Industry Headlines

National Italian American Foundation honors Famous Famiglia founders for humanitarian service
The National Italian American Foundation hosted their annual East Coast Gala on April 14, 2008 at the Marriott Marquis hotel in New York
City. This special reception honors Italian-American leaders and supporters, and showcased the thriving Italian-American community. The Kolaj family, founders of Famous Famiglia, was honored with the Special Achievement Award for Humanitarian Service.
Founded in 1975, The National Italian American Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting and preserving the culture and heritage of Americans of Italian descent. NIAF is proud to provide scholarships and educational opportunities to help young students, as well as promoting the heritage, history, and accomplishments of Italian Americans. They also serve as a liaison between the Italian community and the U.S. Congress, White House, and government agencies, and promote cultural, educational, economic, and political cooperation between Italy and the United States.
The Kolaj family immigrated to New York City in 1970 from Frosinone, Italy and settled in the South Bronx. As a widow with five children, the family matriarch, Mama Rosa, was determined to realize her husband's dying wish to provide the opportunity of the American Dream for their children. Today, the Kolaj family has built one of America's most successful pizzeria chains, Famous Famiglia, and the company has locations throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe and China.
The Kolaj family is proud to be recognized by NIAF and the Italian community. Since the family's settlement in New York over 38 years ago, the Italian-American community has accepted them as one of their own.
Famous Famiglia is a successful New York City-based pizza company 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.

America brings home gold at World Pizza Championships in Italy
America's top pizza team, The World Pizza Champions, earned several medals at the World Pizza Championships in Salsomaggiore, Italy, last month.
* Bruno Di Fabio of Amore Pizza in Scarsdale, New York, won the gold medal in the Fastest Pizza category with a top speed of 5 pizzas in 48 seconds. Bruno is also the Gold Medal winner for Biggest Pizza at the World Pizza Games at International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
* John Gutekanst of Avalanche Pizza in Athens, Ohio, won the Highest Total Points Award from the US. John secured this award by scoring high in all baking categories: Classic; Teglia; STG and Gluten Free.
* Justin Wadstein of Kianti's Pizza and Pasta in Santa Cruz, California, brought home the bronze medal in the Single Acrobatic Category.
* Tony Gemignani of World Famous Pyzano's Pizza in Castro Valley, California, received top honor for Best Classic Pizza from the US scoring 714 points out of 800.
Team members who competed in Italy were: Tony Gemignani; Joe Carlucci; Sean Brauser; Bruno Di Fabio; Justin Wadstein; Jay Schuurman; Joey Post; John D Ambrosio; Paul Cataldo; John Gutekanst and Randy Hueffmeier.
The World Pizza Champions have won more gold medals and world titles than any other pizza team in the world. Members have been featured on many national television shows. They are the only team to compete on the Food Network Challenge series and members have been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records. Members also have been the first to medal in Italy's World Championships in acrobatics and baking.
In June, the World Pizza Champions will attend the World Pizza Cup in Naples. The competition is scheduled for June 10-11, 2008.

Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar raises $42,000-plus for Children's Miracle Network
Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar has announced that it has collected more than $42,000 from its annual Valentine's Day fundraiser. The fundraiser, held each year in conjunction with the holiday, creates an opportunity for community involvement among all Boston's locations, which span across 25 states. The proceeds from the fundraiser's one-of-a-kind, heart-shaped pizzas will once again benefit its national charity partner, Children's Miracle Network (CMN) and the funds will be distributed to local hospitals throughout the nation.
"As our most popular and successful fundraiser, we look forward to celebrating Valentine's Day each year with all of our local Boston's communities," said Doug MacDonald, president of Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar. "Children's Miracle Network has been a wonderful partner, and we are proud to have raised more than $42,000 during our heart shaped pizza promotion. Every year our donation grows and sets a new record, and as our brand continues to grow we look forward to making even larger contributions to the Children's Miracle Network."
As in previous years, Boston's offered customers two unique giving opportunities designed to raise funds for CMN. From January 28 through February 17, Boston's sold more than 16,000 special paper hearts for a $1 donation per heart to CMN. Patrons were encouraged to write Valentine's messages on the hearts to display in the restaurants. From February 14 through February 17, Boston's sold more than 25,000 of its popular heart-shaped pizzas and collected $1 per pizza sold for the fundraiser.
In addition to selling the hearts and pizzas, Boston's involved its local communities by hosting special events across the country. Nearly 30 locations hosted pizza-eating contests attended by mayors, children, sports teams and patrons to encourage the community to come and support CMN.
Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children through fundraising for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.
"On behalf of Children's Miracle Network and our member hospitals, we are grateful to Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar and its customers for their generous support," said Jim Hall, Children's Miracle Network president and CEO. "Through our partnership with Boston's, we will continue to positively change the lives of millions of children."
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar mirrors its sister company, Canada-based Boston Pizza. Introduced in the U.S. in 1998, Boston's is franchised by Boston Pizza Restaurants, L.P. Boston Pizza and Boston's have more than 350 outlets throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Boston's grows primarily through franchises and is scheduled to open 14 new restaurants in 2008.

