From 1 to 85: The Growth Story of Pizza 73 in Western Canada

Every great brand has an origin story – a moment when passion, opportunity, and vision converged to create something special. For Pizza 73, that story began in 1985 in Edmonton, Alberta, with a simple idea: to create a pizza delivery experience that Canadians deserved – one focused on value, quality, and convenience. Nearly four decades later, that single location has grown into a network of over 85 stores spanning Western Canada, becoming a household name and a cultural touchstone for communities across the region.

This is the story of how Pizza 73 grew from a single storefront to become one of Western Canada's most beloved pizza brands.

The Beginning: 1985

In the mid-1980s, the pizza delivery landscape in Edmonton was limited. The founders of Pizza 73 saw an opportunity to create something different – a delivery-focused pizza concept that would prioritize speed, value, and consistency. With a modest investment and a small team of dedicated employees, the first Pizza 73 location opened its doors in Edmonton in 1985.

The original concept had several innovative features that would become hallmarks of the brand:

• A streamlined menu focused on doing a few things exceptionally well
• A centralized phone ordering system (the origin of the name "73" – our original phone number ended in 73)
• Value-driven pricing that made quality pizza accessible to families
• A commitment to fast delivery within defined service areas

One of the earliest Pizza 73 locations in Edmonton, circa 1987

The Edmonton Expansion: 1985-1992

The first Pizza 73 location was an immediate success, confirming that there was indeed a market for our approach to pizza delivery. Capitalizing on this momentum, the company began a careful expansion throughout Edmonton, opening 10 additional locations by 1992.

This early growth phase was characterized by a focus on operational excellence and consistency. Each new location used the same recipes, equipment, and processes to ensure that a Pizza 73 pizza tasted the same regardless of which location prepared it – a principle that remains central to our operations today.

During this period, we also introduced several innovations that would become central to the Pizza 73 experience:

• The development of our signature pizza dough recipe
• The introduction of our popular wing varieties as a complementary menu item
• The first iteration of our combo deals, which quickly became customer favorites

Provincial Expansion: 1993-2000

By 1993, Pizza 73 had established a strong presence in Edmonton with a loyal customer base and growing brand recognition. The time had come to look beyond the city limits. The next phase of growth focused on expanding to other major centers in Alberta:

• Calgary expansion began in 1993 with 3 initial locations
• Red Deer and Lethbridge followed in 1995
• Smaller Alberta communities were added throughout the late 1990s

This provincial expansion required adapting our operations to serve a wider geographic area while maintaining the consistency that customers had come to expect. Key developments during this period included:

• The establishment of regional supply chains to ensure fresh ingredients
• The creation of a more robust training program for new franchisees and staff
• The introduction of a centralized call center to manage orders across multiple locations

By 2000, Pizza 73 had grown to over 30 locations throughout Alberta, firmly establishing itself as a provincial favorite.

The Digital Revolution: 2001-2007

The early 2000s brought significant technological changes to the pizza industry, and Pizza 73 was at the forefront of this digital revolution in Canada. In 2001, we launched our first website, allowing customers to browse our menu online. By 2003, we had introduced online ordering – one of the first Canadian pizza chains to offer this convenience.

These technological advancements coincided with continued physical expansion, with new locations opening in smaller communities throughout Alberta. Our technology initiatives during this period included:

• Development of our first mobile ordering platform (2005)
• Introduction of a GPS-based delivery tracking system
• Implementation of a digital kitchen management system to improve order accuracy and preparation time

Joining Forces with Pizza Pizza: 2007

A pivotal moment in the Pizza 73 story came in 2007 when the company joined forces with Pizza Pizza, Ontario's leading pizza chain. This strategic partnership provided resources and expertise to accelerate growth while maintaining the unique Pizza 73 brand identity that Western Canadians had come to love.

The partnership brought several benefits:

• Enhanced purchasing power for ingredients, resulting in better value for customers
• Access to additional technology resources to improve the digital ordering experience
• Expanded marketing capabilities to reach new customers
• Capital for accelerated expansion across Western Canada

Importantly, the Pizza 73 brand, recipes, and Western Canadian focus remained intact – ensuring that the qualities that made Pizza 73 special were preserved.

Western Canadian Expansion: 2008-Present

With the additional resources provided by the Pizza Pizza partnership, Pizza 73 was positioned for its most ambitious expansion phase yet – growing beyond Alberta to become a truly Western Canadian brand. This expansion included:

• Entry into the British Columbia market in 2009
• Saskatchewan expansion beginning in 2010
• Manitoba locations opening in 2014

This expansion was carefully planned to ensure that each new market received the authentic Pizza 73 experience. Local tastes were considered, with some regional menu variations introduced while maintaining our core offerings.

A modern Pizza 73 location featuring our current branding and design

Menu Innovation Through the Years

Throughout our growth journey, menu innovation has been a constant focus. While we've stayed true to our core pizza offerings, we've regularly introduced new items to meet evolving customer preferences:

Each menu innovation has been developed with customer input and extensive testing to ensure it meets our quality standards while addressing emerging dietary preferences and trends.

Community Involvement

Throughout our growth, Pizza 73 has maintained a strong commitment to the Western Canadian communities we serve. Our community involvement has included:

• Support for local youth sports teams and leagues
• Partnerships with food banks to address food insecurity
• Fundraising initiatives for children's hospitals
• Disaster relief support during wildfires and floods
• Local event sponsorships to strengthen community ties

These community connections have been integral to our identity as a truly Western Canadian brand – one that doesn't just serve communities but is actively part of them.

Pizza 73 Today: 85+ Locations and Growing

Today, Pizza 73 operates more than 85 locations across Western Canada, employing thousands of team members and serving millions of customers annually. We've come a long way from that single Edmonton location in 1985, but our core values remain the same:

• Commitment to quality ingredients and consistent recipes
• Focus on value-driven menu options accessible to all
• Dedication to exceptional customer service and convenience
• Innovation in both menu offerings and ordering technology
• Support for the Western Canadian communities we serve

Looking to the Future

As we look ahead, Pizza 73 remains committed to growth and innovation while staying true to the qualities that have made us successful. Our future plans include:

• Continued expansion to underserved communities across Western Canada
• Further development of our digital ordering platforms for even greater convenience
• Ongoing menu innovation to address evolving dietary preferences
• Enhanced sustainability initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint
• Deepened community partnerships to strengthen our local connections

From that first location to our current network of 85+ stores, the Pizza 73 journey has been one of consistent growth, adaptation, and commitment to our customers. We're proud of our Western Canadian heritage and excited about the future chapters of the Pizza 73 story that we'll write together with our customers.