Chicago-Style Pizza Brand Pairs Family Tradition With a Growing Franchise Opportunity
Rosati’s Pizza is a true family-business success story. Since Ferdinand Rosati arrived from Italy in the 1880s, five generations have carried his vision from a single Chicago pizzeria to a national franchise.
“The Rosati story is the quintessential American Dream, rooted in hard work, passion and a love for great food,” says Loredana Gianino, director of marketing for Rosati’s Pizza Enterprises, Inc.
In 1964, Brothers Ron and Dick Rosati opened the first Rosati’s Pizza shop in Mount Prospect, Ill. After 10 Rosati family members had opened their own locations, Anthony and David Rosati led the next generation from family-owned stores to franchising. Known for its signature pies made from cherished secret family recipes, Rosati’s Pizza today can be found in 18 states with more than 120 open locations and more on the way.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to be part of the Rosati’s family,” says Gianino. “We are currently on a fantastic growth trajectory, on track to open 12 to 15 new locations this year alone.”
A Seat at the Table
With new markets opening across the country, Rosati’s is actively looking for passionate, community-minded franchise partners eager to bring Chicago-style pizza to their hometowns.
“When a franchisee joins us, they aren’t just opening a business; they are entering a supportive, multi-generational network fully invested in their growth and success,” Gianino explains, noting that many multi-unit owners have been with Rosati’s for decades. The brand’s reputation for quality, its deep roots in community and a devoted customer base carries an immense amount of brand equity. People know and trust the Rosati name, which gives franchise partners a powerful competitive advantage from day one. From there, a proven model sets them up for quick success.
New owners are fully supported every step of the way — from site selection to onboarding to the opening-day celebration — by a seasoned leadership team and members of the Rosati family. A franchise advisory council keeps partners in the loop on market trends and corporate touchpoints.
Timely investments in infrastructure and technology are helping franchisees as well, including a new mobile app and an integrated rewards program that makes ordering easier than ever.
“Rosati’s offers entrepreneurs the best of both worlds: a proven, highly profitable business model backed by five generations of hands-on experience, paired with the heart and soul of a business that remains family-owned and operated to this day,” Gianino says.
What’s Their Secret Sauce?
Rosati’s Pizza built its reputation on quality ingredients and treating customers like family.
“People can taste authenticity,” says Gianino. “Because of our family roots we refuse to cut corners on our ingredients.” That means fresh — never frozen — dough made from winter wheat. The tomato sauce is a secret family recipe made with Roma tomatoes sourced from the Napa Valley; the mozzarella comes from Wisconsin. And the sausage? That’s another secret multi-generational recipe.
“When a family recipe is passed down through five generations, it carries a level of care and pride that you simply can’t manufacture in a corporate test kitchen,” she says. “While much of the industry has prioritized speed over soul through cheaper, pre-cooked ingredients and automated processes, we refuse to compromise.”
Ensuring Future Success
One of the benefits of being a family business, says Gianino, is that Rosati’s can focus on long-term generational success rather than just short-term quarterly results, which helps ensure the health of the brand and the steady profitability of its franchise partners.
“I want our future franchise owners to know that Rosati’s is a brand where they can build a lasting legacy of their own, backed by a corporate family that is fully invested in their future.”
The Power of Family Business
Rosati’s five-generation story shows just how strong family businesses can be. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 27.3% of U.S. businesses were family-owned in 2021, employing 42.3 million people. Nearly 58% had been in business for more than 10 years.
Part of that staying power comes from knowing what to hold on to and what to change. Rosati’s has kept its family recipes and traditions while growing into a national franchise. For franchise owners, it offers the chance to join a long-standing family brand while building a legacy of their own.
Learn more about the Rosati’s Pizza franchise opportunity.
