How to Make Scottish Deep-Fried Pizza

This article was originally published on the excellent FX Cuisine a magical mystery tour around the food world. I have left he original links intact and thank the author for his highly informative piece on this traditional Scottish delicacy

A northern cousin of the Neapolitan deep-fried pizza, this proud member of the Scottish Diet makes one nutritious snack.

After the traditional Neapolitan pizza fritta, here is a more Western version with an Oriental twist, from the Edinburgh fish-and-chips where I had my first taste of the Scottish Diet.

An already baked pizza is dipped into the fish-and-chips batter ... then dipped again until it is yellow with batter all over.

The battered pizza is dropped into the huge container of frying oil used to fry fish and chips.

The pizza swims with the fishes until it turns golden.

One truly nutritious snack - the deep fried pizza and its crust juicy with frying oil.

Most Scottish deep-fried pizza is done with frozen pizza but Selim matches tradition with quality and makes his own pizza dough. Sure, he could go the whole way and prepare pizza fritta but he's not from Napoli and the Scots wouldn't eat that even though it's deep fried.

But what's in it? Looks like meat - kebab meat indeed. Gentlemen, we have reached the confines of the known world, where food fusion becomes confusion. Kebab pizza deep-fried Scottish style. This is the new Europe. Pass the oyster sauce please.

This is one of the fine treats served at Café Piccante in Edinburgh, Scotland, where East meets West and South and back again. One of the best places in Scotland to try deep-fried specialties.
Café Piccante 19 Broughton Street Edinburgh, Scotland +44 (0) 131 478 7884

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Sexy Samurai Pizza Cats

Many thanks to our reader Peter from Warrington who has sent in this video trailer for a Japanese TV series. Contibutions from readers are always welcome and if you do find anything on the web that is pizza-related we will gladly reprint it here. Please send all material to sthelensdominos@gmail.com

If you manage to watch it all he way through then the least you can do is make a small contribution to our charity.

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Pizza Hut Becomes First Company In History To Deliver Pizza To Residents Living In Outer Space

Landmark "Space Race'' Delivery Made To International Space Station Pioneers

Adding another chapter to the decades-old "space race" chronicles, Pizza Hut has become the first company in history to deliver pizza straight to the pioneers living in outer space on the International Space Station (ISS). The creation and delivery of the world's first space-consumable pizza was the culmination of nearly a year of collaboration between Pizza Hut and Russian food scientists. After months of rigorous testing, the Pizza Hut pizza made the landmark, trans-atmospheric journey to become the only pizza ever delivered to and eaten by people living in space.

"Pizza Hut is known for quality, innovation and category leadership. Having recorded numerous 'firsts' on Earth, we also wanted to make history by becoming the first company in the world to deliver pizza to space," said Randy Gier, chief marketing officer, Pizza Hut, Inc. "From this day forward, Pizza Hut pizza will go down in history as the world's first pizza to be delivered to and eaten in space."

The "space" Pizza Hut pizza delivered to the ISS featured traditional ingredients including a crispy crust, pizza sauce and cheese, but was topped with salami to enhance the pizza's flavor because researchers found that pepperoni did not withstand the 60-day testing process. In addition, the Pizza Hut space pizza was made six inches in diameter - the size of the Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza® - in order to fit into the smaller-sized oven aboard the ISS. Before final certification for consumption was given, the vacuum-sealed Pizza Hut pizza had to undergo rigorous stabilized thermal conditions to determine freshness-stay and life span.

"As a leader in the pizza delivery business, we're determined to give customers what they want, when they want it and where they want it, even if they are in space. Wherever there is life, there will be Pizza Hut pizza," said Gier. "After checking and re-checking the address, we made a few minor route adjustments to ensure that the pizza would successfully make it to the ISS. If space tourism is going to be a reality, Pizza Hut pizza will make the trip even better."
Consumers can log onto http://www.pizzahut.com/ to view photographs of the cosmonauts eating Pizza Hut pizza inside the ISS and photographs of the pizza being developed in the kitchens of the Russian space program's headquarters in Kazakhstan.

In July 2000, the race for space commercialization began as Pizza Hut became the first company in history to place its logo on the world's largest proton rocket. The innovative space sponsorship campaign was part of the company's dramatic turnaround and re-imaging campaign, which includes a more than $500 million investment over five years to make contemporary and upgrade Pizza Hut units around the globe.

I hope the delivery driver got more than the usual $1 gas allowance.

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Pizza Friday - Tommaso's North Beach

Tomasso's is a place that's served locals and tourists for more than 60 years and there's still generally a wait for a table. It has been claimed -- and never seriously disputed -- that this North Beach Italian restaurant is ground zero for wood-fired pizza, fired up decades before Alice Waters and Wolfgang Puck made their contributions.
The oven dates back to 1935, when the restaurant was called Lupo's. It became Tommaso's in 1971 and was bought by the Crotti family in 1973, who have been running it since, handling every aspect of the business. The subterranean space is dominated by a communal table in the middle. Murals of Italy are painted on the walls, which carry the patina that comes with age and dozens of coats of paint.
Size: 12 inches and 15 inches ($14-$23.50).
Style: Neapolitan.
Oven: Oak wood-fired oven that bakes at 800 degrees for 2-3 minutes.
Crust: A bread-like rim, charred and blackened in some spots, is the hallmark of this hefty pizza that seems a little thicker than most Neapolitan pies. The tender crust has a hint of crispness on the bottom, and is chewy at the edge.
Pizza tried: The Neapolitan (of course), made only with ladles of sweet tomato sauce and what seems like pounds of mozzarella cheese. The waiter also recommended a pizza with thin slices of nickel-size Italian sausage and thin mushrooms however, the cheese and tomato sauce dominates. It's good, but in most cases there are so many toppings that the natural goodness of the crust is buried.
Other toppings: There are 19 pizzas, all with tomato sauce and mozzarella. Fresh spinach and shaved Parmesan is one of the most popular; there's also garlic and clams, and scallops and prawns.
Anything but pizza: Hearty pastas and large portions of spaghetti and meatballs and calamari with marinara; wood oven-baked meats including veal Marsala and chicken cacciatore. There's a good Caesar, and the house specialty is baked coo-coo clams.
Vitals: 1042 Kearny St., San Francisco; (415) 398-9696. Dinner Tuesday-Sunday. Credit cards accepted. No reservations. Takeout available.




