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.