Papa John's Wins Prestigious Industry Award

The Pizza, Pasta and Italian Foods Association has awarded Papa John’s Pizza its prestigious ‘Pizza Delivery Chain Award’ after judges visited stores, conducted trial orders and detailed levels of customer service.

Each of the company’s stores have now been awarded a unique certificate and delivery logo to inform customers of the win, and Papa John’s Marketing Manager, Simon Wallis has thanked customers for the part they played in the award win.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted that Papa John’s has won the award because we believe it shows how committed we are to making sure that our customers get the best possible service.

“Papa John’s has made a lot of changes this year to improve our offering to customers. We are the only major pizza delivery company to guarantee our customers 100% fresh dough for every pizza.

“We are passionate about our ‘Better Ingredients. Better Pizza’ pledge and I believe that our customers are passionate too and that’s why we have launched new products such as the Carnevale Italian Meats pizza, made with Ventricina salami, pepperoni, sausage, onions, slow roasted cherry tomatoes and a balsamic drizzle.

“We have also improved our service, introducing new packaging and more customer friendly menus and leaflets.”

Papa John’s, which operates over 120 stores, is now gearing up for even greater growth in 2009 and The Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association director Jim Winship praised its efforts.

He said: “Papa John’s are one of the biggest players in the US market and this award reflects the enormous amount of effort they are putting into establishing the brand in the UK and raising the bar in the industry.

“In the last 12 months they have exhibited a great deal of innovation and forward thinking to become the most best delivery chain in the UK – we are delighted to present them with the ‘Pizza Delivery Chain’ award.”

Anyone wishing to try out the top delivery operator in 2008 should visit http://www.papajohns.co.uk/ to find their nearest store and check out the Papa John’s menu.

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Win Some Dough by Designing a PJ Pizza

A leading pizza chain is celebrating National Pizza Week by offering pizza lovers the chance to make their name in the pizza world and take home a slice of the action from every one sold.

As part of National Pizza Week (W/c 24/11) run by the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food association, Papa John’s pizza, is looking for pizza lovers to design a new pizza to be featured on the menu in 2009.

The company, famous for its ‘Better Ingredients. Better Pizza’ pledge, is prepared to offer a percentage from every pizza sold to the person who manages to create a pizza worthy of the Papa John’s menu.

Simon Wallis, director of marketing for Papa John’s, said: “Papa John’s, unlike Domino’s or Pizza Hut, guarantees customers pizzas made from 100 percent fresh dough because our pizzaiolos - expert pizza makers - are passionate about making pizza.

“We know our customers choose us because they too are passionate and now we are looking to tap into this, as we start planning our product development for the next year. In 2008 we launched our Alfresco and Carnevale pizzas as we looked to cater to our customers’ tastes and now we want them to tell us what else they would like to see.

“The person who can design a pizza good enough to make it on the Papa John’s menu will receive a percentage of the profits for as long as it features on the menu – offering them the potential to generate thousands of pounds each year.

“To get an idea of what we currently offer people should visit www.papajohns.co.uk and check out our menu and current list of ingredients, however people should feel free to suggest new toppings as we are always looking to improve our range of pizzas.”

Anyone who would like to take part in the Papa John’s Pizza Design challenge should request an entry form by emailing pjonline@papajohns.co.uk.

Domino's Responds to Aggressive Pizza Hut Adverts

Domino’s Pizza is hitting back at Pizza Hut’s confrontational new ad campaign, saying customers will remember how they were treated when the company held a dominant market share.

Domino chief executive Don Meij says the ads, which include direct comparisons between Pizza Hut and Domino’s products, won’t affect the rapid growth of his company.

“Five years ago Pizza Hut had the whole market to themselves. When you have a monopoly you probably don’t do everything in favour of the customer,” he says.

“Pizza Hut was pricing at Hell [Pizza] pricing but had an everyday pizza. And the customers reacted.”

Mr Meij says Pizza Hut’s recent changes, which include cheaper prices, the revival of the “jumbo” size pizza, and the afore-mentioned marketing campaign, won’t be enough to change its image with consumers.

“Pizza Hut’s still Pizza Hut, it has many other things it needs to correct with itself.

“People remember if you behave badly. It’s the same for us. If we do things wrong, customers remember,” he says.

Domino’s is listed on the ASX and has 74 stores operating under a franchise model in New Zealand.

Pizza Hut, also a franchise, is part of NZX-listed Restaurant Brands. Mr Meij says Domino’s is still looking to expand, and thinks there is room for 85-89 stores in this market.

“New Zealand continues to fly ahead, really strong growth. We haven’t really seen any effects from the economy,” he says.

Eight new stores will open between now and June next year, which will all be fitted out with a refreshed store format.

Stores that are currently operating will also be refitted, starting from next March.

The chain’s most popular pizza – the Meatosaurus, which has four types of meat and barbeque sauce – reflects its skew towards male customers.

Next year, Mr Meij says, Domino’s will be launching some new healthier products pitched at women aged over 25.

