Domino's Pizza launches Recession-busting 444 Deal

With dismal news coming out every day about the state of the economy and the plight of the American consumer, it's hard not to worry about where every penny is going. A dollar doesn't go a long way anymore - until now.

Domino's Pizza, the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, is now offering a great new value meal called the 444 Deal: three ten-inch pizzas with one topping for $4 each (minimum order of three.)

These aren't skimpy-topping pizzas that have been engineered for value, but original hand-tossed Domino's pizzas that will end the bickering over what toppings to order because everyone can have their own.

"Nowadays, $4 gets you a little more than a gallon of gas or a cup of coffee from a local coffee house," said David Brandon, Domino's Pizza Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"Who would have thought it could buy you a meal?"

"We know from third party research that when people are concerned about the economy they tend to skip meals -- particularly lunch -- to save a few bucks. With the 444 Deal, you and a couple of friends can order your choice of pizza at a great value and still have leftovers," said Patrick Doyle, President of Domino's USA.

The new 444 Deal will be launching in more than 1,500 Domino's Pizzal ocations starting March 31 2008, and will be available nationwide by April 14.

Papa John's Pizza Opens Jordan Outlet

Papa John’s, the renowned American pizza chain of restaurants, has opened its first outlet in Jordan.

The new branch located in Sweifieh, Amman, comes as part of the company's global expansion plans, said an official from Jordanian American Food Company.

Haytham Dahleh, general manager, of the Jordanian American Food Company, Myles Felt vice president for Papa Johns International and a group of media representatives attended the launch.

'With over 3,225 branches in 28 international markets, Papa John's has been operating in the Middle East since 2000 and has stores throughout the region including, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar,' Felt said.

'Papa John's is committed to delivering a better pizza by using only superior quality ingredients. We use only freshpacked tomato sauce (not concentrate) made from vine-ripened tomatoes (which go from vine to the can in an average of six hours); freshly-cut vegetables and cheese made with 100 per cent mozzarella,' he added.

Dahleh said Jordan American Food Company was planning to open another Papa John’s branch by the end of the year and would begin delivery service in May.

Jordan American Food Co was established in 1997, with an aim to establish and manage a number of American style restaurants in Jordan.

They currently operate the following international brands, Burger King, Apple bees, and Fuddruckers

Sal's Pizza Gives Customers a Break

Sal Lupoli, President and CEO of Sal’s Pizza Retail, , is giving his customers a break. As national pizza chains raise their prices due to the increase in food costs, Sal’s Pizza announced that beginning April 1 their stores in New England will drop the price of its signature 19-inch three-pound cheese pizza from $10.99 to $9.99 for a limited time.

“In a time of recession, rising gas prices, rising costs of groceries, and national pizza chains raising their prices, we are choosing to drop our price to help ease the burden and to help families who are trying to make ends meet,” said Lupoli.

“We are a family oriented company comprised of dedicated community driven people, who strive to constantly help customers and feed families.”

Sal’s Pizza has corporate-owned properties in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

The business with over 35 locations has become a large retail franchise and wholesale operation serving all of New England with additional locations in California, Florida and opening soon in Virginia.

Today, Sal’s Pizza and Salvatore’s Restaurants make over 60,000 pizzas a week. .

Domino's Pizza New Brooklyn Style Pizza Commercial

Here is one of the adverts from Domino's latest campaign for its Brooklyn Style Pizza

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Pizza Hut to Become Pasta Hut?

Pizza Hut wants folks to start thinking of it also as something a tad more squishy: Pasta Hut.

The nation's largest pizza chain on Tuesday unveils plans to start delivering pasta on April 6 — something no pizza chain does nationally. The move comes as sales in the $37 billion pizza business are slowing with the overall economy.

"If we do it right, pasta could become as big a business as pizza," says Brian Niccol, chief marketing officer. For consumers, "It changes what foods they can get delivered."

Its new Tuscani Pastas will come as Creamy Chicken Alfredo and Meaty Marinara. The price for the pasta is $11.95, the same as a large pizza with one topping, and Pizza Hut says they'll feed a family of six. The pastas are baked in the pizza ovens and come with five breadsticks.

Even as burger and chicken chains have expanded menus in recent years, few pizza chains have. After success with delivery of its WingStreet chicken wings, Pizza Hut not only is embracing pasta, but would consider modifying its name if pasta is a hit, Niccol says.

