RPM Pizza LLC has agreed to buy 45 Domino’s Pizza locations in Indiana, making the chain’s largest franchisee even bigger.
The acquisition of the units, mostly in Indianapolis, from previous owner Bob Taylor, gives RPM 185 locations. The deal was the largest transfer of franchisee-owned units in Domino’s company history.
“It’s a great time for Domino’s Pizza,” said Glenn Mueller, Sr., RPM’s CEO. “It’s on fire right now.”
Mueller’s brother, Richard, started RPM in 1981 in Gulfport, Miss. He began with Domino’s as a part-time delivery driver while he attended college at the University of Michigan, then dropped out to work with Domino’s and its founder, Tom Monaghan.
Richard talked Glenn into opening their own franchise. They moved to Gulfport and started with three locations and grew the business. The company eventually became Domino’s largest franchisee, with 140 locations mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The new locations expand the company’s reach into the Midwest. Nearly 40 of the restaurants are in Indianapolis, the rest are in South Bend and Lafayette.
RPM was looking for ways to add locations when Taylor broached the prospect of buying the Indiana market. Glenn Mueller said Taylor had turned the market around, but was looking to exit so he could buy more restaurants in the Northeast.
As for RPM, the deal gives the franchisee more restaurants so employees can advance through the company and grow. “We want to make them happy and provide them with a great opportunity,” Mueller said, adding that three of his own five children are involved in the company business.
Mueller said Domino’s is on the right track, and gave considerable credit to CEO Patrick Doyle for improving the product and focusing on service by training each of the chain’s franchisees.
“He wants to improve store profitability,” Mueller said. “It sounds like a good political speech, but he’s been doing it every year.”
Contact Jonathan Maze at [email protected].
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