Pizza Patrón, the premier Latino pizza brand, plans to double its number of units over the next two years as part a strategy to gain market share throughout the country. The company currently has development agreements in place for more than 40 stores in 10 different markets but expects that number to increase by more than 200 percent before the end of the year. The company currently operates nearly 90 stores in six states.

According to 2000 Census data, the U.S. represents the second-largest Latino population in the world, and by the year 2020, one in five residents will be Latino. By 2050, that number will skyrocket to nearly 1 in 3 people, according to U.S. Census Population Projections.

“Now is the perfect time for us to implement an aggressive expansion strategy,” says Andrew Gamm, director of Brand Development for Pizza Patrón. “Today’s challenging economic climate and shifting consumer base has created the opportunity of a lifetime for our concept. Our Latino-Hispano brand focus naturally aligns us with the youngest and fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., ensuring solid growth potential for decades to come.”

Pizza Patrón has been credited with creating the country’s first chain of Latino-Hispano focused restaurants, where traditional American-style pizza is served in a distinctly Latin environment. The company currently operates nearly 90 stores in six states and plans to have 750 stores nationwide within a decade. It also plans to expand development of its Quick-Service Pizza (QSP) model, which brings the convenience of fast-food conveniences such as drive-thrus and walk-up windows to the pizza segment.