This review is from the San Francisco Chronicle by Michael Bauer and is reproduced in good faith.

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Pay for Your Pizza - or We Phone the Cops!

Detroit 29/11/07 story courtesy of Detnews.com

Police used a battering ram to break down the door of an Eastpointe apartment after its occupants refused to pay for a delivery of pizza, ribs, chicken and shrimp valued at $17.18, and a woman was arrested on a felony larceny charge.

"We take this kind of stuff seriously. It is a crime," said Eastpointe Det. Lt. Leo Borowsky. "These (delivery) people are on business and if you steal from them, we're going to prosecute."

According to Eastpointe police, a 21-year-old deliveryman arrived at the apartment in the 16400 block of 9 Mile with the combo meal order from Happy's Pizza at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The door was answered by a woman later identified as Jessica Gray, 19.

Gray told the delivery man she ordered the food and took the meal -- along with a large soft drink. Instead of paying, however, she slammed the door on the delivery person, according to police. Occupants inside the apartment -- five women ranging in age from 14 to 21 -- yelled insults and threats when the delivery person didn't leave.

"She was rough when she took it from him," Borowsky said. "And she was large enough where he didn't want to fight her."

The police were called, and according to a police report, officers "could hear the occupants laughing and whispering inside but refusing to answer the door. The officers advised the occupants that if they refused to come to the door, it would be opened by force."
Police broke down the door with a battering ram. Gray was identified as the person who took the meal from the hands of the deliveryman. Police recovered rib bones, chicken bones and shrimp tails as evidence.

Gray was arrested and arraigned Thursday in Eastpointe District Court on a felony charge of larceny from a person. She remained in custody Thursday afternoon on a $5,000 bond.

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A Pizza Hut Photo Gallery

Click here for over 1000 Pizza Hut Photos. Pretty fast connection required

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If Carlsberg did Pizza Delivery.....

....then they would also no doubt make sure that you had all the necessary extras for the perfect night in. But luckily it would seem that Domino's had already beaten them to the idea, when they auctioned off for charity this luxury couch and accessories in 2005.

With the leather couch came a drinks cooler, games console, MP3 player, room decorations, a PC, and a Plasma screen TV. Ah what more could a hungry pizza eater ask for? Feel free to add your ideas in the Comments section - but remember to keep them clean!

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Domino's Pizza UK Breaks £1m Mark with Online Sales

Online orders for Domino's Pizza reached a new high week ending 25th November 2007 after internet sales hit £1m in a week.

In the week from 19 and 25 November, the pizza delivery company took £1m from web customers, for the first time.

The seven-figure mark covers pizza sales which were ordered via dominos.co.uk and doesn't other the companies other ecommerce channels, which includes SMS and iTV.

In April the company changed its idents on Sky One's The Simpsons to focus on online ordering. The same idents began running during The Simpsons on Channel 4 this month.

Robin Auld, marketing director at Domino's, said, "Exceptional service is at the heart of our business and we're proud of our position as an innovative multi-channel retailer, offering more ways to order than any other pizza company.

"Last year, web sales reached £23m in total and we responded to customer demand by significantly increasing our online presence - we're delighted to see that paying off with £1m worth of sales in a week for the very first time."

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The Ultimate Stuffed Pizza - from MAD TV

What with different crusts, stuffings and fillings the World of Pizza really knows no boundaries as this Mad TV parody shows.

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Fire brigade turned up late to burning pizza shop ‘as satirical statement’

Firefighters who turned up deliberately late to a burning pizza delivery company were reprimanded yesterday for making an ironic comment on their standard of service.
ProntoPizza of Balham, South London was burnt to the ground back in June despite being less than half a mile from Balham fire station.

When the flames initially broke out in the kitchen back on a busy Friday evening, the manager Peter Annal immediately called 999 and requested the fire brigade. But fifteen minutes later, with the inferno spreading to the shopfront and the upstairs rooms, the pizza chefs and delivery drivers were surprised to see a florist suddenly arrive with a bunch of flowers.

‘This big burly bloke came with a load of lilies and violets. He was clearly a fireman but he said he was delivering the wedding bouquet we had ordered. It was like he was suppressing the giggles the whole time.’

Mr Annal urgently explained that he had in fact ordered a couple of fire engines and the fireman apologized and said he’d have to go back to the station. Thirty-five minutes later, with much of the downstairs now complete gutted, the fireman returned with a complete Ocado shopping delivery.

‘It was then that one of our drivers recognized him’ explained Mr Annal. ‘He said that he often delivered pizzas to him at the fire station, and that the firemen had been repeatedly irritated by late and incorrect orders.’ A desperate Mr Annal then called the local police station who listened to what had happened. The police then sent round a window cleaner, a central heating engineer and some cold garlic bread.

‘A number of fire engines did finally turn up about three hours after we had initially called them’ said Mr Annal. ‘But by then the whole building had burnt to the ground. And one of them kept saying ‘Sooo sorry we didn’t listen to what you actually asked for. We really must listen more carefully next time…’

Yesterday at South London Magistrates Court, six members of the Balham fire crew were found guilty of gross negligence and ordered by the judge to pay appropriate compensation. They were ordered to pay the pizza company a £1 voucher for taking longer than thirty minutes.


This article is reprinted in good faith from NewsBiscuit - bringing the news before it happens.


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Missing £1m Cabinet Found Outside Pizza Joint Toilets

The missing section of a 17th century cabinet worth £1 million has been found outside the toilets of a pizza restaurant in Yorkshire.

The cabinet will go on auction at Sotheby's next month.

