Wednesday, 28 July 2010 05:39 Dine & Cook Staff Report

Take and bake pizza company, Papa Murphy's International, outpaced all pizza-industry competition in new store growth and U.S. system-wide sales in 2009.

According to the 37th Annual Nation's Restaurant News Top 100 census report, Papa Murphy's growth, based on year-over-year percentage change, in U.S. franchises from 2008 to 2009 landed the pizza chain among the top 10 restaurant franchises. Papa Murphy's is the only pizza chain to secure a spot in the top 10. Also making the list, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Jack in the Box and Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar.

"Papa Murphy's is an attractive option because we have one of the lowest investment levels of any pizza chain," said John Barr, Papa Murphy's Chairman and CEO. "That's often a deciding factor, given the current difficulty for new business owners to secure financing. We signed over 130 franchise agreements last year, including some in major new markets in the Southeast."

The report also said that Papa Murphy's saw the greatest growth in U.S. system-wide sales within the pizza category in 2009.

Papa Murphy's is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the country and the pioneer of the take and bake concept. The company operates over 1,200 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 36 states and Canada.

The Vancouver, Washington-based company offers custom-made pizzas that customers take home and bake.

Website: www.papamurphys.com.