November 12, 2008
Famous Famiglia ranks 41st in Pizza Today's Top 100 Pizza Companies. The company's rank climbed up seven positions compared to last year’s list, placing Famous Famiglia amongst the Top 50 pizza companies in the United States for the second year in a row.
November 10, 2008
Famous Famiglia co-founder, Giorgio Kolaj, is scheduled to speak at the Franchise India 2008 International Franchise Show in New Delhi, India in November 29 – 30. The show welcomed more than 23,000 attendees last year.
November 3, 2008
Famous Famiglia is nominated for three ARN 2009 Awards: Food Operator with Highest Regard for Customer Service, Best Food & Beverage Brand Operator, and Best Overall Food & Beverage Operator. Since 2001, Famous Famiglia has earned twelve First Place ARN awards, an accomplishment unmatched in the industry.
October 15, 2008
Famous Famiglia continues its expansion in the airport market with partner HMSHost in the opening of the latest Famous Famiglia location at the Providence T.F. Green International Airport.
October 13, 2008
Famous Famiglia co-founders discuss the art of pizza tossing ontelevision’s CW11's morning news program. The brothers tossed pizza dough and discussed the techniques that have made Famous Famiglia the popular global brand it is today. Please visit www.wpix.com/video/
October 12, 2008
World Champion competitive eater, Joey Chestnut, claims the world title for pizza at the first Famous Famiglia World Pizza Eating Championship! The 24 year old, California native devoured 45 slices of Famous Famiglia pizza in just 10 minutes, setting a new world record. Please visit
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2008/10/13/vo.ny.pizza.eating.wabc
Click to view press release.
October 1, 2008
Famous Famiglia is named by Franchise Times magazine to the “Up & Comers Top 100 Companies on the Verge” ranking. This category links those U.S. franchises that show tremendous promise for opportunity and growth into the future.
September 23, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its latest opening at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Westchester Division. The pizzeria is located on the hospital's extensive campus in White Plains, New York and serves hospital employees, guests, and patients. Famous Famiglia also serves at the hospital’s sister locations, New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia Medical Center.
September 17, 2008
Famous Famiglia co-founder Giorgio Kolaj appears on CNBC's television program The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The television host discussed with Giorgio the challenges he and his brothers faced while launching their successful business - which has now grown into a powerful global brand. Please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k9KKn4ZVpU
September 11, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces that it will host the world’s first World Pizza Eating Championship on Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 10am in the heart of New York City at Times Square! Internationally recognized competitive eaters of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating circuit will compete to claim the title as “World Pizza Eating Champion”! The total prize purse is $14,000. All proceeds will benefit the Continental Airlines Scholarship Fund.
For more information about the event and to register to compete, please visit
www.majorleagueeating.com/index.php.
Click to view press release.
September 9, 2008
Famous Famiglia gets listed in the PMQ 200 – America’s Top Pizza Chains 2008. The rapid growth of the brand has catapulted Famous Famiglia to the 40th slot of the top 200. The chains are ranked by total number of units.
August 8, 2008
August 8, 2008
Famous Famiglia continues its expansion in the cinema industry with partner National Amusements at the opening of the latest Famous Famiglia location at the Showcase Cinema de Lux Patriot Place in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
July 2, 2008
Restaurants and Institutions names Famous Famiglia to Top 400 Restaurant Chains in the U.S.
June 25, 2008
Famous Famiglia continues its expansion in the cinema industry with partner National Amusements in the opening of the latest Famous Famiglia location at the Florence Cinema De Lux theater in Florence, Kentucky.
June 9, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces the debut of its latest design and concept extension of the Newark Liberty International Airport – Terminal C3 location, called the Famiglia Market.
Click to view press release.
June 4, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its partnership with the international cinema theater leader National Amusements in a partnership that will provide "New York's Favorite Pizza" to cinema customers across the United States.
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June 3, 2008
Famous Famiglia is named as a finalist in the National Restaurant Association’s 2008 Faces of Diversity Awards Program - Inspiration Award. Working to further diversity and inclusion in the restaurant industry, Famous Famiglia was recognized as one of six finalists, including McDonald's, Sodexo, Focus Brands, & Auntie Anne's Pretzels.
Click to view article.
