“We've been through COVID times for a couple of years,” Chatkin says. Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, and the Southeast are under consideration, as well. The brand’s expansion plan targets markets where it’s already having great success, including Florida and Kansas City, Missouri, where stores are making $1.3 million per year. Sarpino’s has experienced double-digit increases in sales in the past few years, and systemwide AUV is almost $1.1 million. Sarpino’s USA president David Chatkin, who’s been with the brand for 20 years, feels the timing for expansion made sense, given how strongly the pizza chain’s operational model performed during the rush toward convenience. For the first time, the fast casual is moving forward with a national franchising push.Īnnual Sales: 2021 U.S. Sarpino’s USA acquired domestic franchising rights in 2005, and has been in charge of growth ever since. in 2002 and has since expanded to roughly 45 locations in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and Illinois. The delivery/takeout focused pizzeria entered the U.S. Nelowet was brought on in September 2021 to make sure the Chicago-based Sarpino’s is no longer a secret, both to operators, and by extension, consumers.
It's a home run every time because they've got the full Italian restaurant menu all the way from pizza to pasta and tiramisu. I don't have to worry about the food at the end of the day. I know that once I move into the franchise process, I worry about all their stuff. And what's great about Sarpino’s for me is that's the least of my worries. “And so, when I'm talking to people, a lot of them have never tasted the product before. “ hasn’t spent a lot of time doing press and conversations like this,” Nelowet says. All selections aren’t available at every restaurant, but the variety is still unmatched by most in the quick-service pizza segment, and Nelowet knows this. Among those choices are several vegan options. There’s also roughly 20 calzones and sandwiches each, 11 salads, 12 pastas, five bone-in wing flavors, and a variety of appetizers. The brand boasts more than 60 specialty and gourmet pizzas. In that time, he quickly learned the key to reeling in prospective operators-the expansive Italian menu. Scott Nelowet, director of franchise development for Sarpino’s Pizzeria, has been with the fast casual for less than a year.