Marco’s Menu Shows it’s More Than Just a Pizza Franchise

Pizza franchise owners see a lot of non-pizza items flying out the door

Take one look at the Marco’s Pizza menu and it’s easy to see: We’re more than just a pizza franchise. The fact that we give the same quality focus to our subs, salads, wings and other sides as we do our famous pizza is one of the things our customers love best. It’s also one of the things that makes owning a Marco’s franchise so profitable.

Just ask Stu Field, Area Developer and franchisee in Franklin, TN.

“Having high-quality side items really helps portray the quality message,” says Stu, noting that quality non-pizza items also have a big impact on increasing the average ticket price.

To be honest, what would our commitment to quality mean if we skimped on the non-pizza items? Amazing pizza doesn’t mean much if it’s accompanied by lackluster salads, boring wings or crummy desserts. Because we want everyone to be wowed by the Marco’s experience, we’ve put just as much care into giving customers delicious non-pizza options that keep everyone in the family asking for more.

Or as one Yelp! reviewer, Samantha R. from Barrington, IL, put it, “I love your cheese sticks more than I thought a woman could ever love a cheese stick.”

“The breads tend to get added to orders the most,” admits Stu, who adds that subs, salads and wings are also high on customers’ lists.

One reason why our CheezyBread is so popular is that we use the same dough as we do for our pizza. It’s made fresh in-house, every day, using a special high-protein spring wheat grown in Minnesota. Marco’s also uses many of the exact same fresh ingredients on our subs as we do on our pizzas, which really makes a difference when it comes to putting together a sandwich customers love.

“We get a lot of compliments on our subs,” says Stu. “There are a lot of ingredients, so it’s really a hearty sandwich.”

And he’s not just saying that — our customers wholeheartedly agree. Like Yelp! reviewer John I. from Austin, who’s willing to go to some effort just for a Marco’s sub.

“I had to brave the treacherous crosswalk on Burnet/51st and evade a crew of jackhammering construction workers just to make it here,” he says in his review. “I ordered the Italian sub. Waited around 8 minutes for it to be up which was fine by me. I managed to survive the crosswalk once again and finally reached my office where I could try my sandwich. Was it ever worth it! Crunchy toasted bun stuffed with tasty salami and ham, melted cheese, banana peppers and a touch of Italian dressing. It was terrific and I savored every bite.”

Salads are also a popular side item, especially for those trying to incorporate healthier items into their diet. The difference is, we really put thought into how to make our salads appetizing. That’s something customers don’t typically expect from the average pizza chain.

Yelp! reviewer Lorraine N. from Minneapolis, MN, says, “The salads are actually delicious… they are always fresh and crispy.”

Stu points out that Marco’s uses a blend of iceberg and romaine, instead of just plain iceberg like many restaurants. In addition to using quality pizza ingredients on our salads, we also make croutons fresh daily, topping it all off with premium Marzetti salad dressing.

Marco’s also has dessert covered with our Cinna Squares, a huge hit with kids. Yelp! reviewer Joe. M from Litchfield, CT, says, “They attack it like a savage pack of wolves.”

According to Stu, being able to please many different palates is part of what makes Marco’s a top choice when families are deciding where to go for dinner.

“I think pizza is a family occasion in a lot of situations, and not all the time does everyone agree that they want pizza, or what kind of pizza they want,” he says. “It gives the larger groups and families an opportunity to patronize one business while satisfying the needs of the entire family.”

Having broad appeal means big benefits for franchise owners, too. In fact, Stu guesses that non-pizza items account for anywhere from 20%-25% of his store’s sales. Focusing on the providing the same quality in our non-pizza items goes further than just increasing our owners’ average ticket price. It also helps them win over more customers in general.

“For some people, their first try at Marco’s may be one of those side items,” he says. “If they like the sub, then they’ll be willing to give the pizza a try. If their first try with Marco’s wasn’t a good experience, it’s not as likely they will come back to try the pizza.”

Time and again, Marco’s Pizza has shown that it’s more than just a pizza franchise. It’s a restaurant whose quality focus has made it a hit with thousands of customers, helping us become the fastest-growing pizza franchise in the country.

If you’re interested in learning more about owning a Marco’s Pizza franchise, fill out the form at right or give us a call at 1-800-262-7267. You can also go ahead and check out our Facebook page and Twitter while you’re at it!