In the next 12-18 months, Papa Murphy’s hopes to significantly increase its footprint in the Central Valley, building seven additional stores in the greater Fresno area. There are currently 18 store locations in the Fresno area.

Gary Payne, Papa Murphy’s vice president of franchise sales, said the additional stores will be a great fit for the Fresno market.

“We have a great presence in Fresno and see opportunity,” Payne said. “The pizza industry is a $40 billion industry, but we have a unique niche in the market. Rather than targeting young males like the largest four pizza chains in the industry, our target is moms and families who are looking to solve a dinnertime dilemma. They want a high quality product they can get conveniently, quickly and cook easily.”

Payne said two franchise stores are already underway and Papa Murphy’s is searching for other franchisees to set up shop throughout the Fresno area. Papa Murphy’s is looking to put a couple more sites in the Fresno metro area, as well as one in Clovis, Sanger, Kerman, Chowchilla, Lemoore, Hanford, Tulare, Lindsay and Porterville. All together, Payne said there are 15 areas being targeted.

As for franchisees, Payne said store is offering an incentive to those choosing to open two or more stores within a year. Those franchisees, he said, would save $5,000 off of the price it takes to become the owner of a franchise store, which is typically $25,000. Papa Murphy’s is also offering those franchisees a royalty abatement for the first year, meaning they would not have to pay the 5 percent in royalty fees to Papa Murphy’s during the first 12 months in operation.