
Marco's Pizza, an American restaurant chain founded in 1978, offers a variety of Italian-American dishes, including pizza, subs, wings, salads, and desserts. While their menu features a range of specialty pizzas with various toppings, they also allow customers to create their own pizzas with a choice of toppings. So, does Marco's have a cheese pizza? Yes, Marco's offers pizzas with a combination of three signature cheeses on dough made from scratch, using premium flour and the perfect water-to-air temperature ratio. Customers can also choose to add additional toppings to their cheese pizza, with options like pepperoni, Italian sausage, and vegetables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Cheeses | 3 |
| Type of Dough | Premium flour with perfect water-to-air temperature ratio |
| Sauce | Original sauce recipe developed by founder Pat Giammarco |
| Toppings | Ham, Italian sausage, bacon, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, steak, pepperoni, romesan seasoning, garlic sauce crust |
| Other Menu Items | Subs, wings, salads, cheezybread, cinnasquares, pizzabowls, brownies, meatballs |
| Awards | Ranked #3 best pizza chain by Consumer Reports magazine in 2014, #10 on Pizza Today's Top 100 Pizza Companies in 2016, #8 on Franchise Times' list of Fast and Serious Growth Franchises |
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What You'll Learn

Marco's Pizza: Cheese and other ingredients
Marco's Pizza, operated by Marco's Franchising, LLC, is an American restaurant chain specialising in Italian-American cuisine. It was founded by Italian immigrant Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco in 1978 and has since expanded to over 1000 stores worldwide.
Marco's Pizza offers a range of pizzas, including traditional options like pepperoni and Italian sausage, as well as specialty pizzas such as the White Cheezy, Chicken Florentine, and Pepperoni Magnifico. The White Cheezy pizza, in particular, has won a gourmet competition in California.
When it comes to cheese, Marco's Pizza uses a combination of three signature fresh cheeses on their pizzas. These include their original sauce, cheddar, shaved parmesan, and their parmesan cheese crust topper. The dough is made from premium flour, with a specific water-to-air temperature ratio, ensuring the perfect base for their pizzas.
In addition to their classic pizzas, Marco's also offers crustless options, known as pizza bowls. These include combinations like pepperoni and Italian sausage, or steak, mushrooms, and peppers, all baked with their signature three cheeses and original sauce.
Marco's Pizza also offers a range of sides, including fresh-baked bread strips with their signature three cheeses and garlic sauce, served with a side of their original pizza sauce and ranch dipping sauce. Their menu also features subs, wings, salads, cheezybread, cinnasquares, and co-branded Ghirardelli brownies.
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Dough made from scratch with premium flour
Marco's, a pizza chain, takes pride in its dough-making process. The dough is made from scratch daily in every store, with a focus on using premium flour and maintaining the perfect water-to-air temperature ratio. This attention to detail ensures that the dough has the right structure and texture for the perfect pizza base.
The process of making dough from scratch begins with combining the dry ingredients, including premium flour, and gradually adding in the liquid ingredients, such as water and milk, to form a cohesive mixture. This mixture is then kneaded and shaped into a smooth, elastic ball, ready for the rising process. The dough's elasticity comes from the addition of yeast, which also contributes to its rise.
The amount of flour required can vary depending on the kitchen environment, particularly the humidity and temperature. It is crucial not to add too much flour, as this can result in dense and unappealing dough. Instead, the dough should be slightly sticky at the beginning, as it will absorb moisture as it rests and rises. This sticky texture indicates that the dough is full of gluten, which provides the structure and elasticity necessary for a good pizza base.
After the dough has risen, it is ready to be shaped and baked. For a pizza, the dough is rolled out into a thin crust, approximately 12 inches in diameter, on a lightly floured surface. The thickness of the crust can be adjusted to personal preference, with a thinner crust requiring less dough. Once the desired shape and thickness are achieved, the crust is ready to be topped with sauce, cheese, and any desired toppings.
Marco's takes pride in its three signature fresh cheeses, which are combined to create the perfect melt on every pizza. The crust can also be customized, with options like a garlic sauce crust or a parmesan cheese crust topper to elevate the flavor profile. The dough made from scratch with premium flour, combined with Marco's signature cheeses and toppings, results in a delicious and high-quality pizza that has become a favorite among customers.
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Original sauce recipe by Pat Giammarco
Marco's Pizza was founded by Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, an Italian immigrant who moved to the United States from Sulmona, Italy, at the age of nine. Giammarco grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, working in his family's pizzeria, where he developed a passion for creating delicious food.
The original sauce recipe at Marco's Pizza is a closely guarded secret, developed by none other than Pat Giammarco himself. It is said to be crafted with imported herbs and spices, carefully selected to create an authentic Italian flavour profile. The sauce is made fresh daily in each Marco's store, ensuring that every pizza is topped with the perfect, freshly made sauce.
