March 23, 2009

Industry Headlines

International Pizza Expo winners announced

If you were in Las Vegas last week, then you know that International Pizza Expo® was the place to be if you’re in the pizza business.  While other tradeshows are experiencing declines in attendance, Pizza Expo bucked the trend and held even with 2008 numbers.
When the show closed on Thursday afternoon, nearly 5,700 buyers had visited more than 900 exhibits and attended more than 60 educational sessions.  Rounding out the experience were numerous culinary competitions, contests, demonstrations and other special events.

The preliminary rounds (Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge were held with the following regional winners advancing to the Final Challenge:
• Frank McCarron, Portino’s Fresh Italian, Valley Center, CA – Western Region
• Dave Cozzola, Cozzola’s Pizza, Ft. Collins, CO – Mid-American Region
• R. C. Gallegos, RC’s Pizza, Kingwood, TX – South Central Region
• Ron Erich, Warrior Drive Inn & Pizza Inc., Mansfield, OH – Eastern Region
• Grazziano Bertuzzo, Brian, Lecce, Italy – Open Division
• Leah Scurto, Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA – Wild Card
• Joe DeVellis, Giove’s Pizza Kitchen, Shelton, CT – Wild Card

Each of these finalists won a plaque and $500.

The preliminary rounds (Non-Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge was held with the following regional winner advancing to the Final Challenge:
• Scot Cosentino, Goodfella’s Pizza, Staten Island, NY – Eastern Region
• Fran Carroll, Bistro Bianconi, Dublin, Ireland – Open Division
• John Cammack, Lefty Grill, Nevada City, CA – Western Region
• Matthew Swan, Marco’s Pizza, Las Vegas, NV – Mid-American Region
• Kris Kaiser, Aver’s Pizza, Bloomington, IN – South Central Region
• Frank Baird, Pizza Plus of Ohio, Avon Lake, OH – Wild Card
• Cemal Ramusevic, Il Pomodoro, Staten Island, NY – Wild Card.

Each of these finalists also won a plaque and $500.

Highlights included the finals for both divisions of the International Pizza Challenge and a new competition to name the World Champion Pizzaiolo. Scot Cosentino of Goodfella’s Pizza, Staten Island, New York took top honors (and $10,000) for World’s Best Non-Traditional Pizza.  Grazziano Bertuzzo of Lecce, Italy, once again captured the World’s Best Traditional Pizza title (and $10,000).  

Following the finals of the International Pizza Challenge, the top two finishers in each division squared off in the first Pizzaiolo of the Year competition.  Contestants were presented with a table of ingredients from which to choose for one more pizza to be judged.  There were no restrictions for toppings but all contestants had to use the secret ingredient – fresh mushrooms. Grazziano Bertuzzo walked away with the title of World Champion Pizzaiolo and an additional $5,000 first prize.


The World Pizza Games were also held, with the following winners:
1st Division Freestyle Acrobatics
• First Place – Justin Wadstein, Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar, Santa Cruz, CA
• Second Place – Akaogi Dazuya, Aromavita, Japan
• Third Place – Jamie Culliton, Grimaldi’s Tucson, AZ

Fastest Dough
• First Place – Richard Allen, Cousin Vinnie’s Pizza, Dayton, OH
• Second Place – Bruno DiFabio, Country Cottage, Buffalo, NY
• Third Place – Giuseppe Lucia, 210 Giglio Pizzeria, Italy

Fastest Box Folding
• First Place – Justin Stokes, Sparky’s Pizzeria, Urbana, OH
• Second Place – Mo Rashad, Cousin Vinnie’s Pizzeria, Dayton, OH
• Third Place – Mike Kelly, Grimaldi’s Tucson, AZ

Largest Dough
• First Place – Spencer Glenn, Pizza of My Heart, San Jose, CA
• Second Place – Eric Corbin, Grimaldi’s, Tucson, AZ
• Third Place – Giuseppe Lucia, 210 Giglio Pizzeria, Italy

Longest Spin
• First Place – Akaogi Kazuya, Aromavita, Japan
• Second Place – Jamie Culliton, Grimaldi’s, Tucson, AZ
• Third Place – David Sommers, Mad Mushroom Pizza, West Lafayette, IN

The show closed with the drawing for the $25,000 MEGA BUCKS Giveaway.  Todd Dorroh, Mr. Grumpy’s Pizza in Bakersfield, California, was the lucky winner.

Planning for next year’s show will begin soon, so save the date – March 2 – 4, 2010.

