This article was originally published on Franchising.com on February 5th, 2024.
February 05, 2024 // Franchising.com // Columbus, OH - Donatos Pizza, the premium pizza franchise famous for its Edge to Edge® toppings, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 45 years, the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees. The 2024 Franchise 500® ranks Donatos Pizza for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
“We are honored to be recognized among the top franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500,” said Kevin King, President of Donatos Pizza. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our entire Donatos Pizza family and the strong partnership we have with our franchise partners. We remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences and premium pizza as the brand continues to grow and innovate in the ever-evolving world of franchising.”
“Every brand on the Franchise 500 has its own unique story, but they all collectively make the same statement: Franchising is strong and resilient, is full of innovation and opportunity, and provides a powerful entrepreneurial path for many people,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “Our 45th annual ranking is full of companies with fresh ideas, exciting business models, cultural sway, and the kind of business sophistication that will define the next 45 years and beyond.”
In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is then given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranked order.
Over its 45 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Donatos Pizza’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.
Donatos Pizza continues to expand its national footprint and increase its presence in existing markets. Today, Donatos Pizza is served in over 460 locations across 29 states, including 178 traditional Donatos Pizza restaurants. Donatos Pizza’s products are also proudly served in nine sports and entertainment venues throughout their markets. The latest inclusion to this list is becoming the official pizza of the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
For more information about Donatos Pizza, or if interested in a franchising opportunity, please visit www.donatosfranchise.com.
About Donatos Pizza
Donatos Pizza features the Edge to Edge® pizza, created by Jim Grote, who founded Donatos Pizza in 1963. With 463 locations in 29 states, Donatos Pizza and its franchise partners operate 178 traditional restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and Oklahoma. Donatos Pizza’s products are also proudly served in 285 non-traditional locations (274 locations with Red Robin, nine sports and entertainment venues, and two REEF Kitchens). For more information, visit www.donatosfranchise.com.