Giammarco's dedication to quality extends beyond just the sauce. Marco's Pizza is known for its attention to detail, from the premium flour and precise water-to-air temperature ratio used in their dough to the blend of three fresh, never-frozen cheeses that top their pizzas. This commitment to using the best ingredients and honouring the Italian Way has earned Marco's Pizza numerous accolades, including being named one of America's Most Loved Pizzas in a 2019 Harris Poll.
The menu at Marco's offers a variety of mouth-watering options, all featuring the original sauce as a key component. From their classic pizzas to their crustless pizzabowls and subs, the sauce provides a flavourful base that complements the fresh toppings and cheeses. The sauce is also served as a side for dipping, showcasing its versatility and appeal.
While the exact recipe for Pat Giammarco's original sauce remains a tightly held secret, its impact on the success of Marco's Pizza is undeniable. The combination of fresh ingredients, traditional techniques, and a passion for Italian cuisine has created a sauce that has helped establish Marco's as a leading pizza franchise, with a presence in multiple states and countries.
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Three signature fresh cheeses, never frozen
Marco's Pizza, an American restaurant chain specialising in Italian-American cuisine, offers a range of mouth-watering options for cheese lovers. Their commitment to quality is evident in their use of three signature fresh cheeses, never frozen, elevating their pizzas to a whole new level.
The foundation of any great pizza starts with the dough, and Marco's takes this seriously. Their dough is crafted with premium flour and the ideal water-to-air temperature ratio, ensuring a perfect base for their signature pies. This attention to detail is also evident in their original sauce, crafted daily in-store with imported herbs and spices, providing a flavourful base for their pizzas.
The star of their pizzas, however, is undoubtedly their trio of fresh signature cheeses. Marco's uses a blend of three cheeses on their pizzas, ensuring a perfect melt and an explosion of flavour with every bite. This combination of cheeses is a closely guarded secret, but the result is a harmonious blend that complements their other ingredients perfectly.
While the specific types of cheese remain a mystery, Marco's offers a range of pizzas showcasing this trio. Their traditional pepperoni pizza features their signature cheeses alongside crispy Old World Pepperoni®, creating a savoury delight. For those seeking a meatier option, the Pepperoni Magnifico, with its combination of traditional pepperoni and Italian sausage, is a flavourful masterpiece.
Marco's also offers vegetarian options that highlight their signature cheeses. The White Cheezy pizza, a gourmet competition winner, showcases the cheeses alongside a creamy white sauce, creating a rich and indulgent experience. For those who enjoy a touch of spice, the Spicy Fresco pizza features their special giardiniera, an authentic Italian pepper relish, adding a kick to the blend of cheeses.
With their use of three signature fresh cheeses, never frozen, Marco's Pizza has crafted a range of pizzas that tantalise the taste buds and keep customers coming back for more. Their commitment to quality and flavour shines through, making them a favourite among pizza enthusiasts.
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Marco's Pizza: A fast-growing franchise
Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza franchises in the United States. Founded in Oregon, Ohio, in 1978, Marco's Pizza has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,100 stores in 34 states, with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. In 2022, the company opened its 1,100th store, 90+ additional stores, and awarded 140 franchises. The company has plans for further expansion, with more than 200 stores in various stages of development and hundreds of agreements signed.
Marco's Pizza's success and rapid growth can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the company prioritizes quality and authenticity, with a focus on using premium ingredients and traditional Italian recipes. Their dough is made fresh daily in-store, with a specific water-to-air temperature ratio, and their original sauce recipe was developed by their founder, Pat Giammarco, using imported herbs and spices. Marco's Pizza also offers a unique blend of three signature fresh cheeses, including cheddar and shaved parmesan, which creates the perfect melt and taste. This combination of high-quality ingredients and attention to detail has resulted in a superior product that keeps customers coming back for more.
In addition to their focus on quality, Marco's Pizza also has a strong people-first culture, which has contributed significantly to their growth. The company understands that their success is rooted in the success of their franchisees and employees. They provide excellent consumer products and a supportive work environment, fostering a culture that values and appreciates its people. This culture has helped catapult the company's strong performance and expansion.
Marco's Pizza also has a scalable business model that is attractive to potential franchisees. The company offers business support, enterprise-level systems, and experienced corporate leadership, making it an ideal investment opportunity for multi-unit entrepreneurs. With prime territories available across the country and a $46 billion pizza industry to tap into, Marco's Pizza presents a lucrative franchise opportunity for those looking to add a fast-growing pizza franchise to their portfolio.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Marco's Pizza offers a cheese pizza with a blend of three or four different types of cheese.
Marco's uses a blend of three signature fresh cheeses, including cheddar and shaved parmesan, topped with a parmesan cheese crust topper.
Some of Marco's specialty pizzas include the White Cheezy, Chicken Florentine, Pepperoni Magnifico, Chicken Fresco, and Double Pepperoni Spicy Fresco.
























