The Pizza Press

What The Pizza Press does

The Pizza Press is a fast-casual build-your-own pizza franchise founded in 2012 in Anaheim, California, operating under RMS Franchise Group. The company runs an immersive 1920s Americana newspaper-themed concept where customers "publish" custom pizzas by selecting from approximately 30 toppings, 5+ sauces, and 8 finishing options, or choose from signature pizzas named after iconic American newspapers (The Times, The Tribune, The Chronicle, The Sun, The Gazette, The Herald). Pizzas are prepared using a proprietary mechanized dough press and conveyor oven system, cooking in under four minutes. Most locations also maintain approximately 24 rotating taps of locally and regionally sourced craft beer, with the flagship Anaheim location featuring 30 taps.

The company's primary revenue model is franchising, charging a $35,000 initial franchise fee for the first restaurant and $28,000 for subsequent multi-unit locations, plus a 6% ongoing royalty on gross sales and a 2% creative/marketing fee. Franchisees make a total initial investment of $455,350 to $791,500 per location. As of the available data, 85+ units have been sold under franchise development agreements spanning 20+ U.S. states, with operational locations concentrated in California, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Hawaii, and North Carolina, and international locations open in China with planned expansion to Mexico and Canada. Distribution channels include the company's own website ordering platform, a mobile app with a loyalty/rewards program, third-party delivery aggregators (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub), and ezCater for corporate and group catering.

The Pizza Press serves two core customer segments: end consumers seeking experiential, customizable casual dining (individuals, families, college-age demographics near campus locations), and franchisees seeking a differentiated restaurant concept. The company also engages in community-focused philanthropy, including the "Sodas for Causes" fundraising program for Cancer for College and partnerships with CHOC Children's, YMCA of Orange County, and Girls Inc. of Orange County. Corporate headcount is reported at 51-100 employees.

Name

The Pizza Press

Legal name

The Pizza Press

Website

https://thepizzapress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Pizza Press is a fast-casual build-your-own pizza franchise founded in 2012 in Anaheim, California, operating under a 1920s newspaper theme. It serves individual consumers and families via 20+ U.S. franchise locations and recruits multi-unit franchisees for ongoing expansion domestically and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast-casual pizza restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Pizza Fast Casual (THAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pizza QSR (THAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Fast-casual pizza
• Build-your-own pizza
• Pizza franchise
• Craft beer restaurant
• Pizzeria dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fee of $35,000 per restaurant for the first unit; $28,000 per subsequent restaurant in a multi-unit development agreement. Additional continuing fees include a 6% royalty fee on gross sales and a 2% creative/marketing and advertising fee on gross sales.
2. Dine-In and Takeout Sales: Company-operated and franchise locations generate revenue from dine-in customers, takeout orders placed directly or via phone, and online ordering through the company website and delivery aggregator platforms.
3. Third-Party Delivery Platform Sales: Orders placed through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub generate revenue through platform fees and order volume at each franchise location.
4. Catering Services: Catering orders are available through ezCater platform, generating revenue from bulk/group orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Pizza Press operates a fast-casual build-your-own pizza restaurant franchise where customers customize pizzas from fresh toppings, sauces, and cheeses, or choose from signature pizzas named after iconic American newspapers. Pizzas are prepared using a mechanized dough press and conveyor oven, ready in approximately four minutes. The concept pairs the pizza with a rotating craft beer program (typically 24+ taps), Market Salads, and gluten-free/vegan options in an immersive 1920s newspaper-themed dining environment, sold via dine-in, takeout, online ordering, third-party delivery, catering, and franchising.

