A new Eagle Boys pizza store will open every 39 hours over the next two weeks as the companyÕs rapid growth drive continues. The expansion program includes 10 former Pizza Haven stores converting to the Eagle Boys brand. New outlets are opening under the companyÕs Standard, Micro, Local and Express store models. By 2011, Eagle Boys plans to have 400 stores operating within the Australian market.

Eagle Boys Pizza managing director Todd Clayton said Eagle Boys was opening up to 100 new stores during the next 12 months. “Eagle Boys has recorded a 21.9 per cent increase in sales growth over the past 12 months on the back of climbing sales and growing store numbers. Sales have been aided by our ÔBigger, Better PizzaÕ campaign which highlights how our pizzas are bigger than our competitors, new menu items, and the introduction of online ordering,” he said.

Clayton said while consumer confidence and spending was an issue for any retail business, pizza occupied a unique retail food space. “Pizza has sometimes been labelled as recession proof as people eat it when times are good and bad. It is one of the few meal options which can feed a family of four for under $20. This means when families are tightening their budgets and may not be going out so much, pizza is an affordable alternative,” he said.

Eagle Boys Pizza operates more than 240 franchised stores throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, employing more than 4,000 staff and making more than 13 million pizzas a year.