Net Restaurant Growth and Scale
Added 20 net new restaurants to the Royalty Pool on Jan 1, 2026; Royalty Pool increased from 794 to 814 restaurants (712 Pizza Pizza, 102 Pizza 73). Opened 6 traditional and 3 nontraditional Pizza Pizza locations during the quarter, supporting long-term footprint expansion.
Product Innovation Showing Early Success
Rolled out Volcano Dipper (success at Pizza 73) to Pizza Pizza and introduced a $5 Meal Deal (slice + drink) in late March; the $5 deal produced immediate improvements in walk-in sales and traffic. XXL Vladdy $19.99 special also became a top-mix special in major markets.
Maintained Quarterly Dividend
Declared shareholder dividends of $5.7 million for the quarter (C$0.2325 per share), consistent with the prior year, demonstrating commitment to returning cash to shareholders despite a softer top line.
Operational and Expense Discipline
Administrative expenses decreased to $132,000 from $152,000 year-over-year. Management emphasized channel-level value (walk-in, pickup, delivery specials) and several initiatives to improve unit economics and construction cost discipline for franchisees.
Improving Organic Delivery and Channel Advantages
Reported early signs of improvement in organic delivery (on-time guarantee, tracking/SMS, lower fees vs third-party aggregators) and promotional programs (free game-day delivery) that can drive cost-effective orders and loyalty.
Growth Outlook for Traditional Stores
Management expects continued net openings in 2026 with traditional-store growth guidance in the 2%–3% range, indicating continued offensive expansion despite the macro environment.