It had been feared that the stand used to hold the intricate piece of furniture featuring scenes of Rome had been lost forever.But the carved wooden table which forms the bottom half of the cabinet was recently discovered in an Ask pizzeria, in York, by the Head of Sotheby’s Mario Tavella.

The top half of the furniture, which features a main picture showing a view of St Peter’s Square, in Rome with the Pope blessing the crowd, had been kept by Sotheby’s on behalf of a client but since the discovery the two pieces have been reunited and will go on auction next month. There are 12 other images of Rome on the piece of furniture.


Mr Tavella realised that the table was almost identical to two other pieces housed in Denmark which had been given by Pope Clement IX as a gift.


The top half of the cabinet is decorated with monuments of Rome and thought to have been crafted by a sculptor more than 300 years ago.


The completed cabinet will form part of the auction house’s sale of important Italian and Continental furniture in London on December 4.


Mr Tavella said: “This was a console I have been looking for the last 20 years. It’s arguably the most important piece of Roman baroque furniture that has ever appeared on the market.”


The cabinet will be sold by the York Conservation Trust which owns the Assembly rooms where Ask pizzeria has rented since 2002.


It is believed to have been owned by the trust for at least half a century, having become separated from the cabinet soon after the Second World War.

With thanks to The Daily Telegraph

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Papa John's Launches Paneer Pizza - in India Today - Global Tomorrow?

Well, one of our readers, Rishi from India has sent me this news release from Papa John's India. It sounds absolutely Scrummy. For those of you who aren't familiar with Paneer it is India's only type of cheese. Virtually flavourless it is crisp and refreshing to the palette and can be bought at Tesco's in blocks, though it also comes crumbled like a cottage cheese

The pizza has the taste of 100% fresh Paneer in every bite, Rishi tells us.

"Papa John’s, makers of high quality pizza has launched ‘Papa’s Paneer’ which is made from Paneer, Fresh Red onions, Fresh Green Peppers and Spicy Pizza Sauce. Papa John’s original dough contains a special high-protein flour to give its crust a consistently hearty texture with every bite.

"Priced at Rs115 onwards, Papa’s paneer size vary from ‘ Pizza for One to Medium, Family and Mama Mia.

"Papa's Paneer comes with free pepperoncinis, a special green chili pepper imported from Greece/Turkey and a special garlic sauce to dip the pizza crust. "

Voted as No 1 in Customer Satisfaction Index in the US, Papa John’s boasts over 3,000 restaurants around the world. Superior quality product and legendary customer service has led Papa John’s to become the world’s leading Pizza Company.

And I am sure that if it sells well in India they will launch it Worldwide shortly afterwards! And thanks to Rishi for sending this article in.

Pizza Humour - 50 Ways to Amuse Yourself on the Phone with the Pizza Delivery Company

I reprint this in good faith. As a pizza shop worker it is oh so amusing when the 10th person that night chooses one of these techniques, thinking they are the first person ever to do so, forgetting the list has been on the internet for years.

Still, as it is our motto never to say no to a customer we often play along with them so that we too can join in the fun.

1. If using a touch-tone, press random numbers while ordering. Ask the person taking the order to stop doing that.
2. Make up a charge-card name. Ask if they accept it.
3. Use CB lingo where applicable.
4. Order a Big Mac Extra Value Meal.
5. Terminate the call with, "Remember, we never had this conversation."
6. Tell the order taker a rival pizza place is on the other line and you're going with the lowest bidder.
7. Give them your address, exclaim "Oh, just surprise me!" and hang up.
8. Answer their questions with questions.
9. In your breathiest voice, tell them to cut the crap about nutrition and ask if they have something outlandishly sinful.
10. Use these bonus words in the conversation: ROBUST, FREE-SPIRITED, COST-EFFICIENT, UKRAINIAN PUCE.
11. Tell them to put the crust on top this time.
12. Sing the order to the tune of your favorite song from Metallica's "Master of Puppets" CD.
13. Do not name the toppings you want. Rather, spell them out.
14. Put an extra edge in your voice when you say "crazy bread."
15. Stutter on the letter "p."
16. Ask for a deal available somewhere else. (e.g. If phoning Domino's, ask for a Cheeser! Cheeser!)
17. Ask what the order taker is wearing.
18. Crack your knuckles into the receiver.
19. Say hello, act stunned for five seconds, then behave as if they called you.
20. Rattle off your order with a determined air. If they ask if you would like drinks with that, panic and become disoriented.
21. Tell the order taker you're depressed. Get him/her to cheer you up.
22. Make a list of exotic cuisines. Order them as toppings.
23. Change your accent every three seconds.
24. Order 52 pepperoni slices prepared in a fractal pattern as follows from an equation you are about to dictate. Ask if they need paper.
25. Act like you know the order taker from somewhere. Say "Bed-Wetters Camp, right?"
26. Start your order with "I'd like... ". A little later, slap yourself and say "No, I don't."
27. If they repeat the order to make sure they have it right, say "OK. That'll be $10.99; please pull up to the first window."
28. Rent a pizza.
29. Order while using an electric knife sharpener.
30. Ask if you get to keep the pizza box. When they say yes, heave a sigh of relief.
31. Put the accent on the last syllable of "pepperoni." Use the long "i" sound.
32. Have your pizza "shaken, not stirred."
33. Say "Are you sure this is (Pizza Place)? When they say yes, say "Well, so is this! You've got some explaining to do!" When they finally offer proof that it is, in fact, (Pizza Place), start to cry and ask, "Do you know what it's like to be lied to?"
34. Move the mouthpiece farther and farther from your lips as you speak. When the call ends, jerk the mouthpiece back into place and scream goodbye at the top of your lungs.
35. Tell them to double-check to make sure your pizza is, in fact, dead.
36. Imitate the order taker's voice.
37. Eliminate verbs from your speech.
38. When they say "What would you like?" say, "Huh? Oh, you mean now?"
39. Play a sitar in the background.
40. Say it's your anniversary and you'd appreciate if the deliverer hid behind some furniture waiting for your spouse to arrive so you can surprise him/her.
41. Amuse the order taker with little-known facts about country music.
42. Ask to see a menu.
43. Quote Carl Sandberg.
44. Say you'll be able to pay for this when the movie people call back.
45. Ask if they have any idea what is at stake with this pizza.
46. Ask what topping goes best with well-aged Chardonnay.
47. Belch directly into the mouthpiece; then tell your dog it should be ashamed.
48. Order a slice, not a whole pizza.
49. Shout "I'm through with men/women! Send me a dozen of your best, Gaston!"
50. Doze off in the middle of the order, catch yourself, and say "Where was I? Who are you?"

