Philly Pretzel Factory featured in Lebanon Daily News

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Lebanon Daily News in an article titled "Military buddies opening pretzel business at N. Lebanon Wal-Mart." Matt Giacobbe, Marc Ferraro and Wesley Craig, three friends that met while in the military, are opening a Philly Pretzel Factory in the Wal-Mart at 1355 E. Lehman St. in North Lebanon Township. The three each have unique backgrounds in regards to business and the food service industry.  One sold pretzels in his local neighborhood when he was younger, one worked in his family’s Italian restaurant, and the final partner already owns several other businesses.  The group prides themselves on the freshness of their product and is excited to bring the new food to the area. 

The group was featured in a story on LDNews.com, read full story here.  

Military buddies opening pretzel business at N. Lebanon Wal-Mart

By LES STEWART
Staff Writer

Updated:   08/11/2013 05:43:17 PM EDT

About nine months ago, three military buddies sat at a restaurant table and talked about opening a business together.

One of them sold pretzels in his neighborhood when he was a child. Another worked in his family's Italian restaurant when he was growing up. Another member of the group is in business with several other military buddies.

The discussion turned to Philadelphia food staples, including pretzels. They settled on opening a Philly Pretzel Factory franchise.

On Friday, they will see the result of their efforts when they open their Philly Pretzel Factory franchise inside the Wal-Mart at 1355 E. Lehman St. in North Lebanon Township.

The store, occupying space formerly used as a photography studio, will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., said Matt Giacobbe, one of the owners of the new business.

"Everything will be freshly made," said Giacobbe, a recruiting and retention officer for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Looking at Lebanon County, Giacobbe said the area is developing quickly and seems an ideal place to introduce some new foods.

Giacobbe said he was the one who suggested opening a Philly Pretzel Factory store.

"We're on track for two stores," Giacobbe said of their plans for Lebanon County.

Another Philly Pretzel Factory is planned for the 2200 block of West Cumberland Street in front of the Lebanon Valley Mall, he said. That store will open in early December. They also plan to open a Philly Pretzel Factory at a Wal-Mart in Chambersburg.

Click here to continue reading story. 

Philly Pretzel Factory featured in The Daily Local

The Daily Local recently featured Philly Pretzel Factory's new franchisee, Joe Chiarello, a NJ entrepreneur, who is opening a Philly Pretzel Factory and adding more food service industry knowledge to his resume.  In the past, Chiarello has operated a Rita’s Water Ice, Peace of Pizza and a Manhattan Bagel.  At the young age of 24, Chiarello is excited to start this new step in his career path.  He credits West Chester University, WCU, for his success.

To read full article, click here. 

WCU grad part of growing Philly Pretzel franchise

• By BILL RETTEW JR.

• Posted: Tuesday, 08/06/13 11:16 pm

• 
  

WEST CHESTER — Golden Ram football player and 1998 West Chester University business management and finance graduate Joe Chiarello is using his education to make and market affordable, hot, soft and fresh pretzels.

Chiarello owns and operates two Philly Pretzel Factory franchises in Richboro and Southhampton. He also ran Rita’s Water Ice and Peace A Pizza franchises. Chiarello operated a Manhattan Bagel franchise just a year out of college, at age 24. He’s also managed a jewelry store, a vending company and an online apparel company.

“I’m always looking for the next biggest thing,” he said.

Chiarello’s experiences at WCU taught him leadership, the book side of running a business and checks and balances.

Chiarello also learned about “sweat equity ” in school, then further developed the concept at work.

“It’s one thing to learn it by the book, it’s another thing being a hands-on operator,” he said.

 Chiarello attended WCU on a partial scholarship. The tailback and special teams player said sports taught him to be a team player, discipline and to be goal-oriented. He said he looks for athletes to fill positions at his businesses since they tend to have better success.

Chiarello works 12-hour days and six day weeks at both shops and at a home office.

To continue reading article, click here. 

Philly Pretzel Factory featured in Reading Eagle

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Reading Eagle in Reading, PA for the newest location opening in West Lawn. Local owners, Paula Wenger and James Lake along with President Marty Ferrill shared the background of the company and the multi-unit owners expansion in Pennsylvania. Wenger and Lake are a bother sister duo that have opened three locations since first getting into the franchise in 2007 when they opened in Muhlenberg. Ferrill discussed the opportunity for multi-unit owners to get into the quickly growing brand, the ability to operate multiple locations and still be able to pursue another career.

Here is a link to the full article online.

Three partners are growing their Philly Pretzel Factory franchise
By David A. Kostival Reading Eagle correspondent (Photo credit below)
(Photo Credit) Madison Poticher, left, 18, of Mohnton, and co-owner Paula Wenger twist pretzels at the Philadelphia Pretzel Factory in West Lawn. The store is the second for Wenger and her two partners, who also run the store in Muhlenberg Township. The Philly Pretzel Factory has been around since 1998. And James Lake was there at the start. Kind of. Lake, 41 of Spring Township, co-owns two stores in Berks County. Back in the day, he attended college at East Stroudsburg University with company founders Lenny Lehman and Dan DiZio. "In 1997 Len told me that he and Dan were going to purchase an oven and open a pretzel bakery," Lake said. Then in 2006 he met up with DiZio at college homecoming weekend. By that time, Philly Pretzel Factory had grown to about 35 stores, and DiZio told Lake the company wanted to move into the Reading area. That started the wheels turning for Lake, his sister Paula Wenger, 44, and her husband, Andy Wenger, 44, both of Spring Township. One problem: All three were busy with full-time jobs. Lake and Andy Wenger work in law enforcement, and Paula Wenger is a middle school teacher in the Wilson School District. Paula said when all three went home to Bucks County for Thanksgiving in 2006 they decided to visit some Philly Pretzel Factory stores. "We went to visit four stores on Black Friday and just sat there and watched as people went in and out," she said. "We immediately knew this was too good of an opportunity to pass up." In July 2007, the trio opened a store on the Fifth Street Highway in Muhlenberg Township. Their original plan was to open one in Spring Township, but at the time another franchise owner had claimed a right of first refusal on that territory. The business was slow at first, but as more people tried the pretzels, business picked up and the location became successful. (To continue reading article, click here) Reading Eagle: Bill Uhrich  Full Article: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=491928