Orlando, Fla. — Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, celebrates the opening of its Operations Center of Excellence in downtown Orlando, Fla. The center provides franchisees with a hands-on place to train and creates an operational hub that helps support systemwide growth.
“Great brands are built by great operators. This center gives our franchisees practical, hands-on training and stronger operational support,” said Libardi. “As Marco’s grows, that investment will help us protect consistency and improve performance across the system.”
The approximately 14,030-square-foot center serves as a corporate office, training destination and operational hub. At its heart is a fully equipped training kitchen designed to replicate a Marco’s Pizza store kitchen, giving operators an immersive place to learn and practice the brand’s operating standards.
The center will host Marco’s University, which offers advanced training for franchisees, as well as Discovery Days for prospective franchisees. It will also bring franchisees, company leaders and supply chain partners together to strengthen performance across the system.
“My career started at Walt Disney World, right here in Orlando, where I learned that great hospitality is trained,” says Meyers. “We built this center to train the way our operators actually work — in a real kitchen, at real speed.”
The opening comes as Marco’s targets more than 80 new store openings in 2026. Florida is one of the brand’s largest markets, making Orlando a natural home for a center that supports franchisees across the system.
“Growth only matters if our operators are set up to perform, and this center is how we make sure they are,” says Gerardo Flores, chief development officer of Marco’s Pizza. “When prospective franchisees visit for Discovery Day, they’ll see our commitment in action, not just on paper.”
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Mexico. For more information, visit www.marcosfranchising.com.
SOURCE: Marco’s Pizza