Oggi's/Left Coast Brewing is Golden Again at World Beer Cup
Left Coast Brewing Co. which brews all of the Award Winning beers for California-based Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Company, has won a gold medal for their McGarvey's Scottish Ale at the 2008 World Beer Cup last month in San Diego. "I am very proud of my whole team," said head brewer Rick Smets. "I want to thank everyone for their support, materials and personnel needed to win such a prestigious award."
Oggi's/Left Coast has now won two gold medals at the World Beer Cup. The previous gold was for their Sunset Amber Ale in 2004 that went along with their Silver for the Caber Tossed Wee Heavy and a Bronze for their Black Magic Stout (Available in 22oz bottles). This Ccontributed to winning Best Small Micro-Brewery in the World. Left Coast Brewing Co. continues to brew new and innovative beers.
Oggi's is currently distributing their beer in 22-ounce glass bottles through Alliance Beverage and Mesa Distributing. Their award-winning Black Magic Stout, Torrey Pines IPA and Double IPA Hop Juice are available for distribution in San Diego and Arizona.
Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Company franchise began in San Diego, California with the first store opening in Del Mar in 1991. Since that time, Oggi's has expanded in San Diego County to eight locations and eight in the Orange/Los Angeles/Riverside/San Bernardino area. Oggi's also has two locations in Phoenix, Arizona, with 2 more to follow in East Lake and Garden Grove.

Moto Pizza offers proceeds to local music program
Ben Stutz, Sharon Stutz-Hamilton and Jeff Mecheff owners of Moto Pizza in Portland, Oregon, across from Madison High School, have offered to give Madison High School and Jason Owens 100-percent of the sales on Thursday May 15, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Owens, music director for Madison High School in Portland, Oregon, was awarded a $10,000 personal grant from the California based Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation for best emulating the traits of the famous music teacher in the classic 1995 film of the same name. Taking over a nearly defunct music department two years ago, Jason has revived the program to one of prominence.
The music department at Madison High needs gowns for the students in the band and orchestra. They estimate they need $5,000 to accomplish this.
Moto Pizza is a unique drive through restaurant which sells 14-inch hot and fresh pizzas for $5 (cheese and pepperoni) and serves customers in about 30-seconds. They are capable of producing 450 pizzas an hour so it is possible Madison High could receive the sales of 1350 pizzas in the three hour period. That could amount to $6,750 or more since they also have some specialty pizzas at slightly higher prices.
The editors of the Portland Tribune, who wrote an initial story about Owens' grant, have agreed to publicize the Moto Pizza offer in its newspaper. The Portland Public Schools are putting the offer in their monthly newsletter and sending out an Email blast to 30,000 people this Thursday. They further are sending the news release to all the area newspapers.
Madison High School announced the event at a full school assembly, handing out over 1,000 flyers to students, friends and family, posting larger signs announcing the event in the neighborhood around the school and providing a "Drum Line" to perform during the event at Moto Pizza. They also will have band members in uniform waving what are called Shaker Sticks with special messages about the fund raiser during the event.
The offer is open to the public. It is a way people who support the high school or music department can contribute and still have a wonderful value for themselves.

Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza, Chase's Calendar of Events declare National Pizza Party Day
Pizza and parties go hand in hand. Whether marking birthday milestones, celebrating a sporting team or academic occasion, or simply to enjoy the company of friends, pizza is a top choice to bring people together for any occasion. It is because of Americans' love for pizza that rapidly growing national pizza franchise, Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza was chosen to sponsor May 16, 2008 as National Pizza Party Day through Chase's Calendar of Events, the most comprehensive and authoritative reference available on special events and worldwide holidays. Now, recognized by Chase's Calendar of Events as the only franchise offering a "National Pizza Party Day", Garlic Jim's is celebrating!
Garlic Jim's will host a contest at www.pizzaweek.com through May 14, 2008 for customers nationwide to sign up on-line to win one of three pizza party prizes. The grand prize winner will win a party to serve approximately 25, first runner up will be awarded a party to serve approximately 16, and the second runner up will be given a party to serve approximately eight of their friends or family.
Winners will be chosen at random and must live within the trade area of a Garlic Jim's store. Winners will be notified on May 15 and pizza parties awarded on National Pizza Party Day, May 16. Additionally, many locations will be offering special National Pizza Party Day deals to schools and other organizations on May 16.
"We're honored to have been chosen by Chase's Calendar of Events as the pizza franchise to celebrate 'National Pizza Party Day' in 2006 and beyond," says Dwayne Northrop, president and CEO, Garlic Jim's. "2006 was our kick-off year and we hope it continues to grow in appeal!"
Commencing yearly on the third Friday of May, this day marks the end of many sport seasons and the school year, and signifies the beginning days of summer.
Garlic Jim's has grown from two stores in 2004 to 50 open stores and a total of 111 franchises sold as of April 2008.

Monical's Pizza appoints new president
Janelle Reents, formerly a vice president with the Monical Pizza Corporation, has assumed the role of company President effective May 1. Reents, who has a Bachelor's Degree from Eureka College and an MBA from the University of Illinois, began with Monical's as an hourly employee while in high school. Subsequently while at Monical's Corporate Support Center in Bradley, Illinois, she gained experience in marketing, operations, franchise relations, human resources, education and distribution.
Reents will be joined in leading the company by Donna Jakob, recently-appointed chief operations officer. Jakob also began with the company as an hourly team member, joining the Corporate Support Center upon graduation from Illinois State University. Her experience also covers a wide range of specializations within the Monical organization, following the company's executive rotation education plan.
Both Reents and Jakob bring extensive industry experience to their new positions combined with an impressive working knowledge of Monical's unique corporate culture. They will lead an organization with industry-recognized strength in the areas of employee turnover and management experience. The company has won numerous industry and community awards, including two Employer of Choice Awards from the National Restaurant Association. Their community service efforts have produced many awards as well, including "Neighborhood Partner" and "Illinois Humanitarian of the Year" accolades.
Reents succeeds Harry Bond as President of the company. Bond, a 30 year veteran of Monical's with 22 years as its chief executive, retires from an organization with a strong position in finance, operations, people readiness and growth potential. Monical's currently has new locations planned for St. Joseph, Illinois and the Indianapolis market.