Domino's Pizza

Domino's Pizza {{nyse|DPZ}} is an international pizza delivery franchise and fast-food restaurant chain headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Tom Monaghan in 1960. As of 2005, it had 7,875 stores in more than 55 countries. It was the second-largest pizza chain in the United States when it went public in 2004, with total sales exceeding US $4.6 billion.

History

The origins of Domino's Pizza began in 1960 when Tom Monaghan and his brother James bought a local pizzeria in Ypsilanti, Michigan named Dominick's Pizza. The deal was secured by a $75 down payment and the brothers borrowed $500 to pay for the store. Eight months later, James quit the partnership and traded his half of the business to Thomas for a used Volkswagen Beetle. With Thomas S. Monaghan as sole owner of the company, Dominck's Pizza became Domino's Pizza and the first Domino's franchise was sold within a few years. In 1968, a fire destroyed the company headquarters and the commissary. Although Domino's faced numerous other obstacles in the following years, the company expanded and in 1978 the 200th Domino's franchise opened. In the 1980s, Domino's decentralized its operations by opening the first international Domino's in Winnipeg, Canada. In the following years the company expanded even more greatly and currently has over 7,000 stores. Monaghan retired in 1998 but retained a 27% non-controlling stake in the company.

Related Topics:
1960 - Tom Monaghan - Ypsilanti, Michigan - Volkswagen Beetle - 1968 - 1978 - 1980s - Winnipeg - Canada

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Domino's Pizza was well known for advertisements featuring The Noid. Customers were implored to order from Domino's in order to "avoid the Noid."

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The three dots on a Domino's Pizza box represent the first three Domino's stores. Monaghan had planned to add another dot for each new restaraunt that opened, but considering how many there became, that was impossible.

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Domino's has also introduced numerous innovations in the pizza industry including the now standard use of corrugated cardboard delivery boxes, the modern belt driven pizza oven, modern and centralized ingredient logistics, and the "Heat Wave" ? a portable electrical bag that uses patented technology to keep the pizza hot during delivery.

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Monaghan is no longer involved with the running of the corporation, nor does he have a controlling interest. In the past Domino's has come under fire from some liberal groups because of Monaghan's support of conservative and pro-life religious and political organizations (such as Operation Rescue) and activities.

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