Pizza Franchise Opportunity:
The Hungry Howie’s Story

SHAKING UP THE PIZZA INDUSTRY SiNCE 1973

Since 1973, Hungry Howie’s has been shaking up the pizza industry with innovative food, excellent customer service, and savvy marketing. We’ve been in the franchising game since 1983, and we currently have over 500 locations in 21 states. Our one-of-a-kind Flavored Crust® pizzas, calzone-style subs, salads, and wings bring customers in, and our passion for serving the community keeps them coming back.

SHAKING UP THE PIZZA INDUSTRY SiNCE 1973

Since 1973, Hungry Howie’s has been shaking up the pizza industry with innovative food, excellent customer service, and savvy marketing. We’ve been in the franchising game since 1983, and we currently have over 500 locations in 21 states. Our one-of-a-kind Flavored Crust® pizzas, calzone-style subs, salads, and wings bring customers in, and our passion for serving the community keeps them coming back.

Hungry Howie’s franchisees have the support they need to build a thriving business. Read on to learn more about your pizza franchise opportunity with Hungry Howie’s!

After 50 years, we have learned every aspect of the business. We grew up in Michigan, where three of the top 10 chains nationally are located in the Detroit area, so we’ve learned how to be competitive for decades. Now, we’re at a point where we’ve rebuilt our brand. We have a national image and a leadership team with over 200 years of combined experience, and we are ready to develop across the United States.

When we started franchising, it was exciting to be able to put people in business and teach them how to be successful. That has been an extremely rewarding part of my job—watching people become incredibly successful. We’ve continued to develop our training program for over 40 years, and it’s something that never stops. It’s a living, breathing part of our business.

Over the last couple of years, Steve Jackson has done a great job building a leadership team that is truly focused on the franchisees and, more importantly, growing this brand. We have a ton of experience to help our franchisees be successful when they develop stores in new markets. At the end of the day, it’s about tangible results at the local level. Those results will make the difference for this brand and help our franchisees accomplish their dreams and goals.

It’s one of the best feelings you can have—helping others succeed. Our franchisees feel the same way about their employees. We’re just one big family, and to see the success we’re having, we want to share it with everybody. Pizza is one of the number one foods in America. In any city you go to in the United States, you’ll find pizza somewhere. But it’s not Hungry Howie’s pizza. It’s not Hungry Howie’s flavored crust pizza.

We believe multi-unit operators can create exceptional success in any market if they execute our brand the way we’ve built it over the past 50 years. Hungry Howie’s gives you every tool you need—from development to training, to marketing, to day-to-day operations. Plus, if you have a question, we’re just a phone call away.

You absolutely don’t need pizza experience to join this brand. We’re more than happy to teach you that part of the business. What we typically look for is business experience. Are you currently operating multi-unit locations? Do you have restaurant experience? Are you capitalized to grow as quickly as our development plan requires? Those are the key factors we consider when bringing a new franchisee into our system.

For me, Hungry Howie’s is a choice. It’s a great brand, and I’ve been very happy as a franchisee for the last 40 years. It’s just pizza—it’s easy, you have fun doing it, and it’s the atmosphere we’ve created that I think not only brought me back but continues to bring back all our employees.

We believe we’ve laid the groundwork in recent years to compete with anyone. There are multi-unit operators out there in many other brands, and those are the individuals we want to expose our successful concept to. These are people who can expand the brand in areas where they already have local contacts and experience in operating other brands. We think that’s a great opportunity to grow Hungry Howie’s brand.

The biggest reason I do this job is to see people be successful and fulfill their dreams of business ownership. Quite frankly, there’s no better feeling than seeing someone who’s gone through our process, invested their money in the brand, and become successful. When they come back and tell me, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever done,’ that’s when I know we’ve made a difference. For me personally, there’s just no better feeling.”

[Music]

Positioned for Growth

Hungry Howie’s franchisees have the support they need to build a thriving business. Learn more about how Hungry Howie’s is positioned for growth in the pizza industry.

Proven Business Model

  • Delivery and carry-out model meets the needs of all pizza consumers

  • Simple menu converts to simple operations 

  • Small operational footprint translates to low investment cost per square foot 

  • High sales-to-investment ratio 

  • Efficient labor model 

Interior Hungry Howie's storefront

FAMILY OWNED, FRANCHISEE FOCUSED

As the inventors of Flavored Crust® pizza, it should come as no surprise that we’re passionate about flavor. We’re committed to high-quality products at a great value, and our customers love us for it! Since 1973, our commitment to pizza innovation has helped us build a loyal customer base. Our passion for service and delicious food makes us a staple in any community we serve.