He says pasta could be 15% of Pizza Hut's business within a year. And that's without hurting pizza sales, according to pasta tests in Kansas City and Tampa.

Industry experts say pasta is tricky. "The hardest thing is keeping delivered pasta hot," consultant Linda Lipsky says. And while cold pizza is edible, even enjoyed by many, and reheatable, cold pasta is less appetizing, she says.

Pizza Hut executives say the delivery pouches that keep pizza hot will keep pasta hot. They also note that since the pasta comes in the aluminum pan in which it's baked, the food is easily removable to reheat.

Pizza Hut's strategy: to be a player in "home meal replacement." Its WingStreet wings will be delivered from 2,500 of the brand's 6,500 U.S. locations by the end of 2008, Niccol says. Now, it wants a slice of the $13.7 billion restaurant and take-out pasta business.

"We asked ourselves, 'Why aren't we doing it?' and couldn't come up with a good reason," Niccol says.

Lipsky says pasta could be a hit — or a major miss. Done right, pasta delivery could give Pizza Hut a competitive edge, she says. But, she warns, proper pasta consistency can be very tricky. "An extra minute cooking, and you've got mush."

Pizza Hut pasta will be baked, not boiled, Niccol says, and the ingredients — from noodles to sauce to cheese — will be supplied to locations frozen, and be thawed for use.

Rivals say they're unimpressed.

While Domino's delivers pasta in South Korea and Malaysia, it has no plans for it here, says J. Patrick Doyle, president of Domino's USA. "Pizza Hut is evolving into casual dining."

Papa John's also has no pasta plans, says William Van Epps, the company's U.S. president. "As our founder once said. 'The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.' "


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Pizza Pizza Goes Gluten-free in Toronto

Canadians who suffer from an allergic intolerance to wheat or gluten will find it easier to enjoy a freshly made pizza. Pizza Pizza, a regular innovator in the QSR segment of the foodservice industry, has announced a pilot project to offer a gluten-free dough recipe in some 50 Greater Toronto Area restaurant locations.

Pizza Pizza is the first of the major players to bring out the gluten-free dough, which uses rice and potato-based flour as the main ingredient. The gluten-free offering adds to Pizza Pizza’s existing dough options, which features classic and multigrain whole-wheat dough recipes. Consumers can also choose from among Pizza Pizza’s numerous toppings - the vast majority of which are also gluten free - to make their favourite traditional and gourmet pizzas. The company has received positive feedback from preliminary sampling and hopes to proceed with a chain-wide roll-out in the near future.

“Our product development team have been working on the gluten-free recipe for some time, and we are extremely pleased to be able to provide a healthy, nutritious new menu offering that responds to a need expressed by a growing number of consumers and their families,” said Pat Finelli, chief marketing officer for Pizza Pizza. “The introduction of our gluten-free crust will allow people who have an allergic response or an intolerance to wheat or gluten to enjoy our pizza while respecting their dietary regime.”

Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, affects an estimated 1 in 133 Canadians. It is an inherited autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a protein found in such grains as wheat, barley and rye. The only therapy for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. People with irritable bowel syndrome or autism can also have intolerance or allergic responses to gluten.

In addition to being made from rice and potato-based flour, Pizza Pizza’s gluten-free shells are par-baked and require no dusting flour, thereby avoiding cross-contamination with gluten-based products. Store staff has been specially trained to understand the importance of cross contamination as a food safety matter.The vast majority of the sauces available at Pizza Pizza are also gluten-free. Initially, Pizza Pizza’s gluten-free crusts are only available in the 12-inch medium format, the company’s most popular pizza size, for an additional price of $3.25.

The gluten-free crust is another in a series of health-conscious innovations by Pizza Pizza. In recent years, the industry leader has introduced whole-wheat multigrain dough, eliminated industrially-added trans fats from its entire menu, and improved the nutritional makeup of its cheese and sauces. For a complete list of allergens and menu options at Pizza Pizza, please visit

http://www.pizzapizza.ca/

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Gene Simmons Attempts to Beat Pizza Eating World Record

A Guinness World Record has been broken by a New Zealander today but it was not local contestants the crowds were interested in.

Gene Simmons from rock band KISS thought he would have a crack at being the world's fastest pizza eater, so watch the video here

The rock icon may have a legendary mouth but he was not able to set any pizza eating records today.

KISS are in Wellington for a two day rock festival that also features Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper.

So Where Else Would Obama Go for his Pizza?

