Leading Family-Style Pizza Chain Catapults into 2025 with Significant Brand Momentum, Including 300-Restaurant and $300 Million Sales Milestones
Irvine, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for over 45 years, known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, massive 20-inch Mountain-sized pizzas and dough made fresh daily, is well-positioned to maintain significant brand momentum as a new year begins after ending 2024 with a record number of new restaurant openings. In all, Mountain Mike’s opened 21 locations nationwide last year, the highest annual total in company history, including new market entries in Texas, Colorado, and Washington State. Brand growth also reached new heights thanks to robust expansion activities from coast-to-coast, highlighted by a 10-unit development deal in Florida. As more new guests are introduced to the popular legacy brand, Mountain Mike’s continues to firmly establish itself as a national player and powerhouse brand in the ultra-competitive pizza industry.
“Last year, we accelerated growth in new and existing markets and introduced our concept to many more territories across the country, including the East Coast, further cementing our status as a national pizza brand and making 2024 truly transformative,” said Jim Metevier, CEO of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “As we launch into 2025, we’ll proudly ride the momentum wave and leverage the unwavering dedication of our exceptional guests, franchise partners and support center team to propel Mountain Mike’s to even greater heights.”
Throughout 2024, Mountain Mike’s added more than 40 units to the pipeline, bringing its thriving development total to nearly 140 restaurants. Along with the impressive 10-unit Florida deal that will introduce the brand to the East Coast, Mountain Mike’s inked agreements to open multiple restaurants in other new states, including Wisconsin (6 locations), Washington (4), Oklahoma (3) and Arkansas (3). Restaurant expansion in new states was complemented by exciting development activities in existing states. 2024 development agreements will add 14 new locations to the brand footprint in Texas and three new locations will land in Oregon.
The momentum created by last year’s development push, plus the opening of nearly two-dozen new locations in 2024, paved the way for a significant early-year milestone for Mountain Mike’s Pizza. The brand kicked off 2025 by celebrating the opening of its 300th restaurant and expects to smash its own annual record by opening more than 35 locations in 2025. Mountain Mike’s is on pace to surpass 400 restaurants by the end of 2026 – a 120% increase in total locations since current owners Chris Britt and Ed St. Geme acquired the brand in 2017 and began the climb to transform Mountain Mike’s into one of the fastest-growing pizza franchises in the country.
“Exceeding the $300 million sales milestone to end 2024, reaching over 300 restaurants to begin 2025 and expanding Mountain Mike’s Pizza within several new states underscores the strength of our brand and the confidence our franchise partners have in the Mountain Mike’s Pizza concept,” said Chris Britt, co-Owner and co-Chairman of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “As growth accelerates and we and push toward 400 restaurants and beyond with strategic development in key markets, we’re extremely proud to continue delivering innovative marketing initiatives that engage guests, strengthen brand loyalty and fuel continued success.”
For its countless 2024 successes, Mountain Mike’s was lauded with widespread industry recognition that included prestigious rankings and multiple accolades that highlighted the brand’s continued growth and excellence. With an industry-leading 915 points and the highest score in the Food Category, Mountain Mike’s claimed FRANdata’s 2024 TopScore FUND Award, recognizing the brand’s outstanding support for franchisee financing and growth. The brand also secured the #2 spot among Pizza Marketplace’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers, while CEO Jim Metevier was named a top-three executive. Other notable 2024 rankings include a top-150 spot on the Restaurant Business’ Top 500, a 23-spot jump on the Franchise Times’ Top 400 list to debut at #182 and a debut as the #2 fastest-growing pizza chain by Eat This, Not That. Mountain Mike’s kicked off 2025 by securing the #89 position on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® List, reaching the prestigious top 100 for the third consecutive year.
“Our consistent climb in the industry’s most respected rankings supports a powerful narrative about our brand strength, franchisee performance and strategic execution across an array of business endeavors,” added Ed St. Geme, co-Owner and co-Chairman of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “Ranking among the fastest-growing chains signals that our growth trajectory remains strong – even as we continue to ascend.”
In addition to these successes, Mountain Mike’s Pizza delivered an ex