Kyle McCandless: Expanding His Family's Franchise Legacy with Papa Murphy's

For Kyle McCandless, franchising is the family business. His family built a successful network of Subway franchises when he was growing up; in 2012, they added Papa Murphy’s, the Take ‘n’ Bake pizza franchise, to their portfolio. Now, with two locations in Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington, the family is continuing its growth with a brand-new store set to open in Deer Park, Washington, in June 2025.

After spending years in the hotel industry, McCandless decided to return to his franchising roots when his parents invited him to take over the family business. With 26 Subway locations under his belt and a thriving Papa Murphy’s operation, he sees great potential for expansion by acquiring existing locations and developing new ones in high-growth areas like the Pacific Northwest.

Kyle McCandless: Franchising is in my blood. My father started in the industry with Subway, and in 2012, we decided to expand into Papa Murphy’s. Right now, we have two Papa Murphy’s locations — one in Lewiston, Idaho, and one in Clarkston, Washington — with a third opening in Deer Park this May. In total, our family owns 26 Subway stores, so we’ve been in the franchise space for quite some time.

I spent several years in the hotel industry, but about two years ago, my parents approached me and asked if I wanted to take over the family business. That’s when I decided to shift gears and focus on growing our Papa Murphy’s footprint.

McCandless: I grew up around franchising — I worked in my family’s Subway stores all through high school and college. My entire career has been in the franchise space, including my time in the hotel industry.

Franchising comes with challenges, but it also provides a clear framework for success. At the end of the day, when franchisees succeed, the franchisor succeeds and the customers are happy. That alignment is one of the biggest benefits of the model.

McCandless: What drew us to Papa Murphy’s was the fact that our goals as franchisees are so closely aligned with the goals of the franchisor. That’s not always the case in franchising, but with Papa Murphy’s, we see it as a win-win.

Beyond that, I really love the simplicity of the concept. It’s an easy-to-operate model, but the product is exceptional — better ingredients than many traditional pizza chains. And it performs really well in the Pacific Northwest, where we’re based. The demand is there, and we see a huge opportunity for growth.

McCandless: We approached Papa Murphy’s about the Deer Park area because we saw a real demand for the brand there. It’s a growing community, and the people want Papa Murphy’s closer to home.

Looking ahead, we’re interested in expanding both through new store development and by acquiring existing locations from franchisees who are looking to retire or move on. There are a lot of opportunities for growth right now, and we’re excited to be part of it.

McCandless: We’ve had our share of trial and error in business, including independent ventures, but most of our success has come from franchising. One of the biggest advantages of franchising is that a lot of the hard work has already been done for you.

But beyond the business model, our family has always been about hospitality. Whether it’s a Subway, a Papa Murphy’s or a hotel, we want to make sure every customer has a great experience when they walk through our doors. That’s what keeps people coming back.

McCandless: Talk to as many franchisees as possible. Ask them about their struggles, what’s worked for them and what they wish they had known before getting started.

The relationship between franchisee and franchisor is key, so it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re choosing a brand that aligns with your goals. If you take the time to learn from others and make an informed decision, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Papa Murphy's International LLC ("Papa Murphy's") is a franchisor and operator of the largest Take 'n' Bake pizza brand in the United States, with over 1,135 franchised and corporate-owned locations across the U.S—plus locations in Canada and the UAE. It’s no surprise that their story is a little unconventional.

After all, Papa Murphy’s brought an entirely new approach to the pizza industry. But their unique idea is a simple one: enrich life and community through craveable food. They focus on using quality ingredients, prepared fresh daily, to offer guests everyday meals to take ‘n’ bake at home with ease.

In addition to take ‘n’ bake pizzas, Papa Murphy's offers a selection of salads, sides, desserts, and kid’s options. Learn more and order online at papamurphys.com.