October 13, 2008

Industry Headlines

Pizza Today to launch new Web site

Pizza Today magazine will launch its new, updated Web site, www.PizzaToday.com, on Wednesday, October 15. The new site features video, audio, hundreds of recipes, an enhanced vendor directory, a product showcase section and a special interactive program that allows visitors to view and read the current print issue of Pizza Today.

"Our new Web site is both visually appealing and functional," says Pizza Today editor-in-chief Jeremy White. "I have no doubt our readers will be impressed when they visit the all-new PizzaToday.com. Working with our partners in the virtual world, we've set the bar high -- and we're proud of what we've done. But this is just the beginning. It's only going to get bigger and better from here."

Fox's Pizza Den franchisee raises nearly $20,000 for charity

Scott Anthony, a Fox's Pizza Den franchisee in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, hosted the seventh annual Pizza & Prevention program Saturday. The program is a partnership between Anthony's restaurant and area fire departments. During the event, local firefighters deliver pizzas and check smoke detectors (they even install them in homes that do not have detectors). All proceeds, including tips, go to the Punxsutawney Fire Department. This year's event raised nearly $20,000 -- a 30 percent increase over 2007. More than 2,300 pizzas, plus additional coupon cards, were sold during the event.

Hot-dog king wins Famous Famiglia pizza event

Joey Chestnut, a 24-year-old hot-dog eating champion from California, won the first-ever Famous Famiglia World Pizza Eating Championship Sunday in New York City's Times Square.

Chestnut, who won the July Fourth hot-dog eating event on Coney Island, claimed victory at the pizza-eating contest by downing 45 slices of pizza in 10 minutes.

Magpies Pizza celebrates 20 years; brand continues to grow

For years, Magpies Gourmet Pizza has been saucing and tossing its way into the hearts of Tucsonans. Most recently, Magpies Gourmet Pizza was awarded Tucson Weekly's Best Pizza award for the 20th straight year. In fact, Magpies has been honored with this "Best Pizza" title every single year since they've been open for business.

Now, as the brand continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, this longstanding Tucson favorite is set to launch a series of additions to their menu and business, such as a brand new, interactive Web site in November 2008.

With these additions, Magpies Pizza is positioning itself for future growth statewide.

The first step in this process will be the addition of sandwiches to the Magpies menu, which currently includes pizzas, salads, and calzones. Catering will be added as well. The catering menu will offer everything from Magpies' famous gourmet pizzas and calzones to Italian specialty platters like antipasto trays, olive trays, Italian meats and cheeses and Italian pasta dishes like flavored raviolis, lasagnas, chicken and eggplant Parmesan, dessert, etc.

Chicago pizza maker chosen for World Pizza Champions team

Leo Spizzirri of Giordano's Famous Stuffed Pizza in Chicago recently was chosen to be a member of the World Pizza Champions. Spizzirri will represent the United States at the World Pizza Championships in Salsomaggiore, Italy, in 2009. The 2009 World Pizza Champions Team is made up of nearly 40 of the best pizza competitors from around the world. Next year, the World Pizza Champions will have new teammates from Massachusetts, Ohio, California, Arizona, England, Sicily, Italy and Australia.

"Leo was a sure fit for our team. We only choose the best! His passion for pizza truly sets him a part," says Tony Gemignani, president of the World Pizza Champions, Inc.

"We have heard about Leo for sometime. His creativity pushes him far above the rest. We are exited to bring him on board and watch him compete," adds Joe Carlucci, a member of the team and a pizza consultant.

Leo Spizzirri is the corporate chef for Giordano's Famous Stuffed Pizzas, which has 46 locations, and he is also the general manager of the company's flagship restaurant located at 730 N. Rush Street in Chicago.

Tampa Rays one step closer to fulfilling pizza man's prophecy

Johnny's New York Pizza owner John Keiley is better known for his predictions than his pies. He's two-for-two in his sports predictions this year and claims to be well on his way after concluding that the Tampa Rays will advance to the World Series in 2008.

In fact, on July 7, 2008, Keiley painted this on the outside of his Colorado-based restaurant: "Free pizza for the world if the Rays win the World Series!" As an interesting aside, Keiley is not a Rays fan (but says he loves predicting historic outcomes). His recent prediction and success of the Tampa Rays has not gone unnoticed.

The St. Petersburg Times ran a cover story on Keiley and his newfound love for the Rays. The story soon found its way to CBS Morning News in New York City, CNN Headline News and finally The Rocky Mountain News, among others. St. Petersburg First Deputy Mayor Tish Elston made a special visit to Johnny's New York Pizza and delivered a Rays care package to Keiley while visiting family in Colorado.

