• After robust sales growth and store-level performance in ’21, Marco’s Pizza believes it is now the fifth largest pizza brand in the U.S. and is shooting for No. 4.
• The chain currently has more than 1,000 units and plans to grow to 1,500 by 2023.

Related: Domino’s value deal will get a little less valuable in 2022.

Marco’s Pizza expects to reach $1 billion in annual systemwide sales this year after a year of robust growth and store-level performance, the company said in a press release today.

The 1,000-plus unit brand plans to grow to 1,500 units by 2023, with more than 200 stores in development today. Marco’s closed out a record-breaking sales year and continues to experience double-digit same-store-sales increases year-over-year.

According to the press release, Marco’s believes this performance makes it America’s fifth largest pizza brand and has set its sights on being No. 4.

Tony Libardi, co-CEO and president of Marco’s Pizza, said there “has never been a more opportune time for both existing and prospective franchisees to grow with Marco’s. With plenty of territories available for growth, our development and performance strategy remain centered on finding multi-unit franchisees who align with our business strategy and culture, while continuing to prioritize innovation and maximize unit-level profitability.” 

Marco’s is investing millions in technology innovations through the next few years to create a better customer and employee experience while helping to improve store-level profitability.

Marco’s has been pushing forward several innovation initiatives and pilot programs, including rapid adoption of third-party delivery plus utilizing AI for voice-to-text ordering and generating automated promise times. It’s also pushing to test robotic kitchen innovations, ghost kitchens and new operational equipment and has even simulated a drone delivery (see video below).

Marco’s performance has earned multiple awards and recognition. It has been ranked as one of America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains of 2022 by Newsweek; named in Newsweek’s 2022 America’s Best Customer Service in the pizza chains category; earned the No. 4 spot on Restaurant Business’ 2021 Top 10 Fastest Growing Chains; ranked No. 42 on QSR’s Top 50; and leaped to No. 99 on the 2021 Franchise Times Top 400, leading the off-premise pizza category in same-store sales increases. Marco’s was also named a Top Global Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and claimed the No. 2 spot in the pizza category on Entrepreneur’s 2022 Franchise 500 ranking.