Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 ranking picked our pizza franchise thanks to great performance during a difficult year
More evidence that 2020 was a strong year for Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Our pizza franchise was ranked No. 6 in the highly competitive pizza category by Entrepreneur magazine in its annual Franchise 500 ranking.
Mountain Mike’s was one of the “Hottest Franchise Opportunities” of 2020 in what Entrepreneur dubbed a “Hot Franchise Category.” Pizza performed well during the pandemic even as other restaurants struggled. Mountain Mike’s had its best year ever, sales-wise.
Systemwide sales were up 13.3% in fiscal year 2020 and same-store sales were up 7.3% compared to our previous record-holding year in 2019.
The Franchise 500
Entrepreneur’s annual Franchise 500 ranking evaluates over 1,100 franchises on criteria such as costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, financial strength and stability. Each franchise earns a cumulative score that determines the ranking order. Mountain Mike’s ranked No. 192 this year.
“After a challenging year, we are proud to rank higher than ever within the competitive pizza category, proving that the hard work and dedication of our incredible franchise partners and leadership team has really paid off,” says Chris Britt, co-CEO/owner of Mountain Mike’s Pizza.
Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur, noted that, “Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we’ll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future.”
Ongoing winning strategy
Last year’s digital orders grew by more than 120%, and digital sales made up 40% of all sales by the end of 2020. To meet increasing demand for safe food delivery, Mountain Mike’s rapidly implemented contactless delivery, tamper-free packaging and other safety protocols, increasing our customers’ trust in the brand at the outset of the pandemic. We also advanced a more flexible, data-driven and digital-focused approach to marketing.
As the world moves on to whatever our new normal will be, Mountain Mike’s Pizza anticipates keeping in place the strategies that helped our franchise have the best year in our 40-year history.
“The pandemic has certainly been an accelerant for change in our industry, and though the pizza segment in general has done well with the many changes, Mountain Mike’s finds its success in helping our franchisees and their families thrive under any circumstance,” says Ed St. Geme, co-CEO/owner of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. Mountain Mike’s has 230+ locations and is continuing to grow strategically throughout the Western U.S., including a 60+ unit development deal in Arizona and Utah signed in Q4 2020.
“Over the past few years, we have achieved incredibly strong momentum with no signs of slowing down,” Jim Metevier, Mountain Mike’s Pizza President and COO says, “and with so many exciting developments in motion, there has never been a better time to join the growing Mountain Mike’s franchise family.”