{"id":23716,"date":"2026-09-21T13:47:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T13:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/23716\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T13:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T13:47:10","slug":"little-caesars-targets-nj-for-pizza-franchise-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/23716\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Caesars targets NJ for pizza franchise expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

The basics:<\/p>\n

Little Caesars has 22 New Jersey locations
\nChain says Garden State has significant room for growth
\nFranchisees can pursue traditional and nontraditional locations
\nInitial franchise investment ranges from $376,500 to $1.77M<\/p>\n

Little Caesars wants a bigger slice of the New Jersey pizza market. As part of a broader push to expand across the New York City metropolitan area, the Detroit-based chain is seeking to boost its Garden State presence by recruiting franchisees to open new restaurants.\n<\/p>\n

Founded in 1959 by husband-wife duo Mike and Marian Ilitch, Little Caesars built its identity as a value-driven, walk-in, carryout pizza joint. Best known for its famous \u201cPizza! Pizza!\u201d slogan introduced decades ago, the chain has evolved from a single family-owned spot into one of the largest pizza concepts in the U.S.\n<\/p>\n

Since beginning franchising in 1962, Little Caesars has grown to more than 5,500 global locations. It currently ranks behind Domino\u2019s (22,100) and Pizza Hut (19,000) in terms of worldwide store count.<\/p>\n

NJ \u2018is wide open\u2019<\/p>\n

Now considered one of the fastest-growing pizza franchises in the U.S., Little Caesars began targeting the Northeast three years ago. Along with New Jersey, the chain is looking to grow across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley via multi-unit development deals with experienced operators and entrepreneurs. At the moment, Little Caesars has 22 sites in New Jersey \u2013 mainly in urban hubs like Camden, Elizabeth, Newark, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Trenton and Union City.\n<\/p>\n

It once had a bigger footprint in the state via in-store partnerships with Kmart. But as the national retailer struggled, closed stores and eventually filed its first bankruptcy in 2002, those locations in New Jersey and across the U.S. disappeared.\n<\/p>\n

For Little Caesars, New Jersey is particularly attractive for a few reasons, according to Alan Wayne, the company\u2019s national director of franchising. \u201cOur market and our sweet spot are families that are looking for affordable, high-quality pizza that\u2019s served fast. And New Jersey\u2019s perfect for that. We\u2019ve got dense neighborhoods, we\u2019ve got communities that want that speed, value and convenience. So, we fit right into what folks in New Jersey want. But we just don\u2019t have enough restaurants at this point in time, and that\u2019s part of my job and my team\u2019s job is to change that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As a Bergen County resident, Wayne is especially keen on seeing the brand take root in his home state.
\n\"Alan\"AlanWayne\n<\/p>\n

A longtime Dunkin\u2019 executive with over 20 years of experience in franchising, development, operations and marketing, Wayne joined Little Caesars in 2022 as director of international development. He is now focused on domestic growth as national director of franchising.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe state is wide open,\u201d he said. \u201cIf anyone has an area they\u2019re looking at that they\u2019re interested in, we\u2019re going to go quickly investigate it with you and see if it makes sense \u2026 So, with the exception of the existing stores we have because we don\u2019t want to encroach upon their business, it\u2019s really a great opportunity to investigate anywhere in New Jersey.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I were younger, I\u2019d probably consider doing it myself \u2026 But for someone out there who\u2019s looking for an opportunity, there\u2019s plenty of space all over northern New Jersey. And we have a good real estate team that will help you, guide you toward what the right sites look like from a demographic standpoint or site trade area standpoint, a marketing team, architecture, operations.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

A family-friendly price point<\/p>\n

Wayne went on to say the company\u2019s renewed focus on New Jersey is less about competing directly with the state\u2019s famous independent pizzerias and more about filling a different niche.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had restaurants here before, but I think the key is growing with the right people and finding the right locations. When I talk to candidates, they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, it must have something to do with the fact that New York and New Jersey are big pizza markets.\u2019 And, I don\u2019t agree with that,\u201d Wayne said.
\n\"Little\"LittleLittle Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch as a single, family-owned restaurant in 1959 and is headquartered in downtown Detroit, Mich. As of September 2026, it is the third-largest pizza chain in the world. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LITTLE CAESARS\n<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause when I buy a pizza for my family, which I do once every couple of weeks, and we\u2019ll go to a specialty pizza place, a mom-and-pop restaurant and we\u2019ll pay $25 or more for a pizza. And we\u2019re not in that game with Little Caesar\u2019s. Our pizza will \u2013 depending upon the market and if you\u2019re in New Jersey \u2013 cost $8.99 for a pizza for the family. So, I don\u2019t think you\u2019re competing with that,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMy daughter is 16 years old, and if she has her friends over, I\u2019m not going to buy four pizzas for $25 each. I\u2019m going to buy four for $9 a piece,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then everybody\u2019s always excited because they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, you got Little Caesars. I saw the commercials, but there\u2019s not that many restaurants near me.\u2019 So, there\u2019s a lot of opportunity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Fitting demand<\/p>\n

