Nation’s Leading Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza Chain Using Successful Corporate Model to Streamline Opening Process for Franchisees

For Papa Murphy’s®, the originator of the take ’n’ bake pizza franchise concept, being an innovator is nothing new. The brand’s approach to nationwide growth is unique in the booming pizza industry as it continues to solidify its position as a unique “non-restaurant/restaurant” business opportunity. With no baking required in-store and no freezers on site, the brand has created a simple model with a significantly lower initial investment than other restaurant concepts, fueling consistent and steady franchise expansion nationwide.

Now, Papa Murphy’s is pushing the envelope of innovation even further as it makes its franchise opportunity even more attractive to prospective business owners by launching a new turnkey program designed to drive development in key growth markets and streamline and expedite the opening process.

“Our unique franchise opportunity holds the key to Papa Murphy’s future,” said Papa Murphy’s CEO Ken Calwell. “By launching this new turnkey development program, we’re speeding up the time it takes for our franchise partners to get their restaurants off the ground. That ultimately enables them to reach their goals sooner and helps us to further fuel our nationwide expansion efforts.”

The turnkey development program flips the way in which Papa Murphy’s welcomes some new franchisees into its rapidly growing system. Instead of inking a deal with a local business owner before finding the right real estate to house a new restaurant, Papa Murphy’s identifies a brick-and-mortar location first. The brand pre-scouts specific real estate in select markets, then, after the site is secured, Papa Murphy’s corporate completes the store build-out and makes the location available for a franchisee to take over restaurant operations.

Papa Murphy’s is already developing quick-turn locations in new communities with the help of this presale development program. Franchisees Betty Cargill and Erin Plischke are soon closing on their location in Kirkland, Wash. after the brand pre-scouted a specific site, and utilized the advanced timing the turnkey opportunity offered to drive quick growth.

“We’re being supported by an army of Papa Murphy’s pros. Even though we’re nearly halfway through our training, I’m still blown away by the resources that are available to help us,” said Cargill. “One of those resources is the turnkey development program. Because Papa Murphy’s had already secured the site, we were able to jump right into things like marketing that will ultimately help us build and grow our business at an accelerated rate.”

As Papa Murphy’s continues to open new locations across the country, the brand plans to bring its new turnkey development program to cities that are positioned for rapid growth. By streamlining the entire franchise ownership process and creating a more concrete timeline for new store openings, Papa Murphy’s is eliminating the complexity of restaurant ownership and continuing to distance itself from the competition.

“Our unique take ’n’ bake concept isn’t the only reason Papa Murphy’s stands out in the increasingly competitive pizza industry,” said Jayson Tipp, chief development officer for Papa Murphy’s. “Everything we do is designed to help our business owners succeed and we’re excited to bring this unique development opportunity to new cities and open up the door for continued national expansion ahead.”