If you have never heard of CiCi's Pizza, you are not alone. Unlike the more familiar Domino's or Pizza Hut name, CiCi's Pizza is not a universally recognized brand name, especially for people living in far Western states where there are no CiCi's stores at all. However, if you ask a person in the Midwest if they've heard of CiCi's and the answer will probably be a resounding "yes." CiCi's Pizza is a pizzeria chain based in Texas that boasts over 600 existing restaurant locations in the eastern and midwestern United States.

CiCi's made its mark in the Italian fast food market by offering a very popular and well-received buffet where $4.99 buys all the pizza, pasta, salad and dessert you can eat. CiCi's says its mission has always been to "Give guests across the country a consistent, high-quality experience with every visit." The franchise revealed plans to "Take CiCi's to the next level and grow the company" when it recently announced its plans to add 500 more restaurants within the next eight to 10 years. CiCi's hopes to drive the expansion with a focus on franchisee recruitment, target markets and nontraditional development practices. We're betting that the CiCi's name will become more widely known by the time the franchise reaches 1000 stores.