If you were in Las Vegas, then you know that International Pizza Expo® was the place to be. You could feel the energy and pizza enthusiasm from the moment you walked into the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There was something for everyone at International Pizza Expo® 2011, veterans and newbies alike. When the show closed on Thursday afternoon, more than 6,400 buyers had visited more than 900 exhibits and attended more than 80 educational sessions. Rounding out the experience were numerous culinary competitions, contests, demonstrations and other special events.

The Traditional Division of the International Pizza Challenge™ had the following regional winners and wild cards who advanced to the finals:

• Paul Duran, AJ Bariles’ Chicago Pizza, Yucaipa, CA –– Western Region

• Jane Ellen Mines, Nima’s Pizza & More, Gassville, AR –– Mid-American Region

• Brad Rocco, Bexley Pizza Plus, Bexley, OH –– Eastern Region

• Andrew Carrabba, Millie’s and Paulie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Bluffton, SC –– Open I Region

• Michel Arvblom, New York Pizza, Malmo, Bara, Sweden –– Open II Region

• Shawn Randazzo, Cloverleaf Pizza, Roseville, MI –– Wild Card

• Carmelo Oliveri, Civico, Verona, Italy - Wild Card

The Non-Traditional Division of the International Pizza Challenge™ had the following regional winners and wild cards that advanced to the finals:

• Leah Scurto, Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA –– Western Region

• John Gutekanst, Avalanche Pizza, Athens, OH –– Mid-American Region

• Joe DeVellis, Giove’s Pizza, Shetland, CT –– Eastern Region

• Shawn Randazzo, Cloverleaf Pizza, Roseville, MI –– Open I Region

• Luigi Vianello, Jungle Pizza, Venezia Italy –– Open II Region

• Bryan Getz, Bill’s Pizza, Prescott, AZ –– Wild Card

• Doug Ferriman, Crazy Dough’s Pizza, Boston, MA –– Wild Card

Carmelo Oliveri won the World’s Best Traditional Pizza and $10,000. Luigi Vianello won World’s Best Non-Traditional Pizza and $10,000.

Following the finals of the International Pizza Challenge, the top two finishers in each division squared off in the Pizza Maker of the Year competition. Joining Carmelo and Luigi were Pasqualino Oliveri and Doug Ferriman. Contestants were presented with a table of ingredients from which to choose. There were no restrictions for toppings, but all contestants had to use the secret ingredient — Frank’s® RedHot® Sweet Chili Sauce. Carmelo Oliveri walked away with the title of World Champion Pizza Maker and an additional $5,000.

The Winners in the World Pizza Games® were as follows:

Freestyle Acrobatics

Pat Miller, A Slice of New York Columbus, OH

Masters Division Freestyle Acrobatics

Eric Corbin, Tony’s A GoGo
San Francisco, CA

Fastest Dough

Brittany Rowe, Michael Angelo’s Pizza Kenton, OH

Fastest Box Folding

Justin Stokes, Sparky’s Pizzeria
Urbana, OH

Largest Dough

Pat Miller, A Slice of New York
Columbus, OH

Longest Spin

Kazuya Akaogi, Aromavita, Japan

Start making plans now to attend International Pizza Expo® 2012, which will again be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 13 – 15.

Sincerely,

Bill Oakley

Executive Vice President