Little Caesars hasn\u2019t established a specific local restaurant count it hopes to achieve just yet, according to Wayne. \u201cWe\u2019re so far away from that because there is so much opportunity that we don\u2019t really have a defined number as to what we want to hit,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

Although Little Caesars says its traditional restaurant model of freestanding sites, endcap drive-thrus and inline locations remains an important part of the overall growth strategy, the chain is embracing formats that can fit into different types of real estate, such as shopping centers, gas stations, convenience stores, airports, stadiums, military bases, college campuses, casinos, amusement parks and other high-traffic hubs.\n<\/p>\n

Besides giving franchisees more flexibility, the smaller-sized outposts can reduce the expense of opening a location at a time when rising construction and labor costs continue to impact the restaurant industry. \u201cWe\u2019re flexible. The bigger thing is that we\u2019re choosing the concept that fits the demand and the need in an area,\u201d Wayne said.
\n\"Little\"LittleThe interior of a Little Caesars shop. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LITTLE CAESARS\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re trying to go into a market like New Jersey, where there is a lot of space to open a restaurant, you want to make sure, if you can, to start out with the best representation of your menu and your store \u2013 which would be your traditional unit. But we\u2019re flexible.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the business model makes sense or if there\u2019s a non-traditional opportunity, like going into a gas station, we can adapt to a smaller concept that might fit,\u201d he said. \u201cThe bigger thing is that we\u2019re choosing the concept that fits the demand and the need in an area because we don\u2019t want to underserve it by having a smaller unit with a limited menu.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Putting technology to work<\/p>\n

Technology is another part of Little Caesars\u2019 effort to make its restaurants faster and easier to operate. One of its biggest innovations was the 2018 launch of a heated self-service pickup station known as the Pizza Portal. There, customers can retrieve mobile orders without waiting in line.\n<\/p>\n

Wayne said, \u201cIt was just a happy accident where we developed this contactless piece of equipment before COVID-19. \u2026 So the business actually continued and thrived during that time, at least more so than other businesses.\u201d
\n\"Little\"LittleOne of Little Caesars\u2019 biggest innovations was the 2018 launch of a heated self-service pickup station known as the Pizza Portal. There, customers can retrieve mobile orders without waiting in line. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LITTLE CAESARS\n<\/p>\n

Little Caesars entered the delivery game for the first time six years ago through a nationwide partnership with DoorDash. More recently, the chain has begun exploring autonomous deliveries to customers using sidewalk robots and drones.\n<\/p>\n

Despite the popularity of digital ordering, Wayne said, \u201cWe\u2019re not isolating ourselves to just that one little piece because I think people want flexibility in how they order.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOn thing we have that I think is innovative really just goes back to being old school. And that\u2019s our Hot-N-Ready model. That means we have a certain amount of items that are ready to go when you enter the restaurant,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re accommodating that person that doesn\u2019t want to order digitally immediately, because where can you order a pizza and theoretically get it handed to you in 30 seconds after ordering it?\u201d Wayne said. \u201cThis brand was built upon Hot-N-Ready. I think the key is being flexible to the needs of the guest and how they want to order.\u201d
\n\"Little\"LittleLittle Caesars\u2019 Hot-N-Ready model \u201cmeans we have a certain amount of items that are ready to go when you enter the restaurant,\u201d said Alan Wayne, the company\u2019s national director of franchising. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LITTLE CAESARS\n<\/p>\n

That\u2019s crazy<\/p>\n

While Little Caesars has kept its core menu of pizza and \u201cCrazy Bread\u201d breadsticks made from quality ingredients, never frozen cheese and fresh sauce largely intact, it has stepped up experimenting with new formats, flavors and limited-time offerings. That\u2019s included testing specialty crusts, like pretzel and newer stuffed varieties.
\n\"Little\"LittleAlan Wayne, Little Caesars\u2019 national director of franchising, said the rollout of Crazy Puffs \u2013 aka \u201cportable pockets of pizza joy\u201d \u2013 has helped introduce the brand to customers who may not be looking to purchase an entire pizza \u2013 particularly in the middle of the day. \u2013 PROVIDED BY LITTLE CAESARS\n<\/p>\n

