GOURMET pizza franchise Pizza Capers will serve up a healthy dose of competition to existing Mount Isa pizza stores when it opens its doors this month.
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With five Mount Isa stores currently offering pizza menus, there will be some stiff competition.
The pizza store war will see Domino’s and Pizza Hut, Frank’s Pizza (currently closed due to illness within management) pop-up outlet Nico’s Woodfired Pizzas, and the Rodeo Bar and Grill go head to head with the West Street takeaway.
Domino’s Mount Isa manager Louise Manski said she welcomes the competition, but suspects Pizza Capers have not completed adequate research into staffing, considering Domino’s have been forced to shut up shop on several nights recently because the store had no workers.
“It is definitely something that we are rectifying, but it means bringing staff from the coast.” she said.
Mrs Manski herself only arrived in Mount Isa yesterday from the coast, in a bid to get the store back up and performing.
Mrs Manski said she has her doubts that the city can support another takeaway store.
“I don’t think it is big enough to cater for another pizza shop, Mount Isa needs to support what they already have,” she said.
Pizza Capers spokesperson Amy Smith said the franchise typically does well in regional towns and the company is confident of attracting employees, but could not confirm the amount of applications received from a recent advertisement on employment website SEEK.
“Typically, staffing has not been a problem in similar areas with mining industries,” she said.
The new store will take over the site previously housing Eagle Boys Pizza until the business shut its doors in 2012.
Ms Smith said although Mount Isa had a number of takeaway food options, she believed Pizza Capers would bring something different to the table.
“Our pizzas are received well by people because of the generosity of toppings as well as the gourmet flavour combinations,” she said.
The store is expected to be open late this month and will be open as a company store by Pizza Capers, who are on the lookout for a local franchisee to take the reins.