Marilyn Mayberry heads Iowa-based Pizza Ranch’s improvement workforce. The Western-themed buffet idea operates 151 shops in 9 states, and it has plans to confide in 14 new areas this 12 months regardless of a tricky economical local weather.
Q. Pizza Ranch is slated to open greater than a dozen shops. Why such an aggressive development plan?
A. We’re projecting to have a 10-percent retailer development, which might be 14 shops. … I simply suppose it’s a wholesome development. There’s lots of pleasure round our model and it’s a novel idea with great-tasting meals. We now have an unmatched visitor expertise that’s enjoyable, and it appeals to a broad vary of visitors. The large half about our idea is we’re so acquired in communities as a result of we actually wish to help the communities of which we’re an element.
Q. Why increase in a time when many firms are tightening the reigns?
A. We’re franchise derived. We now have 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 vital is consistency throughout the model?
A. Consistency is essential, and now we have requirements in place. We work very laborious to offer 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’re specializing in Midwestern growth. Are there future plans to increase exterior of that area?
A. We want to develop out from the states that we’re in. There are some states that we’re going to have alternatives for improvement, however as we proceed to develop, we are going to increase out from the place we’re.
Q. Pizza Ranch’s idea combines pizza with menu gadgets not sometimes present in a pizzeria. Why such variety?
A. Individuals do rave about our fried hen. With a reputation like ‘Pizza Ranch,’ chances are you’ll not anticipate finding hen on the menu, however phrase quickly obtained out. … That’s trademarked. To accompany that a part of the buffet, now we have greens and potatoes. Individuals love that, however in fact they love our pizza. The salad bar is simply lovely. We now have numerous selections. We do provide quarterly adjustments of our featured salads … and now we have a featured pizza as properly. … By in style demand, among the featured pizzas develop into common menu gadgets. So, yeah, it’s a buffet idea, but it surely’s a lot extra.