Steve Jackson

President and CEO

My journey in the pizza business began before Jim Hearn, founder of Hungry Howie’s, opened the first store in 1973.  I worked for him while in college, in one of his previous businesses.  In September of 1976, Jim offered me the opportunity to open the second Hungry Howie’s location in Southgate, Michigan.  I never imagined that over the next 50 years, I would become the CEO, open many stores of my own, lead the franchising effort, and develop the brand to be one of the top 10 pizza chains in the United States.   

 In 1983, we invented Flavored Crust® Pizza, which is the huge differentiator, that makes Hungry Howie’s Pizza better than the competition. This innovation and the quality of our products has created a very loyal customer base. Our proven business model, focusing on store profitability and operational excellence, provides franchisees with an excellent opportunity.  With over 500 locations, in 21 states, Hungry Howie’s is a national brand, with significant areas for future store development. 

 I love the pizza business and the people that have helped build our company to what it is today.  Our core values are central to the way we have grown the brand over the past five decades.  I look forward to recruiting the next generation of franchisees into the Hungry Howie’s family, as we build this great brand for the next 50 years.  

Headshot of Steve Jackson CEO

Steve Jackson

President and CEO

My journey in the pizza business began before Jim Hearn, founder of Hungry Howie’s, opened the first store in 1973.  I worked for him while in college, in one of his previous businesses.  In September of 1976, Jim offered me the opportunity to open the second Hungry Howie’s location in Southgate, Michigan.  I never imagined that over the next 50 years, I would become the CEO, open many stores of my own, lead the franchising effort, and develop the brand to be one of the top 10 pizza chains in the United States.   

 In 1983, we invented Flavored Crust® Pizza, which is the huge differentiator, that makes Hungry Howie’s Pizza better than the competition. This innovation and the quality of our products has created a very loyal customer base. Our proven business model, focusing on store profitability and operational excellence, provides franchisees with an excellent opportunity.  With over 500 locations, in 21 states, Hungry Howie’s is a national brand, with significant areas for future store development. 

 I love the pizza business and the people that have helped build our company to what it is today.  Our core values are central to the way we have grown the brand over the past five decades.  I look forward to recruiting the next generation of franchisees into the Hungry Howie’s family, as we build this great brand for the next 50 years.  

Leadership

Portrait photo of Steve Clough, Director of Franchise Development

Steve Clough

Director of Franchise Development

Steve is a veteran in the franchise space and has an extensive sales and marketing background. Prior to his current role, he spent 16 years with Domino’s and was an integral part of the development process starting in 2012. His efforts were integral in developing and leading the brands development turnaround. As the leader of development for Hungry Howie’s since 2021, he is focused on bringing new multi-unit franchisees into the brand along with developing growth strategies for existing franchisees.

Portrait photo of Moises r. Santana, Vice President of Operations

Moises R. Santana

Vice President of Operations

Moises joined the Hungry Howie’s family in 2018 as a Franchise Business Consultant, returning in 2022 as Director of Operations and in 2024 assumed his current role with the brand. He brings nearly 30 years of knowledge and experience in the QSR segment as well as franchise owner/operator experience. Moises is passionate about and committed to the Hungry Howie’s franchise system and its continued success.

Portrait of Rob Elliott, Executive Vice President of Marketing

Rob Elliott

Executive Vice President of Marketing

Rob has had an exciting career in franchise marketing, specifically in the QSR category. He began his career in the pizza industry with Little Caesars in 1980 as a store manager, eventually working his way to Vice President of Marketing. Later, he was Managing Partner of a top tier advertising agency followed by marketing leadership positions with other QSR brands. His vast experience led him back to pizza in 2011 when he joined the Hungry Howie’s family as Vice President of Strategic Marketing and then promoted to his current position in 2015.

Portrait photo of Dan McKay, Vice President of Technology Services

Dan McKay

Vice President of Technology Services

Dan began his career with Hungry Howie’s in 1997 as the primary consultant for our first consumer website then in 1999, he officially became part of the family. With 30 years of experience in technology and 25 years in the pizza industry, Dan works to deliver innovative solutions that contribute to the success of our stores, streamline operations, and enhance the customer experience. He continues to advance our company in this evolving technology.

Portrait photo of Steve Jackson Jr, Vice President of Marketing Technology

Steve Jackson, Jr.

