Figaro’s Italian Pizza: Crafting Authentic Italian Flavors Since 1981

Figaro’s Italian Pizza is a fast-casual franchise known for delivering a delicious range of Italian favorites, including pizzas, calzones, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and take-and-bake offerings.

Established in 1981 in Salem, Oregon, by founders Corkey Gorley and Al DeBacker, the brand gained early momentum thanks to its broad menu and dedication to using top-quality ingredients.

Franchising efforts began in 1985, propelling Figaro’s into both national and international markets.

What makes Figaro’s distinctive is its extensive selection of pizza varieties and Italian meals, appealing to various tastes and dietary needs. The brand’s take-and-bake pizza concept gives customers the convenience of enjoying freshly prepared, customized pizzas right from their own ovens—providing a unique alternative to standard pizza delivery chains.

Training

Figaro’s Italian Pizza provides a detailed and supportive training program to help franchisees operate successfully. Here’s a summary of the franchisor’s training programs:

1. Pre-Opening Training
   Figaro’s Italian Pizza offers a training and familiarization course before the store opens, covering essential operational topics. This includes both classroom instruction and on-site training, led either by the company or an Area Representative, to prepare franchisees and their teams.
2. On-Site Opening Support
   For the first one to two months of operation, Figaro’s sends a representative to the new location for 9 to 14 days. This support helps establish standardized procedures, ensures smooth operations, and assists in staff training.
3. Confidential Operations Manual and Ongoing Guidance
   Franchisees receive a comprehensive Confidential Operations Manual outlining required procedures, standards, and specifications. Figaro’s also provides ongoing consulting, periodic site visits, and access to updated supplier and product lists to maintain consistent quality and performance.

Territory Protection

Figaro’s Italian Pizza offers its franchisees some level of territory protection, but it comes with important conditions. The franchise grants a Delivery Area, typically within a five-minute driving radius, where no other Figaro’s or Nick-N-Willy’s franchise will provide delivery service as long as the franchisee maintains Adequate Delivery Service.

However, the franchisor reserves the right to adjust or limit the Delivery Area if standards are not met or if customers can be better served by modifying it. Additionally, Figaro’s Italian Pizza offers a Designated Territory under a Multiple Franchise Purchase Addendum, giving exclusive rights to develop a set number of stores within that area.

This protection lasts as long as the franchisee complies with development schedules and contract terms, but it does not prevent the franchisor’s affiliated brands, like Schmizza, from operating in the same area.