Marco’s Pizza, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has opened its first franchised location in Mexico, marking a “significant milestone” for the fast-growing company.
Members of the Marco’s executive team, including Co-CEO/President Tony Libardi and founder Pat Giammarco, traveled to Mexico City for the new store’s grand opening in Anzures’ Polanco neighborhood. The store is part of a 50-unit master franchise agreement that looks to develop locations in Mexico City over the next 10 years.
Behind the opening is Grupo Pizza Amantes SA de CV, a Mexican company run by four business partners. With the main principals having more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant, hospitality and retail industry, Grupo Pizza Amantes has been appointed as the master franchisee for Mexico City.
“Opening our first location in Mexico is a significant milestone for our brand, and we are thrilled to bring our delicious pizzas to the vibrant Polanco neighborhood in Mexico City,” Libardi said. “Partnering with Grupo Pizza Amantes…ensures that Marco’s is well positioned for growth in this market. This grand opening marks the beginning of an exciting journey as we expand Marco’s presence to Mexico, and our master franchisee is committed to delivering exceptional quality and service to new Marco’s customers here.”
The new end-cap store spans 1,700 square feet and features a unique walk-up pick-up window. The store is also leveraging third-party delivery and testing delivery via scooters to maximize efficiency.
“The launch of our first location in Mexico represents a pivotal step in our international growth strategy,” said Gerardo Flores, Marcos’ chief development officer. “This milestone not only demonstrates our commitment to expanding our global footprint but also sets the stage for further international development. We are confident in our ability to replicate this success in new markets around the world, bringing our unique pizza experience to an ever-growing customer base.”
Marco’s currently touts 60-plus locations across the Bahamas and Puerto Rico through a master franchisee appointed for the Caribbean. Company leadership is expecting strong penetration in the United States to continue and is now strategically targeting international development with immediate opportunity in the LATAM region, with sights set on the Middle East, Europe and Canada as well.
According to Marco’s Franchising Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 50% of Marco’s franchised stores generated average net royalty sales of AUV $1,208,653 during the 2023 fiscal year.
FRANdata, a leading research and advisory firm that analyzes the franchise market, reports Marco’s 2023 FUND Score of 895 is in the top 1% of all evaluated franchise systems and is among the top three scores for all QSR brands.