So we've heard about Sen. Barack Obama's stands on health care, education and Iraq. But what does the guy like on his pizza? If his campaign stop at American Dream Pizza in Corvallis is any sign, looks like he prefers vegetarian pizzas.

"There's something very metaphorical going on here," Obama said as he made his way through the crowd inside American Dream Pizza on Second Street.

Obama -- who started the day with a morning rally in Portland, then moved on to Salem for a mid-day campaign event and was to speak at another rally in Eugene at 9 p.m. Friday -- arrived at American Dream Pizza in Corvallis at 5:30 p.m. and stayed for about 45 minutes.

The candidate shook hands, chatted with diners, posed for pictures, sampled two kinds of pizza -- margherita and cheese -- and autographed a pizza box for the restaurant's beaming owner, Mark O'Brien.

O'Brien said he was "very surprised" when he got a call about 90 minutes prior to Obama's arrival and learned that the candidate would be stopping in.

"But we're American Dream. I guess this would be the obvious place for him to stop," O'Brien said.

For more pictures of the visit click here

The Two Million Dollar Pizza

The auction for the Pizza.com domain named in GreatDomains monthly auction has now finished, and it looks like it has sold for a cool $2.6m

Pizza.com is also a small developed site, which in this case probably doesn’t add much value.

The new owners will surely build something much larger to bring profits that can justify a 7 figures spend on their part.

I have had a quick phone round among by pizza shop-owning buddies and it looks like we might have to pass on this one and carry on with our FREE Blogger address for the time being at least!

To follow the auction go to Sedo.com

Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant: Review in SFC

Check out Michael Bauer's weekly pizza review here.

Pizza Only for the Upper Crust - Soaring Cost of Wheat is leading to Price Increases of Everyone's Favourite Fast Food

Coming soon: the $3 slice of plain cheese pizza.

That benchmark price, an economic indicator in college towns and Main Street, hit the streets of New York City earlier this month.

Now, a result of record wheat futures and the skyrocketing cost of flour, pizza inflation is creeping up the Hudson River.

"Everybody's complaining. I don't know if we'll still be in business next year, the way it's going," Steve Ivezic, the Albania-born owner of I Love New York Pizza on Central Avenue in Colonie, said as he prepared lunch-hour pizzas on Friday. His relatives who operate 10 other pizzerias locally that share the name are also singing the 12-cut blues.

Ivezic, 42, left Montenegro in 1984, settled in Queens and ran a pizzeria there until his rent for a 1,000-square-foot cubbyhole hit $8,000.

"I ended up here because rent got so high I couldn't make any money down there anymore," said Ivezic, who's run the Central Avenue pizzeria for the past nine years. His younger brother, Nick, and manager Kevin Blais built it into a profitable enterprise.

For seven years, they didn't increase the price for a plain cheese slice, but recently raised it a quarter to $1.75. Next month it will go up to $2.

Ivezic's price for a "premium" slice, with three toppings, is now $3.

The culprit is the volatile price of a 50-pound bag of flour, the main ingredient in pizza dough. It's doubled in the past month and now goes for $32-$35 a bag.

There's no end in sight, after the price of wheat tripled in the past 10 months due to several factors. Federal incentives for farmers to grow corn for ethanol shrank the American wheat crop. Fuel prices drove up the cost of transporting the grain. And the tumbling U.S. dollar caused China and other Asian countries to snap up relatively cheap American wheat.

There are more than 230 pizza joints listed in the local Yellow Pages, and they're all facing a pricing perfect storm. Shredded mozzarella cheese is now $3 a pound (doubled in five months), a 4-gallon jug of cooking oil is $45 (tripled in a year) and the spiraling cost of gas takes a toll on deliveries.

Jim Desmo, a manager and buyer for Joe's Pizza Place and Restaurant in Rotterdam, bought three pallets of flour (150 bags) at $35 per 50-pound bag to stockpile it in advance of the next price hike. Desmo fears that flour will be $45-$50 a bag soon. He goes through more than a ton every two weeks. In the past year, he's upped the price $2 for a large (dozen slices) cheese pizza to $10.95. Another buck hike is anticipated.

Facing fierce competition, most local pizza makers said they're sticking with All-Trumps premium baker's flour instead of buying a cheaper alternative.

"Years ago, pizza was a good money-maker, but it's getting tougher and tougher to make any profit on it now," Desmo said.

