Happy Joe’s, the Midwestern pizza and ice cream brand featured on PMQ’s January/February 2025 cover, reports that it closed its 52nd year with record-breaking franchise growth, fueled by meaningful partnerships, industry recognition and key market expansions.
The year kicked off with the return of a guest favorite, Happy Joe’s signature heart-shaped pizzas, offered throughout February. The first quarter also marked a business milestone with the announcement of the brand’s partnership with ORCA Inventory Management, enabling real-time tracking of food costs across locations—variables that change weekly—while allowing for cost management and increased operational efficiency.
Happy Joe’s also launched a new digital marketing campaign focusing on modernizing customer engagement and reaching new audiences across platforms. In June, the company embraced technology innovations such as robotics (Bear Robotics) and AI voice ordering (Voicify) at select locations.
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Key leadership promotions and hires were also announced:
- Chris Anschutz promoted to Vice President Restaurant Operations
- Ashley Balluff promoted to Vice President Training & Culinary Services
- Jenny Culp promoted to Vice President Purchasing & Supply Chain
- Haley Lueth promoted to Franchise Business Consultant
- Aaron Huber hired as Controller
Additionally, Happy Joe’s achieved impressive domestic and international expansion in 2024, securing multiple area development agreements, including:
- Minnesota ADA
- Egypt ADA
- Arizona ADA
- New Mexico ADA
- Nevada ADA
- Illinois ADA
The combined total of signed new franchise agreements in 2024 reached 22 locations.
Happy Joe’s expanded its footprint with new store openings in these new communities:
- Cairo, Egypt
- Giza, Egypt
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Kewanee, IL
- Fargo, ND
Meanwhile, the brand said it has new stores coming soon in Navarre, Florida (Pensacola); Oro Valley, Arizona (Tucson); Surprise, Arizona (Phoenix); Mendota Heights, Minnesota (St. Paul); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Dubai, U.A.E.
Happy Joe’s also earned accolades in the industry, recognized as Pizza Marketplace Top 100 Movers & Shakers 2024 and in the Franchise Times Top 400.
“2024 has been a year of milestones, growth and meaningful moments,” said Tom Sacco, CEO, president and chief happiness officer at Happy Joe’s. “From expanding our global presence to strengthening our leadership team and rolling out exciting new technologies, we are proud of our progress. As we look to 2025, we remain focused on driving growth, creating value for our franchisees and delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
