Little Caesars Expands Its Footprint with Michigan State University Partnership

Multi-Unit Franchisee and Spartan Alumnus Operating Restaurants Across Three Campus Sport Facilities

DETROIT, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Little Caesars, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, has announced its new partnership with Michigan State University this fall. The brand officially debuted at Spartan Stadium for the Spartans' season-opening football game on Friday, August 29, and will operate restaurants across all three of the university's major sports venues, including Munn Ice Arena and Breslin Center. Seasoned Little Caesars franchisee, Derek Turowski will operate all of the restaurants across the venues.

Turowski has been involved in the franchise industry from a young age, when his father operated restaurants. A graduate of Michigan State University's School of Hospitality Business, Turowski began his career working alongside his father and eventually became a General Manager at several of his father's restaurants. Through dedication and hard work, since becoming a Little Caesars franchisee, Turowski has expanded to more than 16 restaurants across Michigan. He continues to grow in the state, with a new location under development in Holt, Michigan. This expansion highlights both Turowski's commitment as a franchisee and the strength of the Little Caesars brand in Michigan's competitive restaurant landscape.

"As an alumnus of MSU, I am proud to expand Little Caesars into the campus and bring quality pizza to all green-and-white fans," said Turowski. "The brand has given me an incredible opportunity to grow as an entrepreneur and continue to build my portfolio in Michigan. Operating these new restaurants is another step in that journey, and I look forward to serving even more communities across the state."

"Partnering with Michigan State University is a natural fit for Little Caesars," said Bryan Ketelhut, Vice President of Franchising and Business Development. "As a Michigan-based brand, we're excited to connect with the Spartan community and bring our pizza to fans across all three MSU stadiums. This partnership reflects our commitment to growing in key markets while delivering the quality, value, and convenience fans know and love."

Little Caesars is actively seeking qualified multi-unit franchise operators to help propel development efforts in target markets nationwide, including in and around non-traditional venues like universities, water parks, airports, and stadiums. Multi-unit franchising opportunities are available in regions across the U.S., including the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Kansas City, New Orleans, and North and South Carolina. The established brand offers franchisees a convenience-driven business model and an efficient concept. 

With more than 65 years of family-owned history, Little Caesars emphasizes quality, value, and convenience. Franchisees benefit from an integrated supply chain, innovative menu offerings, and flexible restaurant formats, including the new Elev8 design and modular POD units, allowing the brand to adapt to a variety of real estate options. Little Caesars also maintains a strong community focus through its Love Kitchen^® program, which has served more than 4 million meals nationwide, and partnerships with local schools, sports teams, and nonprofits. Little Caesars also offers incentive programs for veterans and first responders. Interested candidates can learn more information at franchise.littlecaesars.com.

About Little Caesars^®

Little Caesars, the Best Value in Pizza*, was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch as a single, family-owned restaurant in 1959 and is headquartered in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, with restaurants in each of the 50 U.S. states and 30 countries and territories. 

Known for its HOT-N-READY^® pizza, Crazy Puffs^®, and famed Crazy Bread^®, Little Caesars uses quality ingredients, like fresh, never-frozen mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes. The brand is known for innovation and is home to the exclusive Pizza Portal^® pickup, a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station. Little Caesars is also the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL. 

A high-growth company with over 65 years in the $150 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars continually looks for franchisee candidates to join the team in markets worldwide. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers a simple operating system, a reputation for taste and value, and strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized characters in the country, Little Caesar. Little Caesars is proud to be part of the Ilitch Companies family of businesses.

For more, visit LittleCaesars.com and follow Little Caesars on TikTok, Instagram, and X.

*Limited to top 4 national pizza chains

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SOURCE Little Caesars