By Tracy Morin
Though it boasts a 65-year history, Detroit-based Little Caesars isn’t afraid to change the way it does business. Undoubtedly, that willingness to evolve has allowed it to reach its current position as the No. 3 chain in the United States—but the brand harbors aggressive plans to expand even further.
Patrick Cunningham, VP of U.S. development for Little Caesars, recently sat down with PMQ to discuss franchising and consumer trends, the rise of ultra-convenient and nontraditional locations, and how the company plans to continue growing in a fast-changing landscape.
PMQ: What is Little Caesars looking for in franchisees? And what are today’s franchisees looking for in the chains they invest in?
Cunningham: One of the main things prospective franchisees look for—especially multiunit and experienced restaurant operators—is the opportunity to scale their business portfolio and sign franchise agreements that’ll give them the freedom to dominate certain markets with that brand. In 2024, we celebrated numerous multiunit development agreements to expand Little Caesars with like-minded franchisees across markets like New York City, Dallas, Tampa and other target cities for QSRs. Additionally, many franchisees look to invest in iconic brands that have become staples in their industries—like ours in the pizza segment. This year, we’re celebrating our 65th anniversary, and that lends us credibility and trust with prospective franchisees. They know they’ll be working alongside a team that’s experienced, a leader in their space that has remained a fan-favorite after all these years.
In that same vein, we look for franchisees who are committed to the long-term success of Little Caesars and believe in the same core values as those of our brand. The three pillars of our business are convenience, value and quality—and these have contributed greatly in consumers choosing our brand time and time again over competitors. Our development team is also focusing on growing with multiunit operators across the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, New Orleans, and North and South Carolina.
PMQ: What consumer trends are shaping the pizza market today?
Cunningham: Consumers are much more engaged these days. They’re embracing tech and automation that streamlines the ordering process—from loyalty apps, online ordering and carryout, free delivery—anything that makes the guest experience enjoyable and seamless and our offerings more accessible. For that reason, we’ve continued to leverage our in-store Pizza Portals, which ensure guests’ orders will be hot and fresh when they pick it up by simply scanning a QR code from the Little Caesars app. Similarly, we’re continuing to innovate how we engage with consumers through our loyalty app, making it more challenge-based and offering guests opportunities to be rewarded in ways they find satisfying.
PMQ: How is Little Caesars’ operations and business model setting them apart from others in the competitive QSR and pizza industries?
Cunningham: At Little Caesars, we’re committed to delivering unmatched value to guests—no matter what part of the country they’re in. As the economic landscape shifted, we’ve been able to continue to provide high-quality menu items, including enticing LTOs and new product launches, that are affordable, delicious and satisfy a wide range of consumers with different lifestyles.
Similarly, our development and real estate teams have worked hard over the years to evolve our business models and restaurant prototypes to meet the needs of franchisees. We’ve created a lineup of designs that maximize profitability by prioritizing efficiency, calling for an optimal number of employees and takeaway service as well as a smaller footprint, which helps keep operating costs low and margins high.
PMQ: Can you offer an example or two?
Cunningham: Our latest example of this is the newest POD prototype—a contemporary restaurant featuring a drive-thru window for easy ordering, walk-up access to Little Caesars Pizza Portal, and a quicker construction timeline than most traditional restaurants. The result of all this work is what we offer today—a convenience-driven and value-focused business model that puts our brand front and center with key audiences and across a variety of markets.
PMQ: With Little Caesars now the country’s No. 3 chain, how do you plan to hold that position?
Cunningham: This year we’re celebrating 65 years of being an industry leader in the pizza space, and we look forward to building upon this milestone for many more years to come. The success we’ve built over these six and a half decades is in part due to the great relationships we developed and continue to foster with restaurant operators who believe in our brand, business model and menu offerings and who strive to deliver the kind of dining experience our guests have come to love from Little Caesars.
While the QSR and pizza industry are as hot and competitive as ever, we are positioning ourselves ahead of others by staying true to who we are and what we deliver to guests during each of their visits to one of our restaurants or while they order on our Little Caesars app. We’re also always innovating and will continue to look for ways to improve operational efficiencies to make running our restaurants as seamless as possible for franchisees and their staff. Menu innovation is just as valuable to us, and we look forward to building upon the success we had this year rolling out new menu products, like Crazy Puffs, and LTOs that satisfy the cravings of today’s consumers.
Additionally, we’ve partnered with one of the largest names in the world of sports: the NFL. As the league’s official pizza sponsors, we have a unique opportunity that no one else has to position our brand as the top pizza choice for millions of football fans that tune in to watch each game—whether that’s at home or in stadiums. This five-year sponsorship with the NFL has fueled our brand’s exposure to new levels, and it’s fair to say that it has brought us closer to new and existing loyal Little Caesars fans.
PMQ: Little Caesars has also shared plans for nontraditional locations. Why do you think these types of locations will be a big advantage and focus for the brand in the years to come?
Cunningham: We’ve realized there’s value in giving consumers greater access to our brand, so we’re accelerating our franchise development efforts to boost our presence across nontraditional venues. This year and for the foreseeable future, our development team is targeting college campuses, casinos, amusement parks, hospitals, zoos and airports. Expanding in these nontraditional locations allows our guests the convenience of accessing a product and a brand they’re familiar with in a location with limited dining options. This will strengthen our brand visibility with consumers and give Little Caesars franchisees flexible real estate options in competitive markets.
