(Press Release) TOLEDO, Ohio – Looking to maximize its prime real estate properties and further expand its business Family Video, the largest privately owned movie and game rentailer in the United States, has formed a partnership with Marco’s Pizza in order to operate and serve authentic Italian pizza. All told, the partnership with Marco’s Pizza has the potential to create more than 7,000 new jobs over the next seven years.
Through the new growth initiative, more than one-half of Family Video’s current 735 Retail Plazas, typically occupying 7,000 square feet or more, will use 1,500 square feet of its retail space to operate Marco’s Pizza restaurants. Family Video has built a real estate portfolio over the past 30 years by purchasing, rather than leasing, retail space.
Joining a brand that is experiencing tremendous growth is a strategy that is mutually beneficial to Family Video and Marco’s Pizza. Together, the compatible brands will train Family Video’s employees and integrate them into the Marco’s Pizza family.
“In the course of building our video store portfolio, we have accumulated an impressive real estate portfolio, one that includes multiple sites that are ideal for the Marco’s Pizza target market,” said Keith Hoogland, President of Family Video.“Core to our success at retail is the culture of service we have built through best practices in hiring and training. By converging our strong service ethic and Marco’s high quality pizza product, we have the ideal partnership.”
Because Family Video buys and develops most of its buildings and land, the company has the ability to easily convert existing retail space into a brand of its choice. Marco’s Pizza, looking to expand its national footprint, was an ideal choice, as the brands share an almost identical customer base and customer service philosophy.
Marco’s Pizza has continued to experience consistent growth through franchising through an Area Representative model. Marco’s Pizza grew to more than 280 locations in 21 states, sparked by a record-setting 61 new store openings in 2011. In addition, based on agreements already in the pipeline, not counting the Family Video conversions, Marco’s Pizza projects to open 100 additional new stores in 2012. The partnership with Family Video will enable the already fast-growing pizza brand to expedite its growth and enter currently untapped markets where the movie rentailer owns property.
“In this economic climate, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to expand, and partnerships with companies such as Family Video are just one of many that we are considering or pursuing,” said Jack Butorac, CEO of Marco’s Pizza. “With a strong real estate portfolio, and service-oriented culture, Family Video’s business model aligns well with Marco’s Pizza. This partnership will help us achieve our expansion goals much sooner than later. ”
The first Marco’s Pizza to open on property owned by Family Video will be in Wheeling, IL,slated for the first quarter of 2012. An estimated 350 conversions will follow, primarily in the Midwest, starting with Illinois and Indiana,and eventually expanding into other regions around the country.
About Marco’s Franchising, LLC
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza (Marco’s Franchising, LLC) is the fastest-growing pizza company in the U.S.(based on the number of stores signed into development since 2007). Marco’s was founded in 1978 by Italian born, Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco and is committed to making Ah! thentic Italian pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 280 stores in 21 states and the Bahamas. To inquire about franchise opportunities with Marco’s Pizza visit www.marcos.com or e-mail ljohnson@marcos.com.
About Family Video
We are the largest privately owned movie and game rentailer in the United States. We operate more than 735 Family Video stores in 19 states and we are opening more all the time. Our unique property-ownership model makes us a different sort of retailer because we buy and develop most of our buildings and land. We have developed more than 600 retail strip centers and count Fortune 500 companies as well as Mom and Pop retailers amongst our 200 tenants.
