Marilyn Mayberry heads Iowa-based Pizza Ranch’s growth staff. The Western-themed buffet idea operates 151 shops in 9 states, and it has plans to divulge heart’s contents to 14 new areas this yr regardless of a tricky economical local weather.
Q. Pizza Ranch is slated to open greater than a dozen shops. Why such an aggressive progress plan?
A. We’re projecting to have a 10-percent retailer progress, which might be 14 shops. … I simply assume it’s a wholesome progress. There’s a number of pleasure round our model and it’s a singular idea with great-tasting meals. We’ve an unmatched visitor expertise that’s enjoyable, and it appeals to a broad vary of company. The large half about our idea is we’re so acquired in communities as a result of we actually wish to assist the communities of which we’re an element.
Q. Why broaden in a time when many corporations are tightening the reigns?
A. We’re franchise derived. We’ve all 151 eating places franchised. We’re doing properly. We proceed to have curiosity in growth, so it’s not like we’re going to show that down.
Q. As you develop, how essential is consistency throughout the model?
A. Consistency is essential, and we’ve requirements in place. We work very arduous to supply that constant expertise, whether or not it’s within the meals, the visitor expertise or the décor as a result of, yeah — consistency is what franchising expects.
Q. You might be specializing in Midwestern growth. Are there future plans to broaden outdoors of that area?
A. We wish to develop out from the states that we’re in. There are some states that we’re going to have alternatives for growth, however as we proceed to develop, we are going to broaden out from the place we’re.
Q. Pizza Ranch’s idea combines pizza with menu objects not usually present in a pizzeria. Why such range?
A. Individuals do rave about our fried hen. With a reputation like ‘Pizza Ranch,’ you might not look forward to finding hen on the menu, however phrase quickly acquired out. … That’s trademarked. To accompany that a part of the buffet, we’ve greens and potatoes. Individuals love that, however in fact they love our pizza. The salad bar is simply stunning. We’ve plenty of decisions. We do supply quarterly adjustments of our featured salads … and we’ve a featured pizza as properly. … By common demand, among the featured pizzas turn out to be common menu objects. So, yeah, it’s a buffet idea, nevertheless it’s a lot extra.
