Salem, Ore - 5 May, 2005 -

Figaro's Pizza, the nation's largest chain in the "We Bake or You Bake" segment of the pizza industry, continues to grow as fast as it sells its famous pizzas with "flavors that sing." Headquartered in Salem, Ore., the company was founded in 1981 with only unbaked pizzas available for takeout. In 1986, Ken Robertson, a food broker, purchased the four-store chain and used his expertise to develop a "unique taste per bite" for Figaro's Pizza by using only the finest ingredients available. An investment group with extensive franchising and restaurant management experience purchased Figaro's Pizza in 1996 and it grew to 82 units in seven western states. In June 2001, Figaro's Pizza was purchased by Ron Berger along with his wife, Carol, and business partner, Bill LeVine, who brought with them a wealth of franchising experience. They have grown the chain to approximately 100 locations in 21 states. "This is a hot concept," says CEO Berger, a franchise industry veteran who helped change the face of the video rental industry when he founded National Video more than two decades ago. Berger announced today that three franchise groups have purchased the rights to develop 56 locations in South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas and Florida. The agreements and the new franchisees are outlined below: Kyle Eberts and Travis Fawcett will open 20 stores in the next six years in South Dakota and Nebraska. They opened their first store in March in Sioux Falls. David Seeto and Phat Nguyen will open 19 stores in the next six years in Collin and Denton counties in Texas. Seeto and Nguyen opened their first Figaro's in November in Houston, where they expect to open two additional units. A Florida entrepreneur will open 17 stores in the next six years in Palm Beach County. Figaro's Pizza opened 30 stores in 2004. The chain expects to add to that number by opening 30 to 60 units each year. Much of the focus will be on building mass in existing markets, but single- and multi-unit development growth in new territories will also be considered. Growth plans will focus on master franchisees who will not only own and operate their own stores in large geographic territories, but will also recruit and provide training and support to other franchisees in their respective areas.

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