October 7/Food Weekly News -- Despite flat sales in 2008 and into 2009 throughout most of the limited-service pizza industry, some chain operators are finding success through a strategy of focused positioning, says foodservice industry consultant Technomic. The fastest-growing chains are characterized by strong differentiation. The new "2009 Technomic Top 100 Limited-Service Pizza Chains Restaurant Report" analyzes and profiles the leading chains against the background of industry trends and metrics.

"Most successful pizza chains have staked out highly-defined market positions that allow them to stand out from the pack," says Darren Tristano, EVP at Technomic. "The key to growth in the slow economy will be differentiation. Top players will have to understand the competition, successfully identify emerging trends, and find and execute a strong position in the market."

From the October 12, 2009, Prepared Foods E-dition