Still, Sal Speciale, a construction worker, and Andy Angus, a moving company sales rep, said they'll remain loyal customers of the I Love New York Pizza parlor on Central Avenue. The two-slice-and-soda lunch special ($3.79) still has drawing power.

"It's better than going to McDonald's," Angus said as he mused about how fuel prices have driven up costs in the moving industry.

"Tell our government to stop wasting our farmers on ethanol, because it's a joke," Speciale said. "Put money into wind or solar energy. That makes more sense."

Spate of Attacks on Pizza Delivery Drivers in Newcastle Continues

A PIZZA delivery man suffered a fractured skull after being attacked by a group of customers.

The man, who has not been named, was brutally beaten in an unprovoked attack as he dropped off a pizza in Wallsend.

His condition was today described as “potentially life threatening” as he lies in a hospital bed with multiple head injuries.

The 50-year-old was pounced on and attacked as he made a delivery in Brighton Close, Battle Hill.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating a serious assault.

“It was an unprovoked attack on a delivery driver, resulting in the victim receiving serious head injuries.

“We are appealing for witnesses and assure members of the public information received will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.”

It is believed the pizza man was set upon by the people he was supposed to be delivering to.

He suffered a depressed skull fracture and a broken eye socket during the assault and was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital.

Police say he was beaten up while delivering pizzas at around 11pm on Thursday. Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack.

It is the latest in a series of attacks on pizza delivery men.

In November, brutes who carried out a sickening baseball bat attack on a pizza delivery man were jailed for a total of 14 years.

Adam Toopchi-Rendall, 21, who was working for Luigi’s pizza shop in Ashington, was attacked in the early hours of May 6 last year.

He was lured to Ashington’s Winchester Estate by masked robbers Shaun Bowden, 28, and Lance Hill, 26, who carried out the beating using a bat bearing the chilling words “bone breaker”.

Bowden, 28, of North Seaton, Ashington, admitted his part in the robbery, but Hill, of School Avenue, Guide Post, Choppington, was convicted after a three-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

In the same month another pizza delivery man was attacked and robbed.

The 27-year-old Newcastle man was driving along Warwick Road, in Wallsend, when the incident took place.

He stopped after he was flashed by another car, described as a small dark-coloured vehicle. The victim got out and was approached by two men who robbed him of cash before driving off towards the west of Warwick Road.

UK & Ireland's Fastest Pizzamaker Beats the Clock to Win 2008 Award

Pali Grewal has pushed his speedy dough-stretching skills to the limit, to be crowned the Fastest Pizza Maker in the UK and Ireland. Pali, from Andover store, battled it out against eleven other dough masters from Domino’s Pizza to secure his tasty triumph in Newport.

Pali, who has been a Domino’s Pizza team member for 17 years, prepared individual large (13.5”) pepperoni, mushroom and cheese pizzas (in that order) in a staggering 56.50 seconds – outstripping his closest rival by 8.72 seconds.

With two eagle-eyed master judges on hand to oversee proceedings, the quality of each contestant’s work proved every bit as important as speed. Strict competition rules require every dough base to be free from holes, while the appropriate toppings must be evenly distributed – making for a mouth-watering treat.

Pali, who was presented with the prestigious award, could now go on to compete in the final of the World’s Fastest Pizza Maker, in the United States later this year. The event will see the fastest qualifiers from around the world go head-to-head.

“It’s a true honour to be crowned the Fastest Pizza Maker in the United Kingdom!,” says Pali. “All Domino’s team members are well accustomed to speedy-pizza making, so we’re certainly not short of practice – but I’m really delighted to have gone one step further, and hope to fly the flag for the UK at the world final.”

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World's Largest Pizza Hut Franchisee Posts Higher Profits

NPC International Inc., the world's largest Pizza Hut franchisee, reported higher earnings and sales for the fourth quarter and all of 2007 compared with the prior year.

In a release Friday, the Overland Park-based company reported earnings of $2.1 million for the quarter that ended Dec. 25, compared with $395,000 the prior year. Sales for the quarter were $179.5 million, up 13 percent from $158.7 million the prior year.

For all of 2007, the company reported earnings of $7.8 million, compared with a loss of $2.7 million in 2006.

NPC International is required to file financial reports with the SEC because it issued publicly traded debt as part of its sale.

The company operates 888 Pizza Hut restaurants and delivery units in 24 states.