And if you read this far you may also like to read this story about the death of a Pizza Delivery Driver's 6th Grandmother

And hello to all our Indian Readers!

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Lesbians Love Pizza - or how Pizza Hut is Targetting Japanese Men

In an effort to further penetrate the Japanase market the official website for the Maria-sama ga Miteru high school anime series has announced a Pizza Hut tie-in campaign.

The series is based on Oyuki Konno and Reine Hibiki's shōjo light novels about the complicated relationships within the walls of the Lillian All-Girls Catholic High School - intended to attract a male readership.

In the stories the girls will be seen eating pizza and visiting Pizza Hut Restaurants as their various stories unfold.

When customers in Japan buy a medium pizza, they get a pizza box with a Maria-sama ga Miteru design as well as PC wallpaper and mobile phone graphics online. Those who order online will enter a drawing for one stamp sheet signed by the main cast, nine signed scripts, and 20 OVA Fan Disks.

So Pizza Hut are happy. The series' predominantly-male readership start buying more pizza as a result of seeing their heroines doing the same, and some PH Marketing Director wins an award for "The Most Blatent Piece of Product Placement in 2007"


Whatever next? Will Harry Potter be seen holding a Burger King Whopper in the next film or can you imagine the next Shrek movie featuring Princess Fiona extolling the virtues of Botox?


If you like this post about Pizza Marketing you may like to visit this site and see how to market a pizza shop

or read this post about getting a free condom with your pizza

or this one about a pizza delivery driver who has tragically lost 6 grandmothers so far this year

or this one about a clever use of a cardboard pizza box

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Tragedy Again Strikes Pizza Delivery Driver as 6th Grandmother Dies

Birmingham England—Tragedy has once again befallen 27-year-old pizza-delivery driver Mike Prescot, whose beloved "Nanny Irene" died last Monday at the age of 87 following a long battle with heart cancer. She was Prescot's sixth grandmother to pass on in the past eight months.

Nanny Irene's passing forced the aspiring bass guitarist to miss work at Angelo's Pizza for three days in order to attend the family matriarch's funeral.
"Yeah, Mike, I'm at the service right now," Prescot told Jamie Mosedale, his boss at Angelo's Pizza, via telephone from the Serendipity Funeral Home in downtown Birmingham. "It's very moving, you know, and she looks really natural, and I have a suit on."
"She was a big Bon Jovi fan," Prescot added. "That's why you can hear them in the background."
Though he is remaining stoic, the tragic loss has clearly shaken Mike. "It's never easy to lose one grandma," Prescot said. "But to lose as many as I have, well, it's almost too much to bear."
Prescot's string of grandmother-passings began last Easter, when paternal grandmother Trish Prescot suffered a fatal leukemia attack, causing Prescot to miss two days of work and a visit to the Leeds Festival with a group of friends.
Barely a month later, Elaine Prescot, another paternal grandmother, succumbed to arthritis just before friend Jimmy Gaines held an all-day 26th-birthday bash, which Prescot described as "apparently awesome."
"I understand the party was incredible, especially the part where Jimmy got so wasted, he threw up on the ping-pong table," Mike said. "It's just too bad I missed it, what with the death of that last grandmother and all."
The string of deaths continued in July, when the mothers of Prescot's adoptive parents died on the same weekend, of Beckham's Disease and multiple dystrophy, just before the opening of Spiderman III and his band's gig at The Citadel in Edgebaston.
But the most recent loss, Mike said, may be the most painful yet, since last week's loss of Great Auntie Britney. And he has just received news that his Grandad George has been diagnosed with terminal myopia and may not make it through to next weekend, which would force Prescot to miss The Battle of the Bands Festival at The Bullring.

with thanks to The Onion for reminding me to ask about the health and number of surviving Grandparents when interviewing prospective employees!

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Eating Pizza Can Solve Population Timebomb Problem

Here at Pizzas and Stuff we have learned of an interesting marketing initiative taking place in France, which if successful could contribute towards solving the problem of an ever-expanding World population.

It would seem that those guys at Domino’s Pizza, together with a French marketing agency, have launched a program targeting the young late-night pizza ordering crowd.

The “Night Box” (which is actually a Domino’s pizza box with custom design) contains all you need for a party night in: a music CD, a poster, a t-shirt and… a condom!

This limited edition box will be distributed in Domino’s outlets in France.

Now on a serious note the developers have obviously established the link between the fact that pizza is a great late-night food to share with your significant other and often bedroom antics will follow a romantic dinner for two.

But imagine how far this could go and what other situations could lead to condoms being issued

....When you buy a pair of cinema tickets.
....When you pay the bill in the expensive restaurant where you have just wined and dined your date.
....When Interflora deliver some flowers to your special lady friend.
....Whenever you buy a box of chocolates
....When you are about to buy your 6th Budweiser and every girl in the joint looks like Jennifer Aniston

The list is endless so I will ask you for your suggestions.


If you liked this story you might be interested in these

Pizza Delivery on Hovercraft being developed to counter UK traffic problems

Eating Pizza Could Reduce Risk of getting Cancer


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Quiz: How Many Times Do They Say "Pizza" in This Japanese Video?

So there you have it? In this popular Japanese anime can you count how many times they say "Pizza"? Enter your answer in the comments section below. There is no prize just the kudos of getting it right. The answer will be put on this post in a week's time.

If you like this video then you will enjoy this advert for pizza.

