Rosati's Pizza, Midwest's Largest Independent Family-owned Chain, Thrives By Bucking Corporate Formulas

Rick Rosati knows a lot of recipes. But the most important one is the one passed to him from his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. And he's not about to change it.

"The reason Rosati's Pizza stands out amid all the other pizza chains is that we still prepare food from scratch in our kitchens daily. We buy 100% Wisconsin cheese from the same factory we did 40 years ago. It's still made to our standards, and we check the quality often. We grind our meat fresh""it's never frozen or precooked""and our vegetables are trucked in daily to each Rosati's location and then chopped fresh. Our lasagna, sauces, meatballs, and dough are all made in our store kitchens. That's our recipe for success,"� he declares.

At a time when people are spending less on restaurant food, Rosati's Pizza continues to capture the hearts, the appetites and the pocketbooks of families in its home state of Illinois as well as six other Midwestern and Southwestern states. The company's approach was pioneered by Rick's father and uncles, who started the chain nearly 40 years ago after working for Rick's grandfather, who himself served "Italian Style Pizza"� at his sit-down Italian restaurant in downtown Chicago.

After four decades Rosati's Pizza totals nearly 150 locations, of which roughly half are family owned. "You won"�t find a Rosati's Pizza in a shopping mall food court. Our stores are out in the community, where people live,"� Rick stated. Rosati is quick to emphasize that new franchisees must share the company's sense of family and neighborhood involvement. "Typically our franchisees grew up eating at a Rosati's, and now they want to run one of their own,"� he said. "When we open a store in a new place like Arizona or Texas, we find that many of our first customers are people who knew and loved their neighborhood Rosati's when they lived in the Midwest. They always remember the quality and friendliness of Rosati's."� Authenticity Wins According to Annemarie Rosati-Bensfield, Rick's sister and head of marketing for Rosati's, the authenticity of Rosati's Italian pizza is a winner when dollars are stretched in the family budget. "Even - more - Rosati's Pizza, Midwest's Largest Independent Family-Owned Chain, Thrives""Page 2 if people can"�t go out to eat as much as they"�d like, they still want to treat themselves to a good healthy home cooked meal and a positive family experience. Rosati's fits that bill perfectly. Our pizza, lasagna, pastas and other Italian favorites are cooked fresh daily at each restaurant from core ingredients we have specifically chosen for each recipe. We never use MSG or preservatives""and because so many healthy food groups are represented in our food, families can feel good about what they"�re eating,"� she notes.

Rosati's Pizza offers a complete menu of thin crust, double-dough, pan and famous Chicago deep-dish pizzas, in addition to pastas, calzones, ribs, chicken, salads, sandwiches and more. Because the chain offers delivery as well as carryout service, people can get a delicious, handmade, home-cooked meal in minutes from their neighborhood location. "It's not hard to feed a family of four on a large Rosati's pizza. It's a good value, a great alternative to fast food and best of all, people can be sure of what they"�re getting,"� Annamarie points out. Consistency is Key To ensure that customers get the same classic Italian pizza from every Rosati's location, the family preaches quality standards in every aspect of its operation. Managers are expected to purchase from a restricted list of premium food suppliers, and a comprehensive development program ensures that dependable employees and management personnel are hired and trained by franchisees. Rosati's Pizza management also strongly encourages each store to become involved in neighborhood activities and events in order to show commitment to the community.

Rick Rosati points to the new stores opening this year in Texas, Arizona and Nevada as proof that the company's philosophy continues to bear fruit. "Rosati's Pizza is the largest independent, family-owned pizza chain in the Midwest, with a reputation that is preceding us in other parts of the country,"� he says. "That kind of success speaks to who we are and what we stand for."� About Rosati's Pizza: Beginning with standards set by family patriarch Fred Rosati in 1895, the Rosati family has been synonymous with exceptional Italian food for over a century. The tradition continues today with Rosati's Pizza, the Midwest's largest independent and family-owned pizza chain. Now run by fourth and fifth generation Rosati family members, the chain is known for "fresh off the vine"� ingredients and a relentless commitment to quality. Rosati's Pizza offers a full menu of pizza varieties, as well as other Italian specialties, from its locations in six Midwestern and Southwestern U.S. states. Franchise opportunities are available. Visit www.rosatispizza.com.

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