Extreme Pizza announces several new area agreements for expansion

Extreme Pizza, a specialty retailer of gourmet pizzas, salads, sandwiches and wings, has signed an area representative agreement with Carla Feely to open over 50 locations in Ireland and England over a five-year period. The first store opened in Kilkenny, Ireland, in April 2008.

The company also signed an area development agreement with Ellen Hui to open six locations in San Jose, California, over a five-year period. The first is expected to open this month.

Meanwhile, in Marin County, California, Jeff Miller plans to open three additional restaurants. He and business partner Greg Flandermeyer currently own and operate two Extreme Pizza franchises in San Rafael and Novato, California. Additionally, a new store opened in Hillsboro, Oregon, in June 2008. The store is owned and operated by franchisee Alan Woodward. To celebrate the opening, Woodward and the Extreme Team gave away free slices and raffled off two Kona Mountain Bikes with the proceeds from the raffle being donated to a local charity.

Lastly, Extreme Pizza has contracted with Mike Anderson and David Key (Extreme Stubbs LLC) as area representatives to sell Extreme Pizza area development agreements and franchises from Maine to Florida. Extreme Pizza currently has 40 locations open in the United States.

Marco's Pizza plans to open 35-40 new stores in Cincinnati area

Three veteran franchisees and their company, Four Slices, LLC, will meet a demand they have identified in the Cincinnati area for what they term a "great pizza" by announcing plans to open 35-40 Marco's Pizza stores in that city.

Kevin Pong, a native of Cincinnati and franchisee of 12 Great Clips units, his Great Clips Partner Ken White, who is also a pharmaceutical engineer, and Dave Knoles, a former 25-year franchisee and area representative for Domino's Pizza in Florida, announced the agreement and expansion plans with Jack Butorac Jr., president of Marco's Franchising.

Butorac and a team of franchise development veterans launched the 30-year-old Marco's Pizza on a growth plan after acquiring the franchise rights for the company from its Italian founder. Pong said the Newest Marco's Pizza in the Cincinnati area opened on September 24 in Maineville, Ohio. The two existing stores are located in Middletown and Hamilton. He added that the expansion program has the potential for 800 jobs in the area.

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza currently has more than 170 stores in 14 states. The company recently reported same-store sales increases for eight consecutive quarters.

Papa Murphy's names SYSCO Food Services of Minnesota as 2008 Distributor of the Year

Papa Murphy's International has named SYSCO Food Services of Minnesota Inc., a division of SYSCO Corporation's "Super Colossal" companies, as its 2008 Distributor of the Year. Based on results from an annual franchisee survey of distributor performance, this is the third year that SYSCO Minnesota has been named Papa Murphy's Distributor of the Year.

"We are extremely proud to be recognized by Papa Murphy's," said Scott Grant, director of program sales at SYSCO Minnesota. "Our hard-working team members have kept us at the top of our game for many years and we're grateful to call Papa Murphy's a customer for the last seven of them."

"SYSCO Minnesota has their work cut out for them, servicing over 70 Papa Murphy's stores in the region," said Clarice Turner, president at Papa Murphy's. "Our owners rely on the immediate availability and readiness of fresh ingredients - the essence of this award-winning brand. SYSCO Minnesota continues to exceed our expectations in this regard."

Papa Murphy's operates over 1,000 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 30 states and Canada.

Tyson Foods' sends 26 tractor trailers for disaster relief

Tyson Foods, Inc. is stepping up in a big way to help supply more than 3.2 million meals for Texas and Gulf Coast residents affected by recent hurricanes. Twenty-six truckloads of Tyson chicken and pork are headed south to restock food banks in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi during the next four days.

"Helping our neighbors when disaster happens is important to us, which is why so many of the Tyson Team Members have organized this effort to help out in Texas and the Gulf States," said Dick Bond, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. "With increasing fuel prices and the adverse effects of the economy, times were already tough for many families. Food banks are short on supplies, and this is an area where we can help. Hunger relief is a top priority for Tyson; we're blessed to be able to help."

Truckers from CiCi's Pizza's Distribution Company hit road for Special Olympics

Ten truckers from JMC Restaurant Distribution donated time, money and precious gas on September 20 for an 8-mile trek through Marietta, Georgia, as part of a national effort to raise funds for Special Olympics.

This year's convoy was smaller than 2007's, as sponsors downsized a bit in the face of higher fuel prices. Still, JMC kept its spot as the event's only Gold Sponsor with a donation of $2,500. The annual event, which featured 64 truckers in all, raised more than $16,000 for the worthy cause.

"Once again, we were glad to take the lead in sponsoring the superb athletes who compete in Special Olympics," said Robert Kulick, president of JMC Distribution. "We're proud of our drivers, who year after year rally to support these hard-working kids."

JMC was founded in 1990 to support CiCi's restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.