Auburn, Wash. – (Nov. 16, 2009) – Keep Rockin, LLC recently announced an agreement with Kaizen Brands, Inc. of Surrey, B.C. to operate as exclusive franchisor in Canada for The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits. The 40-store development agreement will allow Kaizen Brands, Inc. to franchise The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits through a Master Development Agreement. The first location will be opened in Red Deer, Alberta, which lies north of Calgary and south of Edmonton.
Keep Rockin, LLC , owner and franchisor of The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits (www.therockwfp.com), is a full service, industrial-themed, wood-fired pizza concept with 10 locations in Washington state. The Rock is rated the number one independent pizza chain, according to Pizza Today and the best pizza in Western Washington by Evening Magazine.
Kaizen Brands, Inc. is a development group in Canada with four brands in development or operation: Wok Box, Guillver’s, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria and now The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits. Scott Bender and Christian Bullock formed Kaizen Brands with a model which aims to develop or acquire brands (new or existing) that have their own, respective chief executive officers.
“We provide the infrastructure and the leverage to make them successful, and we think The Rock is a great fit,” Bender said.
“Scott and his team provide all the support, talent and energy to expand The Rock-Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits to the next level. We are looking forward to working with Kaizen to bring our unique brand of dining to all of Canada,” Don Bellis, said, president of Keep Rockin’ LLC.
The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits began 14 years ago in Tacoma, WA as a gritty “pizza joint.” Soon thereafter, interest from customers pushed the owners, Don Bellis and Jay Gigandet, to expand throughout the Northwest. Three years ago the first Rock was franchised and today there are three developers with a total of 10 stores.
The agreement with Kaizen will be the first Master Development Agreement for The Rock and Keep Rockin’, serving as a model for future international business. Currently, all areas are available in the United States, except Washington state and Portland, Oregon. Areas and number of units in each are determined by population and/or city and state borders. Development specifications are unique to each area development agreement, however all developers must meet a minimum of three stores.
Kaizen can be contacted at (778) 571-4110 and Keep Rockin’ LLC can be contacted (253) 735-6569. The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits web site is www.therockwfp.com.