One of the most buzzworthy additions was Crazy Puffs in 2024. Billed as \u201cportable pockets of pizza joy,\u201d the muffin-shaped mini pizzas come in a four-pack that sells for $3.99.\n<\/p>\n

Wayne said the rollout of Crazy Puffs has helped introduce Little Caesars to customers who may not be looking to purchase an entire pizza \u2014 particularly in the middle of the day.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people decided that they\u2019re going to have that as a snack in the middle of the day. So, what it did was it took a brand that primarily is dinner driven and for the whole family and opened up the door a little bit to the single customer who might want to just get Crazy Puffs as a snack in the middle of the day,\u201d Wayne said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a fantastic addition, and it showed with the results at the restaurants \u2026 And so that was probably one of the biggest product innovations,\u201d Wayne said.\n<\/p>\n

With the brand<\/p>\n

Besides its recent return for a fifth year as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, Little Caesars has landed several other high-profile partnerships to help generate excitement around the brand.\n<\/p>\n

That\u2019s included creating limited-time menu items and collectible packaging tied to major films like The Batman (2022), Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).\n<\/p>\n

Given the blockbuster status of those three films, Wayne said, \u201cWhen you get lucky with movies like that, it just raises awareness for the brand.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Wayne went on to say one of the aspects of the NFL sponsorship that he loves is that it helps highlight the Pizza Portal technology. The tie-up with the league has also enabled Little Caesars to add branded locations at stadiums in Philadelphia, Detroit, Kansas City, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans and Miami.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the Northeast, people don\u2019t really know that we have the Pizza Portal, so this makes it easier. A lot of the ads that we had during the game started showing the Portal, so people could see it on a commercial and understand the benefits. So, that was nice \u2013 especially when you\u2019re trying to sell a brand and the advertising shows what you\u2019re trying to sell,\u201d Wayne said.\n<\/p>\n

A winning recipe<\/p>\n

More than six decades after its founding, Wayne said the brand\u2019s recognition could give new franchisees an advantage as they enter markets where Little Caesars has relatively few restaurants.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a store opens up and people are familiar with the brand, they immediately want to get out and try it,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, that doesn\u2019t tell you they\u2019re going to come back again and again, and that\u2019s up to you as an operator to give them the finest product quality that you can give them and guest experience so that they come back. But the great thing is when you\u2019re a mature brand that\u2019s been around for over 65 years, they know the brand and when one comes to your neighborhood and it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh man, it\u2019s finally here\u2019 and then you\u2019ll go out and try it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a grand opening event a few months ago in Queens and did this promotion where the first hundred people in line can win pizza for a year. And there was an enormous line of people outside the restaurant lining up about a few hours before we\u2019re opened,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it amazes me because that\u2019s the power of the brand. And that people are that passionate about it where they\u2019re camping out for it,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, it helps to be a brand that\u2019s known, that people know what it is and has been around for many years. The key is you have to have the right experience and the right product quality to ensure that people come back.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

A piece of the pie<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where good training and continuing help comes in, according to Wayne.\n<\/p>\n

During the development process, the company pitches in with site selection, design and opening. Additionally, franchisees receive year-round support from Little Caesars, including assistance with areas like operations, business planning, real estate, construction, marketing and accounting.\n<\/p>\n

Wayne said, \u201cWith a franchise model \u2026 it\u2019s up to the company to make sure that each operator is adhering to the standards that the company has set forth. So, it should be the same experience every time you go into the same restaurant. And that\u2019s why it has to be simple. Our three pillars are quality, value and convenience. Those are the three things that lead to success and we reinforce.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Our three pillars are quality, value and convenience. Those are the three things that lead to success and we reinforce.
\u2013 Alan Wayne, national director of franchising, Little Caesars<\/p>\n

Regardless of whether a franchisee is new to the foodservice industry or is a seasoned multibrand operator looking to diversify their portfolio, Wayne said Little Caesars ultimately wants individuals who are growth-minded and willing to be actively involved.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s more important is that it\u2019s someone who\u2019s passionate about what they do, and they\u2019re going to be invested in the business, be present and get involved in their communities,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s the right person.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u2018A simple concept\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re primarily a takeout business and delivery business,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s really a simple concept \u2026 and we\u2019ll help you in every step of the way and train you,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cIt\u2019s not complex like a full sit-down restaurant would be. And, we\u2019ve had people come in who had minimal restaurant experience.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\"McDonald's\"McDonald'sPROVIDED BY MPC FOODS\n<\/p>\n

