.S. footprint, with the goal of providing “customers of all ages with high-quality products at a great value.”

Its menu includes original round, deep-dish, thin-crust and gluten-free crust options, plus calzone-style oven-baked subs, Howie Bread, salads, Howie Wings, Howie Rolls, desserts and more.

The company is also known for its annual Love Hope & Pizza campaign, benefiting the NBCF. The campaign has a commitment to give back to local communities by increasing breast cancer awareness.