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How Domino's is Cleaning up in the E-Commerce Market

Operating chief Chris Moore tells Charlotte Moore how digital initiatives are helping the pizza giant clean up .

Charlotte Moore, Computing Business 19 Oct 2006

The new Chief Executive Officer of Domino’s Pizza, Chris Moore, positively bristles with excitement when he thinks back to the launch of interactive TV in the autumn of 1999.
Domino’s was one of the first companies to capitalise on the technology. If their customers felt peckish while they watched The Simpsons, they could order a Pepperoni Passion using their remote control, without having to move from the sofa.
But Moore recognises the challenge to get the technology up and running was monumental. ‘We had seven weeks to write the software, install ISDN lines in every store and brief all the managers,’ he says.
‘We were told by Sky Digital that we would never be able to do it. But that kind of statement is like a red rag to a bull for us and we managed it with just two people.’
Domino’s decision to invest in interactive TV is typical of the company’s attitude to technology – it strives to be well ahead of its competition with any IT innovation.
Cutting-edge IT and pizza may seem an unlikely alliance, but Domino’s says that technology is the key to keeping customers and shareholders happy.
With the interactive TV system in place, Domino’s started to think about what it was going to do next. ‘We realised that the infrastructure we had built could take a lot more than just interactive TV orders,’ says Moore.
‘We had been thinking about going online for a while, but now we had the system we thought let’s sweat this asset,’ he says. Within three-and-a-half weeks, the firm had developed the online system.
The decision to enable customers to order over the internet has paid handsomely. At end of the last century it was uncertain whether interactive TV or broadband would be the more successful platform.
Until the arrival of broadband, interactive TV was the clear winner garnering 90 per cent of orders not made by phone or in store. But this has now been reversed.
‘Broadband has just murdered interactive TV,’ says Moore.
Internet takeoff
Online sales are now the fastest growing part of the business. At its recent interim results presentation, the firm said it expects 15 per cent of all sales to come from internet orders by the end of the year and one-fifth of all sales by the end of the decade.
Earlier this year, the company achieved a huge milestone when online sales topped £100,000 for the first time in one evening.
Canny investors have long known about Domino’s ability to generate healthy profits and a strong cash flow, but the growth of online sales is further improving the company’s financial health, says Moore.
The organisation has noticed that its customers tend to spend 25 per cent more when they order online than if they phone in their order to a store.
‘Around a third of our business happens between 5 and 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights,’ says Moore.
‘So if a customer calls in an order at that time, the manager already has 10 calls stacked up and does not have the time to talk about new products. But when a customer orders over the internet, he has the time to consider new offers and would not forget to order the garlic bread.’
For Domino’s target audience – single people or families with children – the use of the internet has become second nature. As a result, the online ordering system also works as a marketing device, helping to bring in new customers. ‘In excess of two-thirds of online customers came to Domino’s through the internet,’ says Moore.
Increasing numbers of people seem to prefer ordering online and this is boosting online sales. ‘We’re finding that people don’t communicate in the same way – they would far rather order online and not have to talk to anybody over the phone,’ says Jane Kimberlin, Domino’s IT director.
The higher spend per internet order and the number of new customers that it brings to the business is improving Domino’s profitability because the company does not have to dramatically increase its overheads to support additional business.
Domino’s is a franchise with each franchisee paying an upfront fee. The head office finds the property, builds the store and provides the training. The franchisee has to pay 5.5 per cent of its sales as royalties back to the company and contribute five per cent of sales to a national advertising budget.
As more orders are made online, the automation of orders means that each franchise store is likely to need fewer staff, which will improve their profitability.
And customers can register their details online, including their favourite order, reducing the amount of time it takes to make the order the next time.
The growth of the online business has another bonus – improving customer service. The automation means that customer details and orders are passed to the kitchen with minimal human error.
To the casual observer, Domino’s could afford to sit back and relax and allow the increasing use of the internet to boost its sales and profits over the next few years.
But a company that is committed to cutting-edge technology is not resting on its laurels. Moore is brimming with ideas: ‘We want customers to be able to use the internet to track where their pizza is, like Amazon allows you to track where your book order – is it in the kitchen, in the oven or on the delivery bike?’
In a few years he also would like every delivery driver equipped with a Bluetooth headset and a global positioning satellite to make deliveries faster and more efficient.
But the next big leap for the company is to make it easier for customers to order their pizza over their mobile phone.
Moore would not be drawn about how many additional sales he expects to generate from this platform. ‘I wouldn’t even put a number on it, but we know it will be big.’
Mcommerce
Domino’s is the first pizza company to offer customers the ability to order a pizza over their mobile phones.
But clients need to download Reporo software from the web site onto their phones before they can text in their order.
This system is not as user friendly as the company would like – most people are reluctant to download software onto their phones – so Domino’s is planning a new, easier way to order a pizza by text, which will piggy-back the existing online system.
Moore says that Domino’s will take on board all the lessons it has learned from the online platform when developing the new text messaging ordering system.
The problem with registering as a customer by mobile phone is that it would take 10 or 11 text messages to register properly.
‘Intuitively, it has to be as few clicks as possible. We’ve found with our online system that the more processes and page changes it needs, the less likely people are to use the system,’ he says.
Rather than going through a laborious and frustrating registration process by text message, customers will instead register on the web site first.
Along with filling in their name and address, they will be able to build their preferred menus on line – for example, a pepperoni passion with a side order of potato wedges – and each will be assigned a code.
The customer can then text each individual code to a Domino’s number which will recall the exact composition of the order, plus all of the customers details and send this to the nearest Domino’s store.
The company decided to opt for this route after analysis of the company’s huge database of names, addresses and previous orders showed that a large percentage of its customers often make the same order again and again.
‘Every customer will have their own favourite pizza. Pepperoni passion may be our biggest selling pizza, but individuals will often customise – with extra jalapeno, for example,’ says Kimberlin.
And the system will require minimal investment for the company since it involves the addition of only a few extra pages to the web site.
Domino’s expects its new system to be up and running in the first few months of next year and, in the meantime, customers can find out more details through the company’s web site.