“Domino’s is a treat: we’re not going to be bringing out Weight Watchers products or anything like that.

“But you’ll see things that continue to be better for you, and have some shift to a more female feel in the way we present and offer them,” he says.

LINK TO AD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsG0EeuWmbA

Hot Box Pizza Set for Rapid Expansion

HotBox Pizza, an Indianapolis-based pizzeria known for being "Hot, but not Skanky," announced that it has sold its first franchise.

HotBox began an aggressive franchising campaign in October of this year to expand the popular brand.

"We are proud to announce the sale of our very first franchise," said Gabe Connell, owner of HotBox Pizza.

"We created HotBox Pizza to fill the gap between the bland, big chains and the neighborhood gourmet pizza restaurants. With locations already Downtown, in Broad Ripple, Fishers and Lafayette, a new store in Carmel makes perfect sense."

Two well-known local restaurateurs plan to open two HotBox Pizza franchises in Carmel, Ind. within the next 18 months. Pete Watson, a franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings and operator of 14 Indiana locations, is partnering with Steve Wechter, owner of Famous Jack's Burgers 'n Brew, to open their first HotBox Pizza in early January 2009.

The new franchise will serve the same eclectic selection of pizzas HotBox is known for, including the Hot Chick, the Big Cheese and Porky the Pie. Salads, beer and wine will also be added to the Carmel menu.

"We are excited to open the first HotBox Pizza franchise and to serve the Carmel community through fast delivery, quick pick-up, and a great dining atmosphere," said Watson. "It's a prime opportunity for us to extend the HotBox experience and to work with local schools and community groups through the HotBox Pizza Fundraising Program."

Watson and Wechter will feature upgraded décor in the Carmel HotBox location, as well as several flat screen TV's so that customers don't miss their favorite sporting events.

"We are looking forward to giving the Carmel community not only the popular HotBox pizza and breadstix they've come to know in Indiana, but also a fun, casual atmosphere to watch the Hoosiers, Boilermakers, Colts and other favorite athletic teams. We can't wait to deliver the HotBox experience and attitude to Carmel."

The first Carmel HotBox location will be at 1 East Carmel Drive (on the corner of Carmel Drive and Rangeline Road). No location has been determined for the second location. For additional information on HotBox Pizza and franchising opportunities, please visit,

http://gethotboxpizza.com/

Eagle Boys Pizza To Roll Out Cut-Down Store Model

Australian pizza chain Eagle Boys has developed a new store model designed to thrive in small towns.

Called the “Local Store Model”, the new style of franchised stores is designed for towns with a population of between 2,500 and 5,000 residents. The stores have a smaller store footprint and will be open from 4.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily with an optional delivery service. The stores offer the full Eagle Boys menu, with pizzas available on one traditional-style crust.

Local Store Models have already been opened in two locations in Queensland and two in New South Wales, with another 12 stores planned to open around the country before the end of 2008.

“The Local Store Model delivers the best of both worlds in being able to establish an Eagle Boys store in small towns, while at the same time creating a rewarding and profitable new business opportunity for franchisees,” said Eagle Boys managing director Todd Clayton. “Apart from requiring a smaller investment from franchisees, the new store model is profitable because it has smaller occupancy costs, requires less staff, and has a lower sales break-even point.”

Eagle Boys operates more than 240 franchised stores throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company hopes to have 400 Australian stores operating across all its store models by 2011.

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Hell Pizza Forced to Pull Offensive Ads (Again!)

A New Zealand pizza chain has withdrawn a Halloween promotion that showed skeleton animations of three deceased celebrities dancing on graves.

Hell Pizza's advert showed animations of Sir Edmund Hillary, actor Heath Ledger and the Queen Mother dancing to Michael Jackson's song Thriller.

The family of Mount Everest conqueror Sir Edmund, who died in January, said the ad was in "extremely poor taste".

Hell's Pizza apologised and said it did not mean to cause offence.

"Clearly he's revered in New Zealand and we all love him," spokesman Glenn Corbett said.

"The idea of Sir Ed being there was intended to be a light-hearted remembrance."

The firm is no stranger to controversy. Last year, it showed Hitler in a Nazi salute with a pizza in his hand. Previously, it has distributed condoms alongside its "Lust" pizza.

The firm's marketing director Rachael Allison told New Zealand media that the latest animation was part of an e-mail campaign targeting existing customers.

'Not funny'

Around 5,000 people saw the advert before it fell into the hands of the media.

She said Hell Pizza was known for its controversial advertising and customers loved it. But she accepted it is not to everyone's taste.

"Interpretation of this is always up to individuals and we are always mindful of that and always keep an eye on our tone of voice and try to keep on top of that," she said.

Peter Hillary said the death of his father, who became the first person to reach the summit of Everest in 1953, was still "pretty raw" and the advert was not funny.

"I think it's disturbing... a little grotesque", he told New Zealand's Dominion Post.

There has been no reaction from the family of Australian actor Heath Ledger, who also died in January, or Britain's Royal family, who buried the Queen Mother in 2002.



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