SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Iowa-based Pizza Ranch, known for its buffet of pizza, chicken and other offerings, expanded last year, even as the coronavirus pandemic hit the restaurant industry harder than most.
Pizza Ranch, based in Orange City, has over 200 locations in 14 states.
Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Achterhoff tells the Sioux City Journal that the chain added five new locations last year and has six or seven more openings slated for this year.
"We really maintained momentum -- that's below our normal annual expansion of units, but most brands, most concepts, were not expanding at all this year," Achterhoff told the paper.
Even with the expansion, Achterhoff acknowledged that the past year has been challenging for Pizza Ranch, noting the chain weathered it by becoming more reliant on carryout and deliveries in 2020.
"Delivery and pickup, or to-go, did overtake our buffet business this year, 2020," he said. "Historically, we're 80 percent buffet, dine-in buffet ... that's what people think of Pizza Ranch."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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