Marco’s Pizza invests $1M in secondary Florida HQ
Marco's Pizza invests in Orlando HQ to bolster franchisee training and operations.
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Marco's Pizza is committing over $1 million to establish a new Operations Center of Excellence in Orlando, Florida, aimed at enhancing franchisee training and operational efficiency. The facility will support Marco's expansion strategy, as the chain reports significant growth, projecting 71 new U.S. franchises in 2026. With 162 Florida locations, this center will improve support for franchisees in a key market.
Why It Matters
This development may enhance unit economics for franchisees by providing improved training and operational resources, potentially leading to better performance as new units are opened in the surrounding territories.
Marco’s Pizza is allocating a minimum of $1 million for a new Operations Center of Excellence in Orlando, Florida, aimed at enhancing franchisee training and operational performance. The construction of this facility, which will be an extension of the brand's Toledo, Ohio headquarters, is set to wrap up by fall 2023. The 14,030-square-foot center will serve multiple purposes, including being a corporate office, training facility, and operational hub, with the capacity to accommodate around 50 corporate employees.
The center will feature a fully equipped training kitchen designed to closely mirror a real Marco’s Pizza store kitchen. This setup is intended to create an interactive learning environment for franchisees and operators. Additionally, it will host discovery days for prospective franchisees and will serve as the base for “Marco’s University,” where advanced training for franchisees and general managers will take place. The facility will also facilitate collaboration among franchisees, corporate leaders, and supply chain partners.
Marco's Pizza continues to grow, having added 25 units in 2025 to reach a total of 1,184 U.S. locations. The franchise is projecting 71 new openings in 2026, as outlined in its franchise disclosure document. The establishment of this training center is expected to bolster the chain’s expansion endeavors, especially as its significant markets in Florida and Georgia—162 and 117 franchised stores, respectively—continue to thrive.
This trend of opening secondary headquarters in the Southeast is also visible among other major chains such as Starbucks and Subway, which are relocating or enhancing their training and support operations closer to growing markets.
The development pace of Marco's Pizza suggests a focus on sustained growth and franchisee support. Whether the brand can maintain this expansion trajectory as new training facilities come online may depend on how effectively they can activate their existing franchisee support infrastructure.
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