Pizza Manufacturing facility’s tradition, ethos builds stable firm with individuality

Pizza Manufacturing facility has been round a very long time, however for those who’re simply now studying about them, that is as a result of they are a primarily West Coast regional chain.

Mary Jane Riva co-owns Pizza Manufacturing facility and remains to be a franchisee. Photograph: Pizza Manufacturing facility

The model was began by two males who every opened their very own Pizza Manufacturing facility shops in 1978 and started franchising in 1985. In 1990, Mary Jane Riva and her husband grew to become Pizza Manufacturing facility franchisees. They bought the model in 2012.

In the present day, Pizza Manufacturing facility has 114 eating places with two opening quickly. Only one is a company retailer in Arizona. The model is situated Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Arizona, Texas and Georgia.

Riva remains to be a franchisee. She mentioned the model has a number of fashions, together with a full-dining expertise and an specific model. “Sit-down is primarily our mannequin,” Riva added.

Pizza Manufacturing facility does not use a commissary, and every part is made at every retailer, together with dough. Nothing’s frozen.

“Our dough has to rise for 2 days,” Riva mentioned. “We do nonetheless hand toss it. Our meat sauce and every part is made out of scratch. It is for high quality and we now have a proprietary seasoning that goes in our dough and our sauce that makes the flavour. We simply do not skimp on toppings, and it is simply the place the standard’s all the time been.”

It is vital that the model not lose sight of their roots and who they’re in a brand new period of competitors and decisions, Riva added. “We persist with what we all know we do greatest.”

Riva admits sustaining continuity throughout the model because it grows could be difficult. Retailer checks and greatest practices assist Pizza Manufacturing facility places be constant from one unit to the subsequent whereas on the identical time retaining their individuality.

The highest-selling pizza is The Manufacturing facility Particular which options pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, onion, bell peppers and bacon. Specialty hen pizzas that characteristic scorching honey or barbecue sauce are additionally fashionable.

“We strive to usher in from time to time one thing new for the native communities,” Riva mentioned. “There’s so many combos you can also make with pizzas… We simply attempt to guarantee that we’re hitting all tastes on the market and hitting (clients) with particular wants, whether or not it is a cauliflower crust or gluten free.”

Pizza accounts for 80% of gross sales, with beer and wine weighing in at 6% of gross sales.

Pizzas are baked in XLT conveyor ovens for velocity and continuity.

Operations

Ninety p.c of franchisees are natural. They have been both clients, relations or franchisees who’ve opened up multi-units. “We draw lots from the familiarity of our model as a result of (franchisees) have a connection to it,” Riva mentioned.

The model began off in small cities however has moved to bigger cities because it has grown.

“We’re actually concerned in neighborhood,” Riva mentioned, together with colleges and GiftAMeal, the place clients take footage of their meals and cargo it to a web site. For each picture uploaded, GiftAMeal donates a meal to the native meals pantry in that city.

Shops are primarily proprietor operated, and franchisees have a way of pleasure in their very own items. Staying linked to the neighborhood is a part of the model’s ethos. “Loads of occasions the homeowners are so engaged that quite a lot of the cities do not even notice we’re a franchise,” Riva mentioned.

The model is child pleasant, they usually’ve constructed an anti-bullying marketing campaign with speaking factors for fogeys and their youngsters on the youngsters’ menus. “Being engaged in what is going on on of their neighborhood (is vital) so that they visitor looks like that is their pizza place,” Riva mentioned.

Photograph: Pizza Manufacturing facility

Challenges

The largest problem for Pizza Manufacturing facility, Riva mentioned, is making an attempt to usher in know-how throughout the model. Although Pizza Manufacturing facility is a smaller-sized firm, they fight to not function like one. As a substitute, they wish to play with the large boys by way of tech like loyalty apps, social media, texting and POS integration. The aim is to not lose the interpersonal relationship with company and staff.

Making an attempt to de-clutter what franchisees are already coping with each day and incorporating know-how can be a aim for the model. “We’re making an attempt to not overwhelm (franchisees) with all of the know-how that is on the market proper now,” Riva defined.

Tradition

The Buddies Are Superior anti-bullying program additionally extends to staff. “We wish to guarantee that everyone who works at a Pizza Manufacturing facility is handled the identical no matter who they could know in school or what teams they’re in.”

There’s an annual scholarship program that staff can apply yearly.

Riva mentioned a part of the tradition is acknowledging group members who’re on the entrance traces for his or her components in making Pizza Manufacturing facility profitable. “It isn’t simply our homeowners. It isn’t simply the meals,” Riva mentioned. “It is discovering methods to determine these individuals who have been working for among the shops for 30 plus years, ensuring we determine them, not simply the franchisee.”

Transparency is vital to Riva, as is speaking with the franchisees. Pizza Manufacturing facility has a four-day coaching program for managers, and franchisees can ship their managers to that freed from cost.

Persevering with to publish and present greatest practices is vital as properly.

Progress

Two shops are anticipated to open quickly, and three have already opened this 12 months alone. Pizza Manufacturing facility opened 10 eating places final 12 months. Six complete are deliberate for 2024.

“The expansion is occurring, however we’re not on a schedule the place we now have to fulfill this quantity,” Riva mentioned. “We simply wish to be certain that we now have the suitable individuals and the suitable locations, particularly in California proper now … with every part going up a lot. We’re privately held. We’re not owned by anyone else, there is not any non-public buyers, so we do not have that stress of getting to construct quite a lot of shops.”