CiCi's Pizza Named 2012 Military Friendly Franchise by G.I. Jobs Magazine

COPPELL, Texas, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CiCi's Pizza, home of the custom pizza buffet, announced today it was ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise® by G.I. Jobs magazine. The company was recognized for its CiCi's Patriot Program, one of the industry's most extensive programs benefiting U.S. veterans. Through the CiCi's Patriot Program, CiCi's will waive its franchise fee for the first restaurant and offer a 50 percent royalty fee reduction for the first full year in operation for all qualified, honorably discharged U.S. veterans. This totals to an approximate savings of $58,000.

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"We are honored to be named a Military Friendly Franchise by G.I. Jobs and hope we can help even more veterans seeking a path to business ownership," said Bill Spae, chief operating officer at CiCi's Pizza. "At CiCi's, we are very thankful to the brave soldiers who put their lives at risk and sacrificed so much to serve and protect our country. We created the CiCi's Patriot Program to express gratitude and deepen our brand's commitment to veterans."

Veterans enrolled in the CiCi's Patriot Program are required to hire a manager who is also an honorably discharged veteran in an effort to create more jobs for the veteran community. Additionally, CiCi's Pizza will support the veteran franchisee to obtain his or her Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation through the International Franchise Association (IFA). CiCi's has also agreed to support Sprigster's "Boost a Hero" program, the nation's only crowdfunding platform focused exclusively on franchise, to further help veterans raise the necessary capital needed to gain business ownership.

"The Military Friendly Franchises list was created three years ago out of demand from military veterans, many of whom want to start or own their own business but are unclear where to begin," said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs.  "Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise places CiCi's Pizza in this elite group, and is testimony to CiCi's world class programs and policies that support military veterans interested in franchise opportunities."

CiCi's Pizza recently announced its 2012 growth plans to continue its Build the Brand growth initiative. From inquiry to opening, CiCi's Pizza's seasoned executives provide an unparalleled level of support. Qualified franchisees benefit from a 2-to-1 sales-to-investment ratio, demonstrating that CiCi's Pizza is a predictable, measurable and sustainable investment opportunity.

The company is actively seeking multi-unit and single-unit operators to help grow the brand in Southern California, the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and South Florida, as well as select cities in Texas and other regions across the U.S.

Candidates interested in opening a CiCi's Pizza restaurant should posses a passion for the brand and serving guests and families in a fast-paced environment. Franchisees are required to demonstrate a minimum of $250,000 in liquid capital, a minimum net worth of $750,000 per unit, and a credit score of 720 or better. Learn more about franchising opportunities on CiCi's Facebook page, or visit http://www.cicispizza.com/franchising, or call 972-745-9316.

About CiCi's Pizza
Coppell, Texas-based CiCi's Pizza opened its first restaurant in Plano, Texas in 1985, and is now one of the nation's fastest growing pizza chains. The family-oriented restaurant, known for its pizza, pasta, salad, soup and dessert buffet, has about 550 restaurants in 35 states. In 2011, Zagat recognized CiCi's on its list of most child-friendly fast-food chains, and Entrepreneur named CiCi's first in its category on the Franchise 500 list. In 2010, CiCi's was named to Inc. Magazine's top 5,000 list, and to Parents' list of top family-friendly restaurants. Nation's Restaurant News ranked CiCi's No. 1 in sales and unit growth among pizza chains for the past four years.

For more information about CiCi's, visit www.cicispizza.com or www.facebook.com/cicis.

About Military Friendly Franchises®
The full list of Military Friendly Franchises® is published each June in G.I. Jobs Magazine, and on www.MilitaryFranchising.com, a web tool that helps veterans decide which franchise to choose. Additional resources are posted on the Military Friendly Franchises® Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MilitaryFranchising. G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published 12 times per year by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business. The company also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools®. You can follow G.I. Jobs on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GIJobsMagazine or on Twitter @gijobsmagazine

Media Contact:
Amanda Rich
Fish Consulting
202.248.6288
[email protected]

SOURCE CiCi's Pizza