New Orleans-based better-for-you pizza chain Naked Pizza recently opened its first franchised location in South Beach. Now Louisville, Ky., will be the next market to follow, according to partner Robbie Vitrano. The market is significant as the home to headquarters of the No. 1 and 3 pizza brands – Pizza Hut parent company Yum! Brands, and Papa John's.
In their typical industry rebel fashion, the newcomer brand has issued a friendly challenge to those who already hold the “home court advantage.”
“(There’s) a standing challenge to John (Schnatter, Papa John’s founder) from Jeff (Leach, Naked Pizza founder) to a half-court game of Horse on a court of John's choosing,” said Vitrano. “His Camaro for Jeff's Smart Car.”
The next markets to open their already-inked franchise agreements with the brand will likely be New York; Orlando, Fla.; and San Diego. More than 300 stores are slated to open nationwide. The company will soon unveil a Smart Car delivery vehicle, and a variant for their Middle Eastern stores that Vitrano described as "George Lucas does Power Rangers."
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