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Kiwi Domino's Pizza Owner Faces Battle with Local Council Over Land

Will there be a Mexican stand-off in Water St if Domino's Pizza owner Jayesh Madhav refuses to sell his shop to the Northland Regional Council?

Or will it be an ant and elephant scenario - the elephant can't squash the ant clinging to its flank, but can certainly make life awkward for the ant ...

Mr Madhav's business prospects changed suddenly when the regional council and the Whangarei District Council announced they were "scoping" the idea of building a multi-storeyed, one-stop-shop local government centre.

The centre would be built beside the regional council headquarters in Water St, right behind the small shop from which Mr Madhav operates Domino's.

The only snag - with the two councils owning all the necessary land - is that Mr Madhav owns his building. The adjoining shop, leased by Sarah Graham for her business, Roasts 2 Go, is owned by the regional council.
From what was said when the announcement was made, the two little old buildings would be at best a nuisance and at worst significantly in the way. The two councils would prefer to incorporate the sites in the new project.

And the Domino's glitch did not go unnoticed at the press conference - when mayor and chair were asked about it, a member of the councils' line-up said, "if it came to it we could build around Domino's".

That worries Mr Madhav, because he accesses the back of his shop across regional council land.

Legally the council could hem him in, but the council's wheelchair ramp is over part of his property - and until now the two have co-existed peacefully on a "you scratch my back and I will scratch yours" basis.

An Otago university graduate in chemistry and bio-chemistry, Mr Madhav has been in business on the site since 1997, originally as Pizza Haven. He bought the property in 2005.

"I have no problem with the regional council per se," he says. "But where would I go? This is a really good site."

Regional council chair Mark Farnsworth said the two councils were simply "raising the concept".

"As leaders we're just saying, this has some merit. We have to simplify local government for people. It's not about creating a unitary authority, it's about making it easier for people to engage with local government."

He said Mr Madhav had a good business and that "neither council would ever be heavy-handed".

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Pizza Wednesday - Pizzeria 712 in Orem SLC

The Salt Lake Tribune has published a review of my favourite Pizza Place in Orem - Pizzeria 712.

Read It Here

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US Farmers Grow Corn Instead of Wheat - Pushes Up Pizza Prices

Droughts in China and Australia have contributed to the rising cost of wheat and food in general in the United States. That means the cost of many American favorites is going up, including pizza.

The droughts overseas have led to bad wheat harvests in those countries. The U.S. wheat harvest won't come until June. Add those factors to the rising cost of gas and flour has become pretty expensive.

Denver pizza restaurant owner Rick Mahlke was paying $10 for a 5 pound bag of flour 18 months ago. Now He's paying $25 and expects to pay $50 in the next few months.

Cheese prices have also doubled in the past year, Mahlke said. Eventually, the cost will be passed on to customers.

"It's getting to the point where I don't think very many operators are going to be able to get by without doing some sort of price increase just to cover their extra costs," said Mahlke.

Another factor affecting the U.S. wheat harvest is ethanol production. Farmers are growing corn instead of wheat to take advantage of government subsidies.

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Kornet Pizza Cones - An Indepth Report

The Guys at GroceryEats have come up with this review of The Kornet Pizza Franchise - The Only One in America.

Read it here

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Mayor Thows Pizza Party for Snowplough Drivers

Let's face it. We've all noticed some really bad roads this winter.

Friday, the people who have taken the brunt of that abuse were noticed again. This time, in a good way.

"Nobody else had ever done this before, in the 20 years I’ve been here never had this happened before," said Cedar Rapids city employee Bill Holub.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran opened her arms and her wallet for each city employee on the snow removing team. Its something she said she's wanted to do for a long time.

"I know you've put in a lot of hours and this is my way of saying I appreciate it, and thank you," said Halloran.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Usually the big wigs from the top don't come down here, usually we're in the hole working on stuff or the others guys are out working on the streets. Usually we don't see too many people come down and thank us, so I think it's a good idea," said city employee Dan Gebert.

Ask any of this group of snow removers, they won't admit they felt under-appreciated, but they won't deny it either.

They say a simple party like this, can do wonders for the department's morale.

At a time, when they've been tested more than most have ever seen


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Unique Pizza and Subs Wins Best Pizza in Pittsburgh Competition

Unique Pizza and Subs Corporation is pleased to announce that our Monroeville, PA store recently won the "Best Pizza in Town" contest!!!

The annual and hugely successful Teen Oasis club of Monroeville/Pitcairn, PA, a non-profit organization, held a fun-filled evening with a combination Battle of the Bands and Best Pizza Contests.

