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{{Icons|C-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Chess Pizza Inc.
| former_name = 
| logo = Chess Pizza.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| logo_caption = Logo of Chess Pizza since 2015
| image = 
| image_size =
| image_caption = 
| type = {{W|Privately held Company|Private}}
| industry = {{W|Fast food}}<br />{{W|Pizza chain}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1952|07|11}}<br />[[West Covington, Gold Coast|West Covington]], [[Gold Coast]], K.S.
| founders = Georgie Dougherty
| location = 
| num_locations = 14,443 (2022)
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Cris Salvato ({{W|President (corporate title)|President}} and CEO)<br />Melinda Bennett ({{W|Chief operating officer|COO}})
| products = {{W|Pizza}}, {{W|Buffalo wing|chicken wings}}, {{W|breadsticks}}, {{W|pasta}}, {{W|soft drinks}}
| owner = [[McCarthy Investments]]
| homepage = [https://example.org chesspizza.com]
}}
'''Chess Pizza Inc.''', {{W|doing business as}} '''Chess Pizza''', is a Sierran multinational {{W|pizza chain|pizza restaurant chain}}. Founded in 1952 by Georgie Dougherty, it is the third-largest pizza chain by total sales after [[Winchester (company)|Winchester]] and [[Dough Bros]]. It is headquartered in [[West Covington, Gold Coast|West Covington]], [[Gold Coast]]. It operates and franchises pizza restaurants in the Kingdom of Sierra and internationally in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The pizza chain is owned by [[Manitoba]]-based [[McCarthy Investments]].

==History==

Chess Pizza was founded in 1952 by Georgie Dougherty. They opened their first location in a strip mall located in [[Providencia, Gold Coast|Providencia]], [[Gold Coast]]. Dougherty worked as a factory plant worker for [[Venger]] before he quit to enter into the restaurant business. He took out a $20,000 loan from the [[Bank of Sierra]] and used it to purchase equipment necessary for his pizza store. He and his wife worked every day for five years straight and employed relatives to help with the business. The pizza chain, originally called Dougherty Pizza, was rebranded as Chess Pizza in 1957 in honor of Dougherty's son, Max Dougherty, who became a professional chess player. The restaurant themed its decorations and menu items after elements of chess such as Queen's Pizza and {{W|Sicilian Defense}} (squared cheese pizza).

The pizza restaurant gained popularity among locals and Dougherty opened his second location in [[Pasadena, Gold Coast|Pasadena]] in 1960. Chess Pizza introduced dipping sauces, including garlic sauce which became an instant success for the company. By the 1970s, Chess Pizza had 12 locations throughout the [[Southwest Corridor]] and began looking into franchising arrangements with other restaurateurs. 

In 1994, Georgie Dougherty sold the company to [[McCarthy Investments]] for $15 billion and retired, citing health ailments. He remained associated with the company as one of its spokespersons. Under McCarthy Investments, Chess Pizza streamlined the restaurant's menu offerings and shifted its strategy towards being primarily a carryout establishment. Chess Pizza rapidly expanded from 1,500 to 6,000 locations by the beginning of the 21st century as it expanded internationally.

==Franchises==

Chess Pizza, as of September 2022, has locations in the [[Kingdom of Sierra]] (including [[Sierran Samoa]], [[West Colorado]], and [[West New Mexico]]) and internationally in 74 countries. Outside of the [[Conference of American States|CAS]] (including the Kingdom of Sierra), in the majority of cases, the company licenses the Chess Pizza brand to third-party companies through master franchising agreements. In the [[United Commonwealth]], [[Quebec]], the [[Maritimes]], [[Tournesol]], and the [[United People's Committees]], the rights to own, operate, and franchise branches of the chain in these countries belongs to Continental-based Chess Pizza Cooperative.

==Products==

The menu offerings at Chess Pizza varies by location and region. In the Kingdom of Sierra, Chess Pizza specializes in Italian-Sierran cuisine. Its main focus is pizza, which includes traditional, specialty, and custom pizzas. It offers pan-toast, thin-crust, {{W|Chicago-style pizza|deep dish}}, and vegan-based pizzas. Other entrée fixtures at Chess Pizza locations in the Kingdom of Sierra include pasta, {{W|calzone}}s, breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, flatbreads, and sandwiches. It also offers chicken wings, salads, and dessert. Select locations offer additional items such as hot dogs. All Chess Pizza locations carry [[Baron Orange]] products including [[Baron Cola]].

In September 2017, Chess Pizza in the Kingdom of Sierra began a year-long campaign of experimental, promotional items. It cycled through a number of products nationwide which included a pizza toppings-based [[hot box]], a chicken sandwich, and dessert pizza. 

In October 2018, in collaboration with the [[Sierran American Football League]], it offered deep-fried pizza as a promotional item.

==Sponsorships and marketing==

Since October 2018, Chess Pizza has been the official sponsor of the [[Sierran American Football League]]. It has also launched partnerships with the [[Sierran Red Cross]] and the [[Sierran Scouting Association]]. It is one of the select restaurant chains that have franchising agreements with [[Corner Stop]]. Chess Pizza licenses its brand for frozen pizza products sold at [[Lance's]].

==See also==

*[[List of pizza chains in the Kingdom of Sierra]]
{{Fast-food chains of Sierra}}
{{McCarthy Investments}}
[[Category:1952 establishments in the Gold Coast]]
[[Category:Companies based in West Covington, Gold Coast]]
[[Category:Fast casual restaurants]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the Kingdom of Sierra]]
[[Category:Italian-Sierran cuisine]]
[[Category:McCarthy Investments companies]]
[[Category:Pizza chains of the Kingdom of Sierra]]
[[Category:Pizza franchises]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of the Kingdom of Sierra]]
[[Category:Restaurant chains in the Kingdom of Sierra]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1952]]