Product overview

The Pizza Press is a fast-casual build-your-own pizza restaurant franchise founded in 2012 in Anaheim, California. The core product offering centers on customizable pizzas built by customers ('publishing their own') or selected from signature pizzas named after iconic American newspapers (The Times, The Tribune, The Chronicle, The Sun, The Herald, The Gazette, The Bulletin). The company also offers Market Salads, craft beer (typically 24+ rotating taps), gluten-free dough, and vegan cheese options. The brand operates an immersive 1920s Americana newspaper-themed dining experience with a franchise program for expansion, online ordering through the website and third-party delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub), catering via ezCater, and community fundraising programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Build-Your-Own Pizza Customizable pizza where customers select fresh toppings, sauces, cheeses, and finishing options to create their own pizza, cooked in under four minutes via mechanized dough press and conveyor oven. Designed for individual diners, families, and groups seeking made-to-order pizza at fast-casual speed.
• Signature Pizzas Chef-curated pizzas named after iconic American newspapers, each with unique ingredient combinations (e.g., The Sun topped with honey-smoked ham, bourbon, cheddar, and pineapple). Available at all Pizza Press locations for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
• Craft Beer Selection Typically two dozen rotating craft beers on tap at each location, sourced from local and regional breweries and changing seasonally. Beer-and-pizza pairing recommendations are featured. Some locations offer up to 30 taps.
• Market Salads Customizable or signature salads (e.g., Greek Arugula Salad with grilled chicken, arugula, tomatoes, olives, and feta) offered alongside pizzas for guests seeking lighter or non-pizza options.
• Desserts Assorted dessert menu including Hope's Cookies, custom ice cream sandwiches, ice cream floats, tiramisu, and seasonal treats. The Pizza Press has sold over 100,000 cookies since 2012.
• Franchise Program Franchise opportunity offering the build-your-own pizza concept with comprehensive support including architecture, design, equipment setup, seven straight days of training at corporate stores, ongoing coaching, and marketing programs. Includes single-unit ($35,000 fee) and multi-unit development ($28,000 per subsequent unit) agreements, with 6% royalty fee and 2% creative/marketing fee on gross sales. Total initial investment range per location: $455,350 to $791,500.
• Catering Services Catering orders for corporate events, group gatherings, and community functions, available via the ezCater platform from all Pizza Press locations.
• Fundraising Program Community fundraising initiative allowing schools, sports teams, and community organizations to raise funds by hosting Pizza Press events, including the 'Sodas for Causes' program benefiting Cancer for College (which has granted over $2.5 million in college scholarships to cancer survivors).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million custom pizzas served since 2012
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Santa Ana College / Community Action Partnership of Orange CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025The Pizza Press supported Santa Ana College's Full STEAM Ahead Career Track Expo, an event dedicated to inspiring students to explore career pathways in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Community Action Partnership of Orange County.
• CHOC Children'scoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2025The Pizza Press was a sponsor of the 2025 CHOC Walk, which brought together more than 7,000 participants and raised $2.9 million (and counting) in support of CHOC Children's hospital. The Pizza Press provided meals and support for the event, continuing an ongoing community partnership.
• YMCA of Orange CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025The Pizza Press sponsored the Second Annual O'Hoppe All Star Bowl, hosted by Logan O'Hoppe (catcher for the Los Angeles Angels) in support of the YMCA of Orange County. The event brought together community members, fans, and families for an evening of bowling, connection, and charitable giving.
• Orange Community Arts Guild and Friendly CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025The Pizza Press participated in a community arts event hosted by the Orange Community Arts Guild and Friendly Center, which brought together young artists for activities including clay, cameras, and zine-making. The event was focused on inspiring creativity and building community among local youth.
• Girls Inc. of Orange CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025The Pizza Press partnered with Girls Inc. of Orange County for the Smart Ups entrepreneurial camp, providing meals for over 120 girls in grades 3rd through 6th. This was the second year of the partnership, supporting the organization's mission to inspire young girls through entrepreneurship education.
• City of Santa Ana (Job Fair)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025The Pizza Press participated in the Santa Ana Job Fair which welcomed over 1,300 participants, providing pizza to attendees. The event connected job seekers, employers, and community organizations.
• Centralia School District / Tiger Woods Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025CEO and Founder Dara Maleki spoke at Centralia's Student Career Leadership Summit held at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in April 2025, sharing insights on leadership and business growth with students.
• Cancer for CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2018The Pizza Press launched the 'Sodas for Causes' fundraising initiative in April 2018, running through April 2019, donating a portion of proceeds from every fountain drink sold to Cancer for College — an organization that grants college scholarships to cancer survivors. The Pizza Press set a goal of raising $30,000. Cancer for College has granted over $2.5 million in scholarships to date.
• California FirefightersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2017The Pizza Press hosted Firefighter Appreciation Days on October 26-27, 2017, at all California locations, offering free pizzas and fountain drinks to firefighters who showed their badges. This was in recognition of firefighters who battled devastating California forest fires, including Canyon Fire 2 near the company's Anaheim headquarters.
• Logan O'Hoppe (Los Angeles Angels)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogan O'Hoppe, catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, hosted the Second Annual O'Hoppe All Star Bowl event sponsored by The Pizza Press to benefit the YMCA of Orange County. The partnership leverages local sports celebrity to drive community engagement.
• University of Texas at AustinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Pizza Press Austin West Campus location is an official sponsor of the Texas Longhorns, the University of Texas at Austin athletic program. This sponsorship helps drive visibility and customer traffic near the college campus location.
• ezCaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Pizza Press offers catering services through ezCater, enabling corporate and group catering orders from all locations via the third-party catering marketplace.
• DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubhubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party food delivery aggregators DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub serve as delivery distribution channels for The Pizza Press locations. Platform availability varies by location.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut is a global pizza incumbent with dine-in, delivery, and franchise operations. As a broad-based pizza competitor, it sets category price expectations and competes with The Pizza Press for casual pizza occasions.
• Domino's Pizza: Domino's is the largest pizza chain globally by retail sales and a dominant delivery incumbent. It competes with The Pizza Press on delivery occasions and price-conscious pizza occasions, though with a different operational model (delivery-focused, not experiential dine-in).
• Papa John's: Papa John's is a major pizza chain with global franchised delivery operations. While its business model is delivery-led traditional pizza rather than build-your-own, it competes in the broader pizza category with The Pizza Press on delivery occasions and trade areas.

