Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza announced that it has been named to Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list, considered the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Moving up more than 30 spots since 2018, Blaze Pizza is now rated in the top 15 percent of franchise brands nationwide.
The prestigious recognition validates the progress the company has made in the past year. In 2018, the brand added 80 locations, bringing the total to more than 300 restaurants throughout the United States, Canada and the Middle East.
READ MORE: How Blaze ignited a pizza revolution.
“We’re growing faster than ever, and the proof is in these numbers,” says Jim Mizes, president and CEO of Blaze Pizza. “After years of fine-tuning our business model and franchise network, we’ve soared to the top of the fast casual industry. We’re always humbled, but excited to reflect on our successes as a team, and we’re anticipating this forward movement for years to come.”
The key factors that go into Entrepreneur’s evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. All franchises are given a cumulative score based on more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.
“As we celebrate 40 years of producing the Franchise 500, it’s a good opportunity to step back and look at how much has changed since that first ranking in 1980,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “While the franchise business model has changed little, the strongest franchise brands are constantly evolving and innovating to keep up with changing trends and technology.”
A modern day “pizza joint,” Blaze Pizza is celebrated for serving up artisanal pizzas that are both fast and affordable. With fans lining up or ordering online each day for their custom-built pizzas, freshly made salads, house made lemonades and s’more pies, the innovative fast-casual concept has quickly become one of the hottest restaurant chains in the country.
Each restaurant features an interactive open-kitchen format that allows guests to customize one of the menu’s signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide selection of fresh, “clean” ingredients—all for around $8. The generously-sized personal pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven – the centerpiece of the restaurant—where dedicated pizzasmiths ensure the thin-crust pies are fast-fire’d and ready to eat in just 180 seconds.