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Cardboard Over-engineering?

Carrying on our occasional series of "Gadget of the Week" Pizzas and Stuff brings you news of an amazing piece of Cardboard Engineering.

The following story was reprted in Canada's Windsor Star on Nov 22nd 2007. It was reported that a Windsor-based pizza-box business remains in the running for a $50,000 prize on the CBC television show Dragon's Den which brings together entrepreneurs and a group of hard-nosed investors.

In a recent episode, Chris Holden and Rob Tulk of Pizza Box 2000, who developed a pizza box with perforated lid which can then be broken up into disposable plates and an even smaller box for the leftovers, faced the Dragon's Den panel and came away as one of the top ideas pitched so far this season.

While it hasn't led to an investment deal, Holden said the "exposure has been priceless and something we certainly couldn't have afforded to pay for in any way.

I can't help thinking these guys are trying to find a solution where there isn't a problem. I have seen all sorts of ingeneous methods used when trying to eat pizza without making a mess but, hey, isn't making a mess part of the fun? Isn't the lid of a pizza box already used as a plate by the person you are sharing with. You just rip it along the crease and there it is, your ready-made plate!

But anyway I really hope these guys go far in the competition. Because we all want Pizza Guys to win and I will pass your details on to the guys at Domino's Pizza UK Purchasing. You never know - and anyways, what is the point of blogging about this if we don't then all try and help each other.

If you liked this post then check this one about another solution to a problem that some say doesn't exist

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How was the busiest pizza night of the year for you?

Last night the Blogosphere was flooded with articles about how pizza shop owners were preparing for last night's rush on Thanksgiving Eve, the home delivery industry's busiest day of the year.

But how was it for you? Were you the driver earning megatips or the customer getting your food in the promised "30 minutes or less".

Did it go as planned? Was peace and goodwill to all men in evidence? Let us know by commenting on this post below.

Troops in Iraq Celebrate Thanksgiving with Pizza

Whether you agree with the prescence of troops in Iraq or not, we must remember that everyone out there is someone's son or daughter, husband or wife, mother or father and so it was good to see them celebrating Thanksgiving with Turkey, Subways and Pizza Hut.

Soldiers with the 0411 Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division had just come off a 24-hour mission with the Iraqi Army, and many of them slept in on Thanksgiving morning.
Around 10 a.m., Capt. Adrian Cole, 28, of Brunswick, Maine, woke up his roommate, 1st Lt. Dave Pierce, 24, of Huntsville, Ala.
“Wake up, sunshine!” Cole said, giving Pierce a nudge on the shoulder. “It’s almost time for our wonderful Thanksgiving lunch. Turkey and cranberries, woo!”
Some of the soldiers at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, Iraq, said they were looking forward to the meal.
“If I can’t be with my family, I’d at least like to have a nice sit-down dinner,” said Staff Sgt. James Sutton, 32, of Snow Hill, N.C.
Others had more mixed feelings.
“Here or there, it don’t matter, it’s all the same to me,” said Spc. Patrick Guillen, 26, of Chino, Calif.
With their morning free and little to do, several of the soldiers decided to watch movies. First came “The Replacements,” a football comedy starring Keanu Reeves. Then it was “Live Free or Die Hard,” the latest installment in the action series.
A couple of soldiers returning from the post exchange reported that the line at the mess hall appeared to be at least an hour long.
Rather than wait in line, Capt. Brian Mason, 25, of Philadelphia, Sgt. William McCormick, 24, of Savannah, Tenn., and Pfc. Dustin Roscoe, 21, of Burleson, Texas, opted for Subway sandwiches and Pizza Hut pizza.
Mason, who is on his second tour in Iraq, said Thanksgiving in the war zone just wasn’t the same as back home.
“We still have patrols out on the road and pilots flying around. People are out doing the same thing they do every day,” he said. “It’s not a day off.”
Roscoe said the things that make Thanksgiving special weren’t possible in Iraq.
“That’s the first thing you think about, families,” he said. “And what do we not have in Iraq? Our families.”
Still, said McCormick, as he munched on a slice of pepperoni and cheese pizza, things could be worse.
“We could be eating MREs,” he said.
At Camp Victory in Baghdad, Staff Sgt. Carlos Runnels of Macon, Ga., acknowledged that Thanksgiving was different without his wife and family but put his own spin on things.
“You have your family at home, but you also have your family here,” said Runnels, who works with Multi-National Force-Iraq’s communications and information systems. “I look to left and right, and I see my family.”
Staff Sgt. Natalion Seymour, of New York City, who works with Multi-National Corps-Iraq, said it didn’t feel too different from a regular workday. But the little bit of extra time off is nice, he said.
“You get to eat some good food, sit down, talk with your friends and relax a bit,” he said. Seymour, who is Jamaican by birth, says he’s slowly gotten into the spirit of the American holiday. Back at Fort Hood, Texas, Seymour says he cooks Thanksgiving dinner for single soldiers who can’t make it home.

With thanks to Estripes.com

Pizza Delivery Pictures

Just click on the picture above for the web's largest gallery of pizza delivery-related photos. Pretty fast connection required

World's Biggest Retail Pizza - with a Diet Coke please!

It's amazing what our readers send to me. Pizzas and Stuff is quickly establishing itself as the web's one stop shop for all things pizza - especially the wild and wacky stories that get thrown up every now and then.

We learn of a Pennsylvania pizzeria that is taking the super-size concept to a new level, vying for a spot in Guinness World Records for the world's largest commercially sold pizza. And the $99, 150-slice pizza — simply and aptly called The Big One — available though Mama Lena's Pizza House has had plenty of takers since its launch over a year ago.

In the picure you can see te staff at Moma Lena's Pizza House in McKees Rocks, Pa., preparing a pizza they hope will be heralded as the world's largest for retail sale earlier this week. We're not sure you can order it with extra cheese, as that might require strengthening the delivery truck's suspension.

