Leading Family-Style Pizza Chain Gears Up for More Growth in 2026
Irvine, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain for nearly 50 years, and home of the legendary crispy, curly pepperoni®, eye-popping 20-inch Mountain-sized pizzas, fresh and voluminous toppings to the edge, and dough made fresh daily, closed out 2025 with another standout performance marked by record unit growth, expanded national reach, award-winning marketing efforts and deepened community impact. Fueled by an exciting and expanding geographic footprint, mouth-watering menu innovation and a growing roster of high-profile partnerships, the half-century old pizza brand continued to strengthen its standing throughout the year as one of the most compelling stories in the pizza category.
In 2025, Mountain Mike’s Pizza opened two-dozen new restaurants nationwide, marking the most new restaurant openings in its history, entered six new markets and reached a brand-defining milestone with the opening of its 300th location in Las Vegas, Nevada. The chain also signed franchise agreements to add 19 new restaurants to the development pipeline, including multi-unit deals that will grow Mountain Mike’s in established and emerging markets. By year’s end, Mountain Mike’s was operating in 30+ markets coast-to-coast, with more than 100 locations under development across 16 states. Looking ahead, the brand is targeting 25 new restaurant openings in 2026, increasing its unit count by nearly 10% and reinforcing its long-term plan for sustained national expansion.
“2025 was a banner year for Mountain Mike’s Pizza that reinforced the strength of our franchise system, the durability of our brand and the effectiveness of our growth strategy,” said Jim Metevier, CEO of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “Surpassing 300 restaurants, entering new markets and continuing to attract experienced operators speaks to the attractiveness of what we deliver: high-quality pizza, tremendous value and a welcoming experience for families, businesses and institutions throughout our communities. As we look ahead, we’re expecting even greater momentum in 2026 and beyond.”
Menu innovation and a variety of limited-time promotions played a pivotal role in driving guest engagement and incremental sales throughout the year. In early 2025, Mountain Mike’s introduced two new salads, fueling a 33% spike in salad sales compared to the prior year. The return of the brand’s iconic Heart-Shaped Pizza for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day also delivered strong results, with Valentine’s Day sales increasing 35% year over year, marking the brand’s third highest sales day in company history. National Pi Day promotions on March 14 generated a 43% sales increase compared to the previous year.
The brand also successfully leaned into nontraditional pizza occasions. Its Pizza de Mayo campaign expanded performance across sides, desserts and beer categories, while Aloha Summer, featuring the bold Zesty Aloha Pizza with mango and tropical wings, became Mountain Mike’s best-performing limited-time offer since 2023, reaching an audience of more than 37 million. Later in the year, the “THIS IS Nashville Hot” platform delivered a 63% increase in mozzarella stick and wing transactions, reinforcing the brand’s ability to evolve its menu of craveable items while staying true to its core.
“I want to personally thank our amazing franchisees and franchise support center team for continuing to deliver the Mountain Mike’s ‘Pizza The Way it Oughta Be’ experience to consumers in precisely the way that they want,” said Chris Britt, co-Owner and co-Chairman of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “Whether it be through our extended hours initiative, newfound focus on catering and business-to-business opportunities, menu innovation, loyalty and our enhanced dine-in experience, our franchise partners and support center staff are delivering every day for communities across America.”
Brand momentum was arguably at an all-time high during the year. Mountain Mike’s was named “Brand of the Year” by Pizza Marketplace, earned Franchise Times’ Zor Award for Top Dine-In Pizza and received Best PR Campaign honors from the Franchise Innovation Awards for its Heart-Shaped Pizza promotion. The brand also climbed to #89 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® (ranking #4 in the pizza category) and landed on multiple national lists, including Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchises (#32), Nation’s Restaurant News’ & Restaurant Business’ Top 500 (#136) and PMQ Pizza Magazine’s Top 30 Pizza Chains (#13). And, to top off the year, Mountain Mike’s also ranked among Yelp’s “Most Loved Brands in America,” landing at #9 across all U.S. brands nationwide and #7 among U.S. restaurant brands.
Beyond growth and accolades, Mountain Mike’s continued to invest in purpose-driven partnerships and community impact. The brand extended its relationship with the San Francisco 49ers through the 2030-31 season and leveraged its status as the “Official Pizza of the San Francisco 49ers” to utilize real-time sports moments to spark immediate buzz and trial with the “When the 49ers Win, You Win” promotion. Mountain Mike’s also converted a wave of new members into loyal, repeat guests with the “Legendary Game Day Experience Sweepstakes”.
Additional activations included extending the partnership with the Los Angeles Angels for four years as well as expanding grassroots initiatives such as Courtside Class with the Sacramento Kings and youth programming through Angels Rally Camps. In November, Mountain Mike’s honored National Veterans and Military Families Month by partnering with Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, donating $10,000 through its Heart-Shaped Pizza fundraiser to support accessible housing for combat-wounded veterans.
Capping off the year, Mountain Mike’s grew its leadership team with the appointment of Sumi Ghosh as President & COO, strengthening the brand’s operational foundation as it enters its next growth phase.
“What stands out most about 2025 isn’t just the growth, it’s the consistency,” said Ed St. Geme, co-Owner and co-Chairman of Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “As we expand into new markets, our franchisees are executing at an extremely high level, guests are choosing us for meaningful occasions, and the brand is performing exactly as it should, which gives us even more confidence in where Mountain Mike’s is headed next.”
With strong development momentum, a robust pipeline and a brand platform that continues to resonate across generations, Mountain Mike’s Pizza enters 2026 well-positioned for continued expansion and long-term success. To learn more about new franchise opportunities in markets of interest, visit MountainMikesFranchise.com.
About Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Since 1978, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a leading family-style pizza chain known for its legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, Mountain-sized pizzas, and dough made fresh daily has been a popular choice for families, serving “Pizza the Way it Oughta Be!®” In addition to offering carryout, its own in-house delivery, and four third-party delivery options, Mountain Mike’s provides a family-friendly dine-in environment making it easy for guests to enjoy the brand’s signature experience wherever they are. Most of its nearly 330 locations feature a kids’ activity area with arcade games, dedicated party rooms and big screen TVs throughout, making Mountain Mike’s an ideal place for sports teams, family gatherings, group fundraising events and private parties alike. With a menu of signature pizzas, chicken wings, garlic knots, fresh salads, sharable desserts, and a selection of beer and wine, there’s something for everyone at Mountain Mike’s. Guests may also take advantage of streamlined ordering via the Mountain Rewards® app to earn exclusive offers and personalized rewards towards free food. This year, Mountain Mike’s was named one of America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains by Newsweek, as well as a top brand on Yelp’s Most Loved Restaurant Brands list. For a complete list of locations and the full menu, visit MountainMikesPizza.com or follow Mountain Mike’s on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Mountain Mike’s Media Contact:
Kristyna Otto
Powerhouse+Co.
kristyna@powerhouseandco.com