Spotlight on franchising
Also in this section:<\/p>\n

Franchisee Matthew Cottrell started at McDonald\u2019s as a teenager. Now, his company\u2019s portfolio includes 12 of the fast-food giant\u2019s restaurants across the region. Read his story here.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a family-owned company and we\u2019ve been so for a long period of time, so we have a really great culture. We\u2019re growing and we have a tremendous opportunity in New Jersey for people who are passionate about pizza and want to operate their own business,\u201d Wayne said. \u201cAnd we give you the support you need to operate a very operationally simplistic business. I\u2019m not saying it\u2019s easy, because no business is easy, but I would say it\u2019s easier than some of the other concepts that you could investigate for a franchise.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Opening a Little Caesars franchise requires an estimated total initial investment of $376,500 to $1,769,200, which varies significantly depending on the store format, location and real estate needs, according to the company.\n<\/p>\n

The timeline for opening depends on format and location, Wayne said. A non-traditional unit, such as one inside an existing gas station space, could potentially move from entering the system to construction in four to six months. Meanwhile, a traditional restaurant could take a year or longer due to permitting, real estate availability and local approvals, he explained.\n<\/p>\n

It could sometimes take upwards of two to three years for a franchisee to nail down a location, according to Wayne.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes that might be a good move too, because the two reasons why a restaurant fails are usually because one, it\u2019s not the right location. And number two, it\u2019s not the right operator,\u201d he said. \u201cSo hopefully you get past the operator part when you\u2019re in the beginning by qualifying the right person who\u2019s passionate about the brand. You never know 100% but you try to get through and find the right fit.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter you get the right person, finding the right location is the other part of the equation. So, I get why brands might want to take time to make sure they get it right,\u201d Wayne said.\n<\/p>\n

Learning about the business<\/p>\n

In addition to holding informational sessions around the U.S. for potential franchisees, the chain offers virtual seminars for individuals who want more information.\n<\/p>\n

Wayne said, \u201cWe\u2019ll even do one-one-one meetings if somebody calls up and wants to do a conference call. It\u2019s just about providing enough touch points for somebody who\u2019s interested in getting into the business where they can feel comfortable and learn more about it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really about opening yourself up to anytime somebody\u2019s interested in talking about Little Caesars and making yourself available, whether it\u2019s a phone call or virtual meeting or in person at the recruitment events or trade shows,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cWe have a lot of avenues for people to learn more about our business.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The Ilitch empire
\n\"Ocean\"OceanLittle Caesars parent company Ilitch Cos. recently took full control of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. \u2013 PROVIDED BY ILITCH COS.<\/p>\n

Little Caesars isn\u2019t the only business interest that the Ilitch family has in New Jersey. Ilitch Cos. recently took full control of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. After paying $175 million in 2012 for a 50% stake in the property, the family-run company acquired the remaining half last month for an undisclosed sum.\n<\/p>\n

Their business empire also includes the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and MotorCity Casino Hotel. After Mike and Marian Ilitch died in 2017 and 2026, respectively, the couple\u2019s children run the company.\n<\/p>\n

Ilitch Cos. CEO Chris Ilitch recently shared, \u201cOur success in Detroit over nearly three decades is the inspiration for what comes next.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He also said that while the expansion of their gaming and hospitality business \u201cmarks a defining new chapter,\u201d they \u201cremain committed to creating memorable experiences for guests, supporting responsible gaming, and serving as a positive economic force in the communities where we operate.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The basics: Little Caesars has 22 New Jersey locations Chain says Garden State has significant room for growth Franchisees can pursue traditional and nontraditional locations Initial franchise investment ranges from $376,500 to $1.77M Little Caesars wants a bigger slice of the New Jersey pizza market. As part of a broader push to expand across the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23717,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[21526,10680,6996,12562,21527,21528,3138,3136,3134,3137,3135,3214,21529,68],"class_list":["post-23716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-jersey","tag-alan-wayne","tag-foodservice","tag-franchisees","tag-franchising","tag-ilitch-cos","tag-little-caesars","tag-new-jersey","tag-new-jersey-dining","tag-new-jersey-food","tag-new-jersey-grocery-stores","tag-new-jersey-restaurants","tag-pizza","tag-restaurant-franchises","tag-restaurants"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@dc\/117309344580577892","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23716\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}