May 23, 2008
Famous Famiglia continues its expansion in the travel plaza market with partner HMSHost in the opening of the latest Famous Famiglia location at the North Somerset Travel Plaza along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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May 19, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its second opening along the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Allentown Travel Plaza with HMSHost.
May 16, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its entry along the Pennsylvania Turnpike with its latest opening at the newly designed Sideling Hill Travel Plaza. This marks the first opening of several Pennsylvania Turnpike rest areas with partner HMSHost.
May 7, 2008
Famous Famiglia extends its partnership with the New York Yankees organization through the 2015 season. Famous Famiglia has been the “Official Pizza of the New York Yankees" since 2003 and is proud to continue this very coveted affiliation and partnership.
Click to view press release.
May 7, 2008
The Westchester Business Council names Famous Famiglia co-founder, Giorgio Kolaj, to 40 Under 40 list. The award honors an individual’s professional accomplishments, leadership qualities and outstanding success.
April 7, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its entry into the Pan-Latin market with its latest opening at the newly designed terminal at Miami International Airport. Spanish-based Areas SpA will operate the Famous Famiglia restaurant.
Click to view press release.
March 25, 2008
Famous Famiglia opens latest airport location at the busy new terminal building at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport. UK-based Select Service Partner Ltd. will operate the franchised unit.
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March 25, 2008
Famous Famiglia continues its expansion in the travel plaza market with partners HMSHost in the opening of the latest Famous Famiglia location at the New Baltimore Plaza along the New York State Thruway. Other motorway locations are scheduled to open soon in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania motorways.
Click to view press release.
March 24, 2008
Famous Famiglia is America’s busiest pizzeria!
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March 17, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its latest airport opening with franchisee partner HMS Host at Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. This opening marks the brand’s entry into the state and further fuels its expansion momentum with HMS Host.
Click to view press release.
March 7, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces the expansion with partners HMS Host, in the opening of their first Famous Famiglia motorway location at the Pattersonville Plaza along the New York State Thruway. This opening marks the fourth Famous Famiglia opened with HMS Host in recent months. Other motorway locations are scheduled to open soon in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania motorways.
Click to view press release.
March 1, 2008
Famous Famiglia announces its latest opening with franchisee partner HMSHost at Port Columbus International Airport.
February 27, 2008
Famous Famiglia awarded first place honors by Airport Revenue News for 2008 Best Concessions Winner - Food Operator with Highest Regard for Customer Service. This award marks the twelfth ARN First Place honors earned by Famous Famiglia since entering the airport market in November of 2001.
Click to view press release.
February 25, 2008
Giorgio Kolaj joins as a member of the Board of the Queens Council of the Greater NYC Boy Scouts of America. The Queens Council is the largest in NYC, with nearly 5,000 youth participating in more than 250 units led by almost 2,000 adult volunteers.
February 8, 2008
As seen on T.V.! ABC's hit daytime morning TV show, The View, features Famous Famiglia on-location on their show today in the heart of New York City. In the television segment, co-host and comedian Sherri Shepherd visits Famous Famiglia and tests her pizza making skills.
January 23, 2008
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The Kolaj family, founders of Famous Famiglia, to be honored by the National Italian American Foundation at the upcoming NIAF East Coast Gala in April 2008 in New York City, in the heart of Times Square.
Click to view press release.
December 12, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces that it has opened its first Famous Famiglia pizzeria in the cinema industry today at the Showcase Cinema Fallen Timbers theater in Maumee, Ohio. This opening marks the first operation of the Famous Famiglia brand within the National Amusements properties. National Amusements, Inc., is a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry operating more than 1,500 movie screens in the U.S., U.K., Latin America and Russia.
November 28, 2007
PMQ Magazine, the pizza industry’s leading business magazine, ranks Famous Famiglia pizzeria eleventh highest in the nation in its 2007 Industry Analysis – Pizza Power Report. The report lists the Top 50 pizzeria concepts with the highest annual sales per unit.
Please click here to read the article.
November 16, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces that it has been listed on the coveted Bond's Hottest New Franchises by World Franchising. The list denotes those prospective franchises which potentially present a far greater financial reward with a well-chosen, growing franchise as opposed to one that may have already reached its potential.