In 1994 Joey Todaro started La Nova Wings, Inc. He introduced wings to the pizza business, and in just a few years, we are the NUMBER ONE seller of Authentic Buffalo Wings; and Buffalo Wing are now the top selling appetizer in the pizzeria industry! Our products have now expanded from our heat and serve wings to an array of high quality appetizers and dipping sauces. Learn more about La Nova at www.lanova.com

Stevi B’s Pizza strengthens expansion efforts with new director of franchise sales and development

Stevi B’s Pizza has that Melissa McFarlin has joined the company as director of franchise sales and new store development. In her new role, McFarlin will be responsible for awarding franchise opportunities and development rights to qualified incoming franchisees and helping new investors with site selection and restaurant development.  
                                                        
\McFarlin, formerly franchise coordinator for Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an Atlanta-based casual dine-in pizza collection, was brought on as part of a strategic move to grow Stevi B’s with new locations in existing and untapped markets nationwide. McFarlin sees her new role as director of franchise sales and new store development as an ideal progression, and looks forward to helping investors achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
 
McFarlin earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Georgia Southern University. She resides in Smyrna, Georgia. with her husband, Jason, and their daughter.
 
Stevi B’s, a national pizza buffet restaurant franchise, was founded in 1996 in Atlanta. Recently purchased by Argonne Capital, an Atlanta private equity firm focused on growing restaurant and retail companies that are market leaders with strong growth potential, Stevi B’s currently has 27 franchised and five company-owned locations in six states throughout the United States.

Famous Famiglia enters culturally diverse Harlem community

Global pizza brand Famous Famiglia has announced its latest opening in Harlem on Lexington Avenue at the corner of historic 125th Street. This opening marks the 30th Famous Famiglia location in New York As part of a company tradition, Famous Famiglia hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Congressman Charles Rangel on Friday, March 20th at 11 a.m. The total first day's sales were presented to Harlem Hospital Center at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The donation will go towards the Harlem Hospital Modernization Fund, which will help renovate and construct the campus' patient pavilions and parking garage.

"Harlem is happy to be home to such a New York institution like Famous Famiglia," said Congressman Charles Rangel. "They are not just providing good food, but also job opportunities to local residents. These jobs and the company's donation to Harlem Hospital will go a long way in helping our community get through these tough economic times."

Famous Famiglia was founded in 1986, by the Kolaj family. Today, the company has successfully expanded its concepts across the world; targeting captive markets such as airports, motorways, universities, shopping centers, casinos, stadiums, theme parks, and more.
 

CiCi’s Pizza honors 2008's top performers at Restaurant Business Conference

More than 300 CiCi's Pizza's team members gathered in Lake Tahoe to honor the company's 2008 top performers during their Restaurant Business Conference held on March 4 and 5. The outstanding team members were recognized on day one of the conference, while day two was open to entrepreneurs and business leaders who heard keynote presentations from industry experts Donny Deutsch, CNBC Host & Chairman of Deutsch Inc., and Scott Young, Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola.

Craig Moore, president of CiCi's Pizza, and Kyle Smith, director of operations, personally presented each winner with an award reflecting 24 categories. Intermixed with the award ceremony were cutting edge video presentations, produced in-house by members of CiCi's marketing team, filled with content leveraging the CiCi's brand voice. Highlights of the conference included a silent auction item consisting of a two-night/three day stay at a hotel, airfare, tickets to a show and a one-on-one dinner with Donny Deutsch. CiCi's franchise owner Mike Tolleson was the high bidder at $7,500.  Proceeds of the silent auction were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters, a charity CiCi's Pizza has raised more than $700,000 for nationally.

“We celebrated the best of the best of our CiCi's team members. It was an occasion filled with camaraderie and respect of peers for their incredible achievements,” said Moore. “Their efforts in creating a great environment for our employees and consistently providing an excellent dining experience for our guests have contributed to our continued success in the quick casual industry. Their exceptional performance has helped us gain momentum as we continue our aggressive expansion plan that will take us coast to coast this year.”

The conference culminated with an awards ceremony where top accolades were presented to:
•  Operator of the Year – Ken English, Katy, Texas
•  Manager of the Year – Beth McQuaide, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Single Unit Team of the Year – Buddy Wilcox, Beaumont, Texas
• Multi Unit Team of the Year – PJ Moore, Winston/Salem/Jacksonville, North Carolina
• Rising Star Award – Mitch Uehling, Columbia, South Carolina
• Turnaround Award – Jay Zorn, Houston, Texas
• CiCi’s Legendary Operator Award – Kelly McCann, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma market;  Frank Rogers, Dallas, Texas market

Founded in 1985, CiCi's Pizza has grown to almost 650 restaurants in 30 states.