The take-and-bake pizza brand Papa Murphy’s has quietly shuttered hundreds of locations in recent years — part of a sweeping contraction under its parent company MTY Food Group — signaling serious challenges for the four-decade-old chain.
A factory-style drop in store count
A recent report confirmed that Papa Murphy’s has closed roughly one-third of its units since the end of 2016. According to franchise disclosure documents and industry reporting, the chain removed nearly 500 locations by the end of 2024, not counting any closures in 2025.
In recent times by the end of 2024, the store count had fallen from about 1,239 at the start of 2022 to approximately 1,044. That’s a decline of almost 200 units in just three years.
What’s behind the closures?
The chain’s parent company says the shuttering is strategic: fewer underperforming locations, a renewed focus on markets with stronger growth potential, and efforts to streamline the system.
Key pain points include:
- Intense marketing competition — Other pizza chains are spending tens of millions on advertising (think of all those Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut ads!); Papa Murphy’s says it can’t match that level.
- Digital sales weakness — While digital ordering is critical in the quick-service space, Papa Murphy’s digital channel has struggled to keep pace.
- Franchisee investment gaps — The brand indicates that some franchisees haven’t invested sufficiently in local marketing or store upkeep, limiting ability to compete.
What the Q3 numbers show
In the Q3 2025 earnings call, MTY Food Group reported adjusted EBITDA of USD $74 million, up 3% year-over-year. However, that figure reflects the broader MTY portfolio — and Papa Murphy’s underperformance remains a drag on the chain’s outlook. They called it out specifically.
What’s next for Papa Murphy’s
MTY executive leadership says they do not expect closures at the same magnitude moving forward, but that more pruning is still possible. The brand is also planning:
- A revamped loyalty rewards program to drive customer frequency
- Menu optimization and SKU reduction
- A fresh lineup of pizzas targeting growth markets in 2026
It’s a crucial moment for a concept that once stood out for its “take-and-bake” difference. The size of the contraction is a warning: in a hyper-competitive pizza market, even niche models must evolve or risk fade-out.
Why this matters to diners
For loyal customers, fewer locations means less convenience and fewer reasons to stay engaged with the brand. For franchisees, it signals the need for reinvestment or exiting the system. And for observers of the restaurant sector, Papa Murphy’s serves as a cautionary tale: brand uniqueness isn’t enough when rivals dominate visibility and convenience.
If you’re tracking where your local take-and-bake pizza chain is headed, the data suggests a shift — fewer stores, tighter operations, and a pivot to performance over expansion.
If you’re looking for a great non-chain pizza, check out the best pizza in every state.
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