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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Pizza has grown to be one of America's favorite foods. Consumption is at an all time high and continues to grow.
A Colorado-based take-home pizza chain has just announced plans to enter the Utah market in a big way. Nick-N-Willy's Pizza has just finalized an agreement with Mark Fink of Salt Lake City to develop the market. He will operate some stores himself and then work with others who would be interested in becoming a franchisee.
Scott Adams of Boulder, Colorado, is one of the owners of the company. He has said that customers like the idea of buying a pizza and then baking it themselves at home. The product is fresher, hotter and more delicious than pre-baked pies that are picked up or delivered. He also said there is a perception that the product is healthier than one that is pre-cooked or frozen and then re-heated.
Adams said, "When you order a pizza to be delivered you don't know if it will arrive in 20 or 30 minutes, and by the time you do get it, it might be cold or the toppings may slide off. A Œbake-your-own' pizza is always piping hot and ready to eat when you are ready to serve."
The "bake-your-own" pizza business is growing because dual income families like the convenience. Parents feel that the pizza is a high-quality convenient food that feels like they've actually baked for their own family.
Fink hopes to have as many as 20 to 25 Nick-N-Willy's outlets in Utah. Locations have not been finalized, but negotiations are being held on several different sites. The growth will take place over about seven years to guarantee that the absorption of the stores is orderly and efficient.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