Click here to view list.
October 25, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces the opening of four Famous Famiglia pizzeria units in the newly built
Click to view press release.
October 9, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces it has signed its first franchise agreement with Ovations Food Services, a leading food servivce contractor with locations across the United States. The first location will open at Wild Horse Pass Casino in Chandler, Arizona, a Gila River Casinos property.
October 2, 2007
Famous Famiglia is selected by the National Minority Franchising Initiative (NMFI) from hundreds of franchisors as one of the "50 Top Franchises for Minorities". The USA Today article was published in the September 28th edition.
Click to view article.
September 25, 2007
The Famous Famiglia founding family is honored with the American Dream Award presented by D.A.R.E. America. Since their arrival in America almost 40 years ago, the Kolaj family has been committed to serving the communities in which they serve. They are proud to be honored by a global organization that is devoted to providing youth with programs needed to lead drug and violence free lives. The Kolaj family was able to raise close to $500,000 for the organization with the support of their family and friends.
Click to view press release.
September 12, 2007
Famous Famiglia ranks 48th in Pizza Today's Top 100 Pizza Companies. The company's rank on the industry list jumped up nine places over last year's ranking, placing Famous Famiglia amongst the Top 50 pizza companies in the United States.
July 10, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces the expansion its strategic partnership with HMSHost with the opening of its latest airport location at Nashville International Airport - Terminal C. This opening marks the second Famous Famiglia opened by HMSHost this year.
Click to view press release.
June 3, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces the opening of its latest airport location at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Center Pier. In 2006, the airport processed more than 18.5 million passengers. This opening marks the company's second DC-area airport opening.
May 21, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces the latest unit to open in Mexico by its country master franchisee, M1 Mexico SA de CV at Lomas Plaza in Mexico City marking the company's continued expansion of the Mexico region.
May 1, 2007
D.A.R.E. America honors Famous Famiglia's founding family with the prestigious American Dream Award. D.A.R.E. America was founded in 1993 and is a worldwide organization dedicated to providing the information and skills children and youth need to live drug-and-violence free lives. Past honorees include: Rudy Giuliani, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Mottola, Richard Parsons, and other distinguished individuals. The Kolaj family will be honored on September 25, 2007 at the D.A.R.E. America "D.A.R.E. to Care Gala 2007" in New York City.
March 26, 2007
Famous Famiglia ranks in Top 25 of 2007 by Entrepreneur Magazine; the list represents the compilation of the nation's top 25 franchises with breakthrough potential. Aditionally, the magazine ranks Famiglia in its Entrepreneur's 2007 Franchise 500 list. Read all about it in the April 2007 issue of Entrepreneur magazine.
April 18, 2007
The Business Council of Westchester inducts the Kolaj family into the Westchester County Business Hall of Fame. The Council awarded the Famous Famiglia founding family with the lifetime achievement award of Family Business Success Award. This award recognizes the family's significant contributions to the Westchester County community.
April 12, 2007
Famous Famiglia opens its latest airport location at Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport, Latin America's busiest airport. This marks the second Famous Famiglia opened in Mexico by multi-unit franchisee, M1 Mexico SA de CV, with four additional units currently under construction.
March 8, 2007
Famous Famiglia announces the opening of its latest airport location today at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport- Concourse T. Nearly 85 million passengers were processed at the airport in 2006. This opening marks the first Famous Famiglia airport location operated by HMSHost. The company operates in 101 airports throughout the world and is recognized as a world leader in retail and food & beverage concessions.
February 21, 2007
Famous Famiglia awarded first place honors by Airport Revenue News for : 2007 Best Concessions Winner- Food Operator with Highest Regard for Customer Service and 2007 Best Concessions Winner- Best Overall Food & Beverage Operator. These two awards mark the eleventh ARN First Place honors earned by Famous Famiglia since entering the airport market at the end of 2001, establishing an unprecedented record in the food & beverage category within the airport market.
January 29, 2007
Famous Famiglia multi-unit franchisee, Select Service Partner, opens its first Famous Famiglia franchise for the Asia region in the newly opened Sky Plaza Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). HKIA serves as the fifth busiest international passenger airport in the world with more than 40 million passengers last year. SSP operates in 122 airports in 24 countries.