- 10 April, 2006 -

Graciella Terrazas knows a great opportunity when she sees one. When she learned that the CiCi's Pizza franchise in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was for sale, she jumped at the chance to be a franchise owner. Terrazas, whose family owns a Grease Monkey franchise in Juarez, Mexico, has been looking for the right opportunity to own a family-oriented, female-friendly business since 1987. She got that chance when she became a CiCi's franchisee last June. "I used to take my kids to eat at CiCi's, and I liked the pizza buffet concept," says Terrazas. "The restaurant is perfect for families -- affordable prices, fresh food, friendly people and a kid-friendly environment. I realized owning a franchise would be a great opportunity for me as a business owner. What CiCi's had to offer was very compatible with my lifestyle. As a working mother, I recognize and appreciate exactly what CiCi's has to offer to time-starved women trying to feed their families great food at a great price." Many CiCi's franchisees, including Terrazas, start out with little or no restaurant experience. CiCi's provides training and support programs in store management, brand values, customer service, and marketing. "They were willing to take a chance on me. They gave me plenty of hands-on training, and put me in contact with potential store managers who could ensure our success," says Terrazas. Terrazas is looking forward to building on her store's momentum. Once she reaches her sales goals for this store, she'd like to open another franchise in town. "The Las Cruces market can handle another CiCi's," says Terrazas. "With our great staff and the solid support we receive from CiCi's corporate offices, I am hoping to open doors of opportunity for other women to get into the franchise business." Based in Coppell, Texas, CiCi's Pizza has 580 restaurants in 26 states, with 97% of the restaurants owned by franchisees. CiCi's provided an intensive training program and on-going public relations efforts and marketing initiatives. CiCi's corporate marketing team develops and administers advertising and sales programs designed to promote the collective success of all CiCi's restaurants. The team works with the franchise system to build restaurant sales through strategically sound, detailed local market media plans to effectively build awareness and communicate CiCi's brand message. Industry professionals have taken notice of the brand's explosive growth and success. For the past two years, Nation's Restaurant News ranked CiCi's number one for sales and unit growth in the pizza chain category. StartupJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's guide for entrepreneurs, ranked CiCi's as one of the top 25 highest-performing brands in the nation. Franchise Today ranked CiCi's Pizza in the top 200 of all franchise concepts. The concept has received numerous other honors including recognition from Corporate Research International for best customer service in 2005; a gold award from Restaurants & Institutions in its annual consumer choice in chains survey in the pizza category, and Pizza Enterprise Industry of the Year in 2004 by Pizza Marketing Quarterly magazine. For more information, visit www.cicispizza.com.

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