The take and bake pizza store approach seems to be catching on with the American public as Papa Murphy's says it is the number one franchise when it comes to new store growth and sales in the U.S. for 2009. The good news is based on percentage change from the year prior. Papa Murphy’s Chairman and CEO, John Barr, said “Papa Murphy's is an attractive option because we have one of the lowest investment levels of any pizza chain. That's often a deciding factor, given the current difficulty for new business owners to secure financing. We signed over 130 franchise agreements last year, including some in major new markets in the Southeast."
The company is also expected to add several hundred new stores over the next five years, and is reported to be looking prospective franchisees. Papa Murphy’s success is also reflected in the fact that the company scored as one of the top food franchises for 2009 and surveys have shown Papa Murphy’s has some of the most satisfied franchise owners among the 100 top franchise brands in the nation.