Featured image for “Pizza consumption has risen 32% in the last 10 years”

Pizza franchises can win big if they have the product and the processes to pull off ‘Pizza The Way It Oughta Be®’

We just can’t get enough of pizza.

In the past 10 years, Americans have increased pizza consumption by 32%, which is great news for pizza franchises like Mountain Mike’s. The pizza industry grew from $34 billion in 2009 to an estimated $45 billion in 2019, and continued growth is projected.

Our pizza obsession is clear: among Americans who eat pizza, according to a YouGov Omnibus survey, 26% of us eat pizza 2-3 times a month. And 45% of us purchased pizza from a pizza chain in the last month.

According to a Technomic study, 83% of consumers eat pizza at least once per month.

Marketing firm Brandon Gaille expects even higher consumption levels, predicting that 93% of Americans will eat pizza at least once in the next 30 days.

Mountain Mike’s is ‘Pizza The Way It Oughta Be®

That’s a lot of good news for pizza franchises like ours, and while we’re not as large as some national chains, we’re a well-respected 220-unit regional chain with deep roots in California and a knack for consistently producing “Pizza The Way It Oughta Be®.” Here’s how we make the most of the love our guests have for great pizza.

Pepperoni is far and away the most popular pizza topping, and Mountain Mike’s won’t use just any old pepperoni. Our signature crispy, curly pepperoni, topping our best-selling pizza for over 40 years, comes from a special vendor. Swiss American Sausage Co. uses a natural casing that creates that legendary crispy-edged teacup shape when cooked.

Fresh and carefully curated ingredients make up our superior product. The other place where Mountain Mike’s really shines is serving our communities. We are a family-friendly pizza place that makes food the hero of our guests’ events, from celebrating the big game to date night, with or without the kids.

Another differentiator from those Big 4 pizza franchises? We do a lot of dine-in business. It’s true we have top-notch carryout and delivery, but our community focus is part of the reason that we attribute nearly a third of our sales to dine-in.

It’s worth noting that, according to muchneeded.com: “Americans are spending less on pizza delivery, with the total spent falling in 2018 to $9.8 billion from a high of $12.1 billion in 2006.”

How to get your own Mountain Mike’s franchise

We’re looking for entrepreneurs to grow with us. The startup investment for Mountain Mike’s tends to average between $208,020 and $593,520, depending on your market. Qualified candidates should have a minimum net worth of $300,000 and at least $100,000 in liquid capital, along with a strong credit score and credit history.

Great food, great experience, strong community connection — that’s what launched America’s love of pizza in the first place, and that’s what keeps us growing strong to this day.