TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Marco's Franchising, LLC, the franchising arm for Marco's Pizza, the 145-unit chain headquartered here, has announced it has signed an agreement with Sofo Foods, also of Toledo, to contract for 25 percent of the 12-month volume usage of cheese for the year at the current price. Cheese prices are the proverbial "wild card" in pizza making economics.
Jack Butorac, Jr., president of Marco's Franchising LLC, and Mike Sofo, president of Sofo Foods, announced the arrangement.
"Market cheese prices are traditionally susceptible to outside economical pressures," Butorac said. "By signing this agreement with Sofo, our cheese purveyor, we are protecting our franchisees, and in turn our customers, from spikes in the cheese market price."
According to Butorac, the action is similar to what many energy companies are offering consumers, a chance to lock in the energy costs for heating bills, prior to price increases.
Marco's Pizza was founded in Toledo some 27 years ago by Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, a native of Italy who sold the franchising rights to Butorac last year, but remains with the company in concept development and as the owner of Marco's Pizza stores in Northwest Ohio.
With stores in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona, Marco's will open a record 24 stores this year.
Marco's Pizza offers customers a variety of custom made, Ah-thentic Italian pizzas, fresh-made subs, salads, chicken wings and soft drinks. Additional information is available at www.marcos.com.