The would-be record-setter measures about 3 feet by 4 1/2 feet and takes up nearly all the space in the shop's brick oven.

A tip for Mama Lena customers: Call ahead. The Big One takes about 15 minutes to prepare and another 20 to 25 minutes to bake, said Rob Carrabbia, whose wife, Wendy, owns the pizzeria in the suburban Pittsburgh town of McKees Rocks.
"It's 20 pounds of dough, it's a 1 gallon of sauce, 15 pounds of cheese and a lot of tender love and care," Carrabbia said.
The prodigious pizza has been on the menu for more than a year. So far, about 100 have been sold, including for birthday parties and to a school for its basketball team.
"The only way you're looking to order it is if you want a big pizza," Carrabbia said.

No kidding.

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Pizza Delivery on Hovercraft being developed to Beat UK Traffic Problems

GET READY - THE FUTURE IS HERE… IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? NO IT’S YOUR DOMINO’S PIZZA DELIVERY

Here at Pizzas and Stuff we aim to bring you news about the latest gadgets available to the pizza delivery industry. So we continue our occasional Gadget of the Week Series with news of the ever-increasing traffic problems across the UK and Ireland and how Domino’s Pizza has been researching ways to rise
above them, quite literally it would seem! Apparently us pizza fans may soon be ordering a delivered pizza and watching in amazement as the pizza guy glides up our driveway effortlessly atop the Domino’s Hoverboard.

Domino’s Pizza has been working hand-in-hand with Airboard Europe to develop a Hoverboard model that is not only roadsafe but has the potential to overtake the moped in terms of delivery efficiency. The early prototype raises up to 1 cm off the ground and can glide over all hard services including ice assisting, in particular, when deliveries are affected by adverse weather conditions. A model that can operate over water is under development as is a fully-functioning, environmentally-friendly electric version which is near completion. (although i hope they don't take that one on water!)

Domino’s Pizza tell Pizzas and Stuff that they continue to research and develop the latest modes of transport and technology in order to constantly improve delivery. Local spokesperson Bernadette Ahmed said: "At the end of the day we have a simple goal of delivering our pizzas safely and efficiently and we won’t compromise on that. If you’d told me twenty years ago that I’d be able to order a Domino’s pizza using a computer I’d have laughed out loud, so who knows what the future holds for transport? Our target is to keep improving the technology available to us in order to raise the standards of delivery efficiency."

The early model may not yet be able to fly through the air above head-height but Airboard Europe is confident that in the not too distant future they will be able to do just that.

"If we increase the Hoverboard’s lift by five inches a year then by the year 2020 we could be eight feet off the ground."

Well I know its all a bit tongue in cheek, but on a serious note, with the way traffic volumes are rising home delivery in 30 minutes or less may soon become a difficult promise to keep.

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Pizza Hut Debuts New Double Deep Pizza + Customer Review

2007-11-16 — QSR magazine reported that Pizza Hut has announced the introduction of the Double Deep Pizza, with double the toppings and 50 percent more cheese*.
"As we head into the holiday season, we know families will be busy entertaining, so our pizza chefs have cooked up a new delicious, flavorful pizza that's sure to please a crowd," said Brian Niccol, Pizza Hut CMO. "Double Deep Pizza is abundantly topped for big appetites."

Double Deep Pizza is the focal point for a new advertising campaign that will debut nationally November 25. The ads include the classic BeeGees pop tune, "How Deep is Your Love" as the background music to illustrate a customer's love for Double Deep Pizza.

In select markets, customers will have a chance to win double prize packages by calling in to their local radio station when they hear a Pizza Hut commercial played back-to-back on-air. Additionally, customers will be encouraged to sing their rendition of "How Deep is Your Love," to win prizes during special events in several markets.

The new Double Deep Pizza is available for a limited time beginning November 18 for $12.99 with three recipes: Supreme, Meaty and Veggie. Orders for Double Deep Pizza are accepted at local restaurants and online at pizzahut.com for delivery or carry out.

Readers of Pizzas and Other Stuff will be closely following this story to see if it marks the beginning of a move away from "healthy options" as the chains fight it out to win the business of their key target market customers.

We will keep you updated as always. Indeed here is a link to a customer review of the pizza. Mmmmm!

Eating Pizza Cuts Cancer Risk - It's Official

Italian researchers say eating pizza could protect against cancer.

Researchers claim eating pizza regularly reduced the risk of developing oesophageal cancer by 59%.

The risk of developing colon cancer also fell by 26% and mouth cancer by 34%, they claimed.

The secret could be lycopene, an antioxidant chemical in tomatoes, which is thought to offer some protection against cancer, and which gives the fruit its traditional red colour.

But some experts cast doubt on the idea that pizza consumption was the explanation for why some people did not develop cancer.

They said other foods or dietary habits could play a part.

Lifestyle
The researchers looked at 3,300 people who had developed cancer of the mouth, oesophagus, throat or colon and 5,000 people who had not developed cancer.
They were asked about their eating habits, and how often they ate pizza.
Those who ate pizza at least once a week had less chance of developing cancer, they found.
Dr Silvano Gallus, of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Milan, who led the research: "We knew that tomato sauce could offer protection against certain tumours, but we did not expect pizza as a complete meal also to offer such protective powers."

Nicola O'Connor, of Cancer Research UK, told BBC News Online: "This study is interesting and the results should probably be looked at in the context of what we already know about the Mediterranean diet and it's association with a lower risk of certain types of cancer.
"But before people start dialling the pizza takeaway, they should consider that pizza can be high in saturated fat, salt and calories.
"Our advice is to enjoy pizza in moderation as part of a balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables and fruit."

Mediterranean Diet
And Carlo La Vecchia, a Milan-based epidemiologist said pizza-lovers should not see the research as a licence to indulge their fondness for the food.
"There is nothing to indicate that pizza is the only thing responsible for these results."
He told AFP news agency: "Pizza could simply be indicative of a lifestyle and food habits, in other words the Italian version of a Mediterranean diet."
A Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, fibre, vegetables, fruit, flour and freshly cooked food - including non-frozen, home-made pizza.

