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Going UP in a 'Blaze'of glory: Chain now fastest starting in history

July 13, 2017

Blaze Pizza is fastest-starting chain ever, according to Technomic. That's what stories in both Forbesand Quartz are reporting this week, after the chain — which also won this year's Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers — opened its 200th location, this one in Mentor, Ohio. 

That's quite a feat since just four years ago, Blaze Pizza was a brand with two restaurants. It's the kind of growth and downright popularity that prompted basketball superstar, LeBron James, to turn down a $15 million endorsement deal with McDonald's two years ago to stay involved with marketing efforts of the chain in which he also invests. 

It has ended up being a very smart monetary move since this year Blaze has set a $285 million sales goal, up from just $6 million in 2013.