Direct peers

• &pizza: &pizza is a fast-casual build-your-own pizza concept focused on East Coast markets with a strong design-forward brand. It competes with The Pizza Press on the build-your-own model and millennial demographic, though with a more urban store format.
• Pieology Pizzeria: Pieology is a fast-casual build-your-own pizza franchise with broad U.S. footprint. It is directly comparable to The Pizza Press in customization model, target demographic, and franchise unit economics, making it a head-to-head competitor.
• Blaze Pizza: Blaze Pizza operates a fast-casual build-your-own pizza franchise with rapid oven-cooked pizzas. It shares The Pizza Press's core product proposition, target customer (millennial/Gen Z families and young adults), and franchise-driven expansion model.
• MOD Pizza: MOD Pizza is the largest fast-casual build-your-own pizza chain in the U.S. with hundreds of locations. It directly competes with The Pizza Press on the same build-your-own model, similar price points, and dine-in experience — the closest comparable peer.

Regional players

• Round Table Pizza: Round Table Pizza is a West Coast pizza franchise with deep California roots. It overlaps with The Pizza Press in California trade areas and casual dine-in pizza occasions, though with a more traditional (non-build-your-own) menu.
• Mountain Mike's Pizza: Mountain Mike's Pizza is a California-based pizza franchise with strong regional presence. It is comparable to The Pizza Press as a West Coast pizza franchise concept with dine-in focus and similar target family demographic.

Emerging players

• Toppers Pizza: Toppers Pizza is an emerging franchise pizza concept with a small but growing footprint. It competes with The Pizza Press as a smaller franchise challenger in the U.S. pizza category with a similar casual dine-in and delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thepizzapress
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePizzaPress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Pizza Press