Domino's has refranchised 30 company-owned stores in Atlanta to four local owner-operators today.

"We're primarily a franchise company, and we see strength in our locally-owned operations," says Scott Hinshaw, Domino's Pizza executive vice president of franchise operations and development.

"There are terrific, proven operators in Atlanta, and this is an opportunity for them to grow. Local, hands-on leadership is crucial to our success worldwide, and Atlanta is an important market for us. We're looking forward to these great operators taking their expertise and applying it in these stores."

Franchisee Mike Orcutt, who led U.S. store operations for Domino's Pizza in the 1990s, has purchased 14 stores, bringing his ownership total to 93 stores. This makes Orcutt the second-largest Domino's Pizza franchise owner in the U.S. He owns stores in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.

Franchisee Greg Fox has purchased nine stores, bringing his total to 38 stores.

Franchisee Todd Dyrda has purchased five stores, bringing his total to seven stores. 

Tim Garrett, formerly a supervisor for Orcutt's Cowabunga Pizza Inc., is now a two-store franchisee owner-operator with his purchase.

The Atlanta area is home to 118 Domino's Pizza stores, and has for years featured a mix of franchisee and company ownership. Of the original 40 company-owned stores, eight of the remaining  are being run by Domino's Pizza with plans to potentially sell to qualified franchisees at a later date and two (in Hiram andHampton, Georgia) have been closed.

The new owners have hired or offered positions to the existing team members at the stores.