Original article from the BBC

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The Pizza Fork

In an occasional series named"Gadget of the Week", we bring you the Pizza Fork from the aptly named Stupidiotic.com.


The Pizza Fork lets you eat a slice in a more refined and delicate way, by combining a round pizza cutter with a pronged fork, and better still the site will ship to the UK.

For more gadget stuff go to PocketLint.co.uk

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This is Your Captain Speaking. "The Pizza Guy's Here"

Domino's Pizza Makes a Special Delivery to Hungry Airplane Passengers

What's better than having Domino's pizza delivered to your door? How about having Domino's delivered to you on an airplane?

After a nearly three-hour flight delay on Monday, Nov. 5, at the Dubuque Regional Airport in Dubuque, Iowa, passengers aboard a Chicago-bound flight were pleasantly surprised when their flight attendant morphed into a Domino's delivery expert, carrying piping hot pizzas.
"Even though the airport was a bit beyond their normal delivery area, the local Domino's was able to have hot pizzas delivered to us in about 25 minutes," said Domino's Pizza area leader Jeff Cullers, a passenger on the plane. "Everyone aboard the plane was really happy with the special delivery."
Cullers arranged the delivery after his fellow passengers started grumbling about the delay, After the second hour of the delay, the pilot and airport staff gave clearance to have Domino's pizza delivered to the flight's passengers and crew.

Never has an airplane meal tasted so good

Source: Domino's Pizza Press Office

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Peep Hole Pizza Marketing

Knock Knock! You go to the door. You check the peep hole. Who ordered a pizza, you ask
No one claims to have done so. So you open the door…

This is brilliant. You’ve been had, and you have to laugh at their cleverness. The generous offer printed on the device ensures you keep it, and of course, you show it to family, friends and workmates. Advertising mission accomplished. Everybody’s happy. (except Pizza Hut!)

with thanks to Stuff4Restaurants from where this post is copied. I tried to Digg it but he appears blacklisted!


Update: 15th September 2010 - And a big hello to all our visitors from Reddit. Finally, spamming their site has got me some traffic! Please click on at least one of the Google Ads and help to feed my kids :-)

I'm off now to change round some of my neighbours' peepholes while they're not looking

Franchising with Perfect Pizza

In 1993 my modest independent pizza franchise was acquired by Perfect Pizza. Their impact was considerable as my operational standards, product and profits went instantly from strength to strength.
Motivated by the level of support and inspired by Perfect Pizza's unique promotional ideas, at both local and national level, I bought my second PP franchise a year later. Perfect Pizza's view is that we are one big team and, unlike many other pizza chains, they never charge for training or assistance in marketing and general support.
Perfect Pizza is one of the UK's leading pizza delivery and takeaway businesses, with well over 100 stores throughout the country. Over the years I have seen many takeaway ventures come and go but Perfect Pizza is an established national brand, which defines us as a clear leader in the field.
I currently own nine Perfect Pizza stores and with sheer hard work and total commitment, have allowed my family to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle hopefully long into the future. What makes me so different from anyone else? I had the guts to say 'Let's do it'."Kirit Patel, Perfect Pizza Franchisee
Why Pizza?
It dominates home delivered food in the UK, the fast food capital of Europe.
Pizza is quick and easy to prepare, with high quality inexpensive ingredients and is an impulse purchase, largely unaffected by seasons or fashions.
Pizza is universally popular, easy to eat any time or anywhere, while its low perceived price makes it far less vulnerable to recession.
It also delivers an excellent profit margin!

Papa John's Jumps on the Text Bandwagon

Papa John's has added a new ordering option to its lineup: mobile/sms ordering.

So just imagine it: You are sitting in the park, enjoying the sun and want a pizza. You open your mobile and text in an order to the Papa and in 30 minutes, your pizza arrives to your designated tree for eating. Oops, back to reality, mobile/sms ordering only allows you to order one of four favorite orders to your designated destinated and billed to the credit card already setup in your account.
In all seriousness, the only way this will work is if it adds incrememntal orders to the bottom line for Papa John's. It's an innovative use of technology, but I would suggest that with such a limited mobile ordering option, most will opt for using their computer to order. Online ordering accounts for 20% of Papa John's sales.

Bear Stearns restaurant analyst Joe Buckley said the new ordering methods could help the chains win brand loyalty among people who will be eating pizza for decades to come.
"Our vision is that you can order a Papa John's pizza anytime of day or night — wherever you are," said Nigel Travis, Papa John's president and chief executive officer.
I guess it's a good idea - will be interesting to see the numbers on takers. Sure some early adopters might try it but I am betting most will order their pizzas via online or phone.

If It's All About the Balance Between Energy In and Energy Out You'd Better Be Running the Next New York Marathon!

Feast your eyes on the greatest pizza ever created! Forget cheese being the only ingredient in a stuffed-crust pizza, Pizza Hut’s new Double Roll sticks hot dog sausages in there too. It’s also lovingly sprinkled with hamburger pieces for the full fast food meat experience. The medium size costs 2500 yen (£10/$20.50) while the large will set you back 3550 yen (£14/$29).

Pizza Price Rises Imminent?

Pizza Price Hike Posted on 02 November 2007 by Web Site Staff

The cost of mozzarella cheese is rising which is causing the prices of pizza to rise. These prices are up about $0.50 per pound since the same time last year and there is no indication if this has settled down yet.

This trend seems to be seen more in the U.K where most of the reports are originating, with reference to Domino's Pizza hiking their prices. It is very possible that others such as Pizza Hut, Papa Johns may soon follow.

The cost of flour may also be contributing to this sudden price hike however this is not as new since the price of grain fluctuates dependent upon supply sources from around the world.

The solution for the consumer is to watch for those coupons.

If this trend continues some pizza places may become more stricter in their coupon acceptance or not offer as good of deals or evn require you to order 3 pizzas or more in order to cash in our their specials.