Pizza Inn Launches Fast-casual Concept Pie Five Pizza Co. In Fort Worth

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Upscale brand to serve custom pizzas made fresh to order in less than five minutes.
Company has plans to franchise up to 100 locations a year.
Restaurant to target urban lifestyle centers in major markets.

June 03, 2011 // Franchising.com // THE COLONY, Texas – Pizza Inn, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZI) is redefining the pizza dining experience with the launch of Pie Five Pizza Co., a new fast-casual concept that will offer more than five million combinations of custom made, fresh to order individual pizzas baked in less than five minutes.

The first restaurant opens today, June 3, in Fort Worth, at 2600 W. 7th Street in Montgomery Plaza, blending an industrial chic design in an upscale neighborhood, complete with revolutionary ovens and a skilled crew behind the counter. Customers can order off the Pie Five menu or choose their own individual 9-inch crust, sauce and toppings combinations to be assembled before them and ready to savor by the time they check out.

"This is true gourmet pizza prepared to the customer's wishes without the wait," says Charlie Morrison, president and CEO of Pizza Inn, who is leading the introduction. "Pie Five achieves the three most important things in the restaurant world: a delicious product delivered in record time in an exciting destination."

The Pie Five prototype is 1,800 square-feet with 60 seats, offering dine-in or carryout options to pizza lovers on the go. The concept targets a growing fast-casual audience demanding variety and control without sacrificing taste and style.

The menu offers 10 specialty pies with gourmet flavors or a build-your-own option to suit individual desires.

"We are filling a huge void that isn't being served by big chains stuck in price wars and forced to heat up frozen products for the lowest returns," Morrison added.

The entrepreneurial venture is backed by seasoned restaurant executives with international clout and the Pizza Inn franchising foundation with plans to grow the brand up to 100 locations a year. The concept will target urban lifestyle centers in major markets, adding a second target audience separate from Pizza Inn's more than 300 existing restaurants.

A complete menu and more information on Pie Five is available at www.piefivepizza.com.

About Pizza Inn:

Headquartered in the Dallas suburb of The Colony, TX, Pizza Inn, Inc., is an international pizza chain featuring traditional and specialty pizzas, as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. Founded in 1958, publicly traded Pizza Inn (Nasdaq:PZZI) franchises approximately 300 restaurants and directly owns and operates five restaurants. More information is available at www.pizzainn.com.

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