Several hundred people from the local community showed up for the food and entertainment. The criteria defined the type, size, style, toppings, etc., for the pizzas entered. Each company entree was to include three (3) pizza types: cheese, sausage and pepperoni.

In addition to Unique Pizza and Subs, some of the many pizza companies (both local and national) entering the contest included Papa John's, Papa Rock, Gateway Grill, Pasquale's, Vocelli's, and Fox's, to name a few.

In order for anonymity, the pizzas were taken out of their boxes, placed on trays and tables and given a number for participants to use for voting.

Attendees (tasters/voters) then used their tickets to vote by placing their selection(s) in a numbered bag corresponding to the Pizza Company's entries.

Unique Pizza and Subs is proud to say that they not only won the anonymous competition but, according to the sponsors, did so "hands down!"

This continues to re-enforce the ongoing feedback we receive regarding the high quality of our products AND that we are successful in the quality, taste and quantity comparisons to BOTH independents ("mom and pops") and national pizza companies!

Pizza Hut UK Splits with Ad Agency

Pizza Hut has split from its advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy as the fast food chain gears up for a major relaunch at the end of the year.

The parting, by mutual consent, comes three years after Wieden+Kennedy won the account, which is estimated to have an annual marketing spend of £13m.

Pizza Hut will conduct the search for its new advertising agency itself. "We are focussed on a major brand relaunch at the end of 2008 and are very excited about working with a new agency that can deliver on a campaign of that importance," said Hugh Wood, marketing director Pizza Hut UK.

"We've enjoyed working with W+K over the past three years and we'll continue to do so over the next few months as we conduct a pitch process.

"They're a great agency but after 3 years both parties feel it's time for a change and we part on good terms and wish them the very best for the future."

Wieden+Kennedy managing director Neil Christie said the two companies had enjoyed a "great relationship". "But we feel that, moving forward, we're not the right agency partner for them," Christie added.

"We've discussed this with Pizza Hut and decided to part amicably to allow them to move on with the next phase of development of their business. We wish them all the best."

Domino's Pizza Sells 60 Stores

Domino's Pizza, has entered into agreements for the sale of approximately 60 company-owned stores in California and Georgia in separate transactions with current franchisees and employees of the company.

The proceeds from the sale of the stores are expected to be approximately $20 million and the sales are anticipated to be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2008.The company does not expect the sale of the stores to materially affect its operating income. The proceeds from the sale of the stores will provide available cash for general corporate uses.

On February 27, 2008, the management of the company finalized a plan to streamline operations, maximize efficiency and reduce operating costs. The plan includes a reduction in force of approximately 55 positions. Total annualized operating cost savings related to the plan, excluding severance costs, are expected to be approximately $4.5 million. The estimated operating cost savings related to the plan for the remainder of 2008, excluding the cost of severance, is expected to be approximately $3.5 million.

The company expects to incur a charge in connection with the plan in the first quarter of 2008 of $1.3 million, including severance related costs of $1.1 million. The plan is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008 and the related payments are anticipated to be completed in fiscal 2008.

Domino's Pizza Oz Buys Pinky's Pizza Chain

Domino's Pizza has bought Pinky's Pizza, a chain which operates 27 pizza outlets across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Domino's Pizza chief executive Don Meij said the was purchase for an undisclosed sum and was a significant step for Domino's.

Mr Meij said that there would be one-off restructuring costs expensed in the 2008 financial year and he expected a lift in core operating income rom the deal in 2009.

He said while the 27 stores would continue trading as Pinky's Pizza, the franchisees would be offered to convert to Domino's Pizza branding.

"All Pinky's Pizza stores will continue to trade under their current brand, with conversions to Domino's stores occurring over the next six months,'' Mr Meij said.

"However, at this stage it's too early to say which stores will be converted.''

The acquisition comes on the consolidation and increased competition in the Australian pizza market.

Domino's target is to develop a network of at least 743 stores by the end of fiscal 2008 financial, bringing the full-year increase in Dominos stores to more than 80


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The Longest Pizza in Brunei

The Rizqun International Hotel baked the longest pizza in honour of Brunei's national day celebrations.
It was 258 feet long and 572 kg in weight.

Twenty chefs putting in 140 working hours between them prepared the pizza.

Large crowds thronged the Mall to have a look and also take away pieces of the pie that was sold for $5 a slice.

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