Vice President of Marketing Technology

From spending summers flipping pizzas to climbing stacked pizza boxes in the warehouse as a kid, Steve Jackson, Jr. grew up in the business. He’s had a front row seat to the growth of Hungry Howie’s Pizza from the very beginning. In 2004, Steve officially joined the corporate staff in the Operations department where he spent many years learning the Howie’s system and growing his knowledge of the pizza industry. Eager to learn a different facet of the business, Steve transitioned to the Marketing department in 2011 where he currently sits as Vice President of Marketing Technology. Steve was promoted to the Leadership Team in 2020. He has brought innovative, next generation ideas to the table, aiding in the continued evolution of the Hungry Howie’s brand.

Portrait of Movses J. Shrikian, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Movses J. Shrikian

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Prior to joining the Hungry Howie’s family in 2012, Moe held several positions including Corporate Counsel for a real estate development firm, private practitioner concentrating in franchising and real estate law and Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel for another Michigan based pizza franchise.  Just before coming to Hungry Howie’s, he held positions with a wireless phone and accessory retailer as Vice President of Franchising, General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer.

Portrait photo of Jeff Rinke, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development

Jeff Rinke

Vice President of Marketing and Product Development

In 1987, Jeff began his 35-plus year career at Hungry Howie’s as a Franchise Consultant after leaving Domino’s. He was promoted to Director of Operations in 1992 and ultimately to his current position in 1996. Jeff owns and operates three successful pizza franchise locations in the metro Detroit area and sits on the board of the American Pizza Community, a coalition comprised of the nation’s largest pizza companies. He is also an Advisory Board member for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Portrait photo of Phil Worley, Vice President of Supply Chain

Phil Worley

Vice President of Supply Chain

Phil was excited to return to the pizza industry when he joined Hungry Howie’s in early 2023. With 4 years in the U.S. Air Force, nearly 17 years with Domino’s, and 8 years in supply chain management for the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State university, Phil brings a set of unique skills and leadership to our family making him well-positioned to manage our distribution programs.

Portrait photo of Scott Dykowski, Vice President of Finance

Scott Dykowski

Vice President of Finance

As a CPA in Michigan, Scott began his career in public accounting working as an auditor with Plante Moran. He worked his way up to audit manager where he oversaw entire audit engagements, technical research projects, various training engagements, and contributed to the firm’s professional standards review processes. Scott joined the Hungry Howie’s family in 2018 as Senior Accounting Manager, promoted to Director of Finance in 2020 and now his current position in 2024.

Portrait photo of Jennifer Jackson

Jennifer Jackson

Vice President of Public Relations

Jennifer Jackson has been involved with Hungry Howie’s Pizza since age 10, helping at stores and at the corporate office during summer vacations. Jennifer officially started as a Hungry Howie’s employee in 1998 as the Fundraising Coordinator, and has been in other roles within the company, including overseeing Franchise Development. She is currently leading all public relations initiatives as Vice President of Public Relations.

Our core values guide everything we do

  • Treat everyone like family

  • Have integrity

  • Do what you say

  • Be hungry for growth

  • Have positive energy

LOVE, HOPE & PIZZA®

As proud as we are of our pizza, it’s about a lot more than the food to us.

These core values steer our commitment to serving the community. Each October, our Love, Hope & Pizza® campaign’s pink pizza boxes and national advertising bring awareness to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s worthy mission. We donate to the foundation for every pizza purchased in a pink box. Together, we’ve raised over $5 million since 2009!

Our franchisees weave themselves into the fabric of the communities we serve. Supporting their community is a critical part of their business. Whether it’s supporting a nationally recognized charity or the elementary school down the street, our franchisees often find success when they connect and give back to their communities. With the help of our fundraising platform, Hungry Howie’s makes giving back simple.

Over

$5,000,000
raised since 2009

Over 15 years ago, Hungry Howie’s embarked on a path that would forever change the way their franchisees engaged with their communities. Love, Hope, and Pizza was born, and our partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation grew and blossomed into a campaign that would eventually impact hundreds of thousands of people across the United States.

2024 marks another hallmark in that journey together as we pass the $5 million milestone in our donations to NBCF since we began fundraising in 2009. Over the years, we have honored that commitment more than just financially. Every October, our highly visible pink pizza box campaign aids their efforts in communicating early detection and patient support. It is how we proudly add our voice to the call to bring awareness and help change the lives of cancer fighters, survivors, and their families.

Each and every year, as we continue to build our business, let’s also remember that we are part of building our communities as well through Love, Hope, and Pizza.