Beloved pizza chain to close up to 50 locations

Recent media reports indicate that the restaurant franchisor MTY Food Group intends to close up to 50 underperforming locations of the popular pizza chain Papa Murphy's. While initial reports highlighted the specific closure of 50 Papa Murphy's restaurants, related coverage from the Montreal Gazette and GlobeNewswire notes that the Montreal-based MTY Food Group as a whole is actually set to axe a total of 68 underperforming stores following a drop in overall sales and profits during the second quarter of fiscal 2026. The widespread coverage emphasizes the nationwide scale of the Papa Murphy's reductions, utilizing framing around a beloved pizza chain facing severe financial headwinds. Outlets such as Delish, AOL.com, and the New York Post focus heavily on the brand identity and the impending loss of dozens of storefronts. Meanwhile, industry-specific publications like Restaurant Dive and Nation's Restaurant News frame the closures within the context of ongoing corporate restructuring by the parent entity, MTY Group.

Finance Canada, anchor their reporting in the official second-quarter financial results released for fiscal 2026, documenting the exact metrics of the profit and sales decline that preceded the restaurant closures. Contextualizing this trend requires looking at the broader economic pressures affecting restaurant franchisors and take-and-bake pizza concepts amid slumping consumer demand and profitability drops. The available headlines establish that MTY Food Group's second-quarter results for fiscal 2026 revealed falling sales and profits, which directly precipitated the corporate decision to trim its portfolio. Coverage does not yet specify which individual cities or states will lose their local Papa Murphy's branches, nor does it detail the exact timeline for when each of the up to 50 targeted stores will officially shutter their doors. Readers and franchise observers are left to monitor corporate announcements for precise storefront addresses and employee impact figures as the restructuring moves forward.

Looking ahead, coverage suggests that stakeholders should monitor subsequent financial disclosures from MTY Food Group to track the execution of the 68 total store closures, which includes the Papa Murphy's reductions. Industry watchers will likely look for further updates on whether additional store cuts might follow if sales and profit metrics do not stabilize in upcoming quarters. At this stage, the exact financial savings anticipated from the restaurant closures and the full scope of the restructuring plan remain subject to future corporate reporting. All details regarding the current scope are strictly confined to the second-quarter results and subsequent announcements covered by business and general news media.