Pizza Factory has built a strong legacy in the pizza industry, tracing its roots back to 1979 when Danny and Carol Wheeler opened their first restaurant, Danny’s Red Devil Pizza, in Oakhurst, California—just a stone’s throw from Yosemite National Park. In 1981, loyal customers Ron and Joyce Willey launched a second location in Mariposa under the name Pizza Factory, marking the birth of the brand’s expansion journey.
By 1986, the two founding families saw an opportunity to grow and began offering franchise opportunities, targeting underserved, smaller towns throughout the western U.S. Despite its expansion, the company has stayed true to its beginnings, with its headquarters still based in Oakhurst, emphasizing a strong connection to its origins.
Pizza Factory's menu reflects its dedication to quality and variety. Customers can enjoy hand-tossed pizzas crafted with dough made fresh daily, as well as calzones, hot sandwiches, soups, wings, and signature sides like “Breadstix.” This well-rounded menu appeals to diverse tastes and provides more options than many fast-casual pizza chains.
The brand’s community-first approach is what truly sets it apart. Franchise owners are encouraged to embed their restaurants within the local culture—sponsoring teams, participating in neighborhood events, and decorating locations with locally-sourced memorabilia.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Pizza Factory offers a structured training program to ensure that franchisees and their staff are well-equipped to operate a franchise successfully. These training sessions are mandatory for key personnel and include the following types:
Pizza Factory offers its franchisees a limited form of territory protection through a designated “Protected Area.” Within this area, no other Pizza Factory restaurant will be opened or authorized, as long as the franchisee remains compliant with the agreement.
However, this exclusivity does not apply to specific customers or prevent the franchisor from fulfilling orders placed online or through mobile apps that reach customers inside the protected zone.
The protection also has significant exceptions. Pizza Factory retains the right to open or license restaurants outside the protected zone and operate other business formats, including those that may still serve the area indirectly. This means franchisees are not completely insulated from competitive activities initiated by the franchisor or its affiliates.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
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Pizza Factory
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