Little Caesars®, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, has steadily expanded its footprint from the Detroit suburb of Garden City, where the franchise’s first store opened 60 years ago, to more than 26 countries and territories around the globe today. At the end of 2019, the iconic franchise expanded to additional markets with the grand opening of two restaurants in Madrid, the chain’s first locations in Spain.
According to Paula Vissing, senior vice president of international for Little Caesars Pizza, the opening of two new Little Caesars stores in the Cuatro Caminos and Ciudad Lineal areas of Madrid were only the first phase of a planned large-scale expansion in Spain.
“As we continue to expand our global footprint, we are thrilled to bring Little Caesars Pizza’s value, convenience and quality to Spain,” said Vissing. “The quick-service restaurant industry in Spain is estimated to have one of the highest growth rates in the region. We’re excited to bring a beloved product like pizza to a market hungry for new restaurant options.”
And Spain is just one of several international markets that the franchise has targeted for expansion. In December 2019, the franchise celebrated the grand openings of two new restaurants in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in India as well as one in Barbados. In both of those countries, Brett Larrabee, Little Caesars’ Director of International Development, says Little Caesars is well-positioned to support many additional locations.
“As big as we are, we have always been extremely careful about where we position new stores,” Larrabee explained. “We are not willing to introduce our brand to a market that doesn’t align with our models for success. When we looked at Madrid and Gujarat and the other new markets we’ve targeted this year, we saw fantastic opportunities for long-term growth.”
That cautious growth strategy has paid for Little Caesars and its many franchisees, who now have an opportunity to carry the brand into new markets that have plenty of room for growth.
“We’ve had six years of positive growth internationally,” said Larrabee. “We are the last major pizza chain available in most if not all of these countries where there’s a business opportunity for franchisees to get involved and bring an American pizza brand to their country. Whether it is Poland or Bolivia, if entrepreneurs want to bring a major American pizza chain to their country, Little Caesars Pizza is an attractive choice thanks to our value-driven business model and family-oriented brand.”
In addition to the new countries Little Caesars entered at the end of 2019, the franchise has targeted a number of other markets for an ambitious international expansion plan this year.
“In 2020 and beyond our top specific growth markets for franchise expansion are Bolivia, Ecuador, Russia, UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, U.K. and Indonesia,” said Rebecca Smith, International Communications Manager for Little Caesars Pizza.
The legacy pizza brand should have little trouble meeting those goals. In the $145 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars boasts a 60-year track record setting up franchisees for success in markets ripe for growth.
Now, Smith says the franchise is eager to find qualified franchisees to shepherd the brand into these new markets.
“In every country we operate, we offer an affordable alternative to our competition, with quality pizza at a value all families can afford,” said Smith. “Now, Little Caesars Pizza is actively seeking interested entrepreneurs eager to join a world-famous pizza brand in order to bring our three brand pillars of value, quality and convenience to their communities.”
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