Little Caesars Pizza Founder Scores With Pizza and Pucks

By: Little Caesars Pizza | 4 Shares 186 Reads

DETROIT, June 2 // PRNewswire // -- Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings and the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club are all on top of their games. Little Caesars is continuing its momentum after building the most pizza franchise units domestically in 2007, the Red Wings are vying for their eleventh Stanley Cup and the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club is fresh off winning national championships in three different age levels this year.

"From the stores to the arenas, Little Caesars and the hockey organizations are building excitement," said David Scrivano, president, Little Caesar Enterprises. "Hockeytown is a great place to be. Plus, with seven consecutive years of significant sales increases outpacing industry growth and our recent designation as the 'best value for the money' brand compared to all quick serve restaurant chains, Little Caesars and Detroit hockey are scoring with fans."

Hockey enthusiasts are cheering the Red Wings in the hockey post-season. Likewise, prospective franchisees/investors continue to show increased interest in the Little Caesars franchise opportunity and its HOT-N-READY(R) consumer offering -- a large, fresh, pepperoni pizza that is ready when customers are, with no waiting or need to call ahead.

"It is an honor for Little Caesars and our hockey program to be associated with the Detroit Red Wings, and there are some parallels between the organizations," said Scrivano. "The hockey franchise has a history of emphasizing teamwork, dedication and training. Similarly, Little Caesars works with its franchisees emphasizing teamwork, dedication and training with the tools of a proven system to help them grow their business."

Little Caesars' Detroit roots in pizza and hockey run deep. Since 1968, Michael and Marian Ilitch have been sponsoring amateur hockey throughout the Midwest, and have helped establish a tradition of success for youth organizations. Three Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club teams won National Championships in April, 2008. They are: Little Caesars Midget Minor (boys, 16 and under), Little Caesars Bantam Major (boys, 14 and under) and the Little Caesars Women's Senior A team (19 and over).

The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club is one of the cornerstones of the Midwest Elite Hockey League and has produced 27 National Hockey League players. Hundreds of others have established careers in collegiate hockey or other hockey leagues. Little Caesars also sponsors the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League, the largest amateur hockey league in the United States. The LCAHL has more than 14,000 youth hockey players from approximately 750 travel and house teams playing in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Windsor, Ontario. All teams have an opportunity to play in the organization's playoffs, which are held at Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings.

About Little Caesars

Little Caesars Pizza founders Michael and Marian Ilitch opened their first restaurant in Garden City, Michigan in 1959. Little Caesars built more stores in the U.S. in 2007 than any other pizza chain and today is the largest carry-out pizza chain internationally with restaurants on five continents. Little Caesars is growing in prime markets across the country, and is offering strong franchisee candidates an opportunity for independence with a proven system. In addition, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized characters in the country, Little Caesar, that appeals to both adults and children.

In addition to Little Caesars Pizza, Ilitch companies in the food, sports and entertainment industries include -- the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and a variety of venues within these entities. Marian Ilitch also owns MotorCity Casino Hotel.

For more information about Little Caesars, available franchise opportunities and markets, visit http://www.LittleCaesars.com or call 1.800.553.5776.

SOURCE Little Caesar Enterprises

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