January 12, 2010

Industry Headlines

Popular Web Site Recognizes Pizza Fusion for Green Practices

About.com recently unveiled its list of the Best and Worst of the Retail Industry in 2009, highlighting Pizza Fusion for "Best Green Retailing Practices in the U.S. Retail Industry".  According to About.com, "the criteria used to pick the "Best and Worst of the Retail Industry in 2009" was an equitable blend of industry recognition, hard numbers, expert analysis, and because-I-said-so opinion."

"We're honored to receive this recognition from About.com," Vaughan Lazar, president and co-founder of Pizza Fusion, states.  "We take pride in our stewardship of the environment and being an example for other green businesses to follow.  We hope other organizations take notice we continue to franchise nationally and beyond."

About.com cited Pizza Fusion's LEED certified retail stores, usage of reclaimed furniture, utensils made from potato starch, and hybrid delivery vehicles, stating, "Pizza Fusion is a rising retail restaurant star proving in every way that it is sincerely committed to its motto of 'Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a Time.' "

Pizza Fusion has 20 locations open in 11 states nationwide, since its founding in 2006.  In late 2009, it opened its first international franchise in Saudi Arabia.  Pizza Fusion is considering franchise and area developer candidates for its national expansion.

To view About.com's list of the Best and Worst of the Retail Industry in 2009, click HERE.

 California-Based Pizza Company Recognized in Entrepreneur

zpizza, the fast casual pizza chain, was recently named to the AllBusiness 2010 "AllStar Franchise" list, a comprehensive listing of the nation's top 300 franchise companies. It was also ranked #302 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s prestigious 2010 Franchise 500 List.

 “It’s an honor to be ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 List for our fourth year,” says Chris Bright, zpizza President. “We moved up 15 spots on the list this year, making 2010 our highest ranking to date. zpizza had a tremendous amount of growth in 2009 and I expect as much and more success in 2010.”

zpizza has 95 open stores across the USA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Mexico City, Mexico. The chain is continuing its impressive expansion with 400 additional locations in development.

 Texas Restaurant Association Launches New Version of FoodGuard

The Texas Restaurant Association was first to introduce an online food manager safety certification program to the State of Texas. FoodGuard provides the critical information restaurant managers need to keep food and their customers safe. This groundbreaking program has been completely revised and improved to make it even easier for food managers to get their required certification. FoodGuard is accepted by all local health jurisdictions in Texas.

FoodGuard has been updated to the most recent FDA food code and redesigned to reflect the latest online teaching technologies and food safety regulations and standards. It is available in English and Spanish to reach the widest possible audience and the pricing structure has been simplified.  The content focuses on the food safety requirements established by the state of Texas, ensuring that individuals who complete the program have the highest level of food safety training.

FoodGuard was first introduced in 2001 and to date more than 15,000 foodservice professionals have received their required food safety certification through this program.

“Food safety training is an ongoing process and the Texas Restaurant Association, through programs like FoodGuard and other TRA Certified programs, is the resource foodservice professionals turn to when they need to obtain their training and certification.”
 
TRA Certified brings together all certification programs necessary for restaurant owners and employees including:
• FoodGuard: food manager safety certification
• TABC To Go: alcohol seller/server certification
• ServSafe Starters: food handler training.
 
Visit www.restaurantville.com/certification to see all of the TRA Certified programs.

The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the hospitality and foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the state’s $35 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of 50,000 plus locations and a workforce of over one million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association represents, educates and promotes the growing industry. www.restaurantville.com.

The Loop Pizza Grill Reopens at Valdosta State University

Campus life and pizza go hand-in-hand, and now students at Valdosta State University will once again be able to indulge in their favorites at The Loop Pizza Grill. 
 
The on-campus location is scheduled to reopen on January 11, 2010 at VSU's new student union. Construction of the 120,000-square-foot student union closed down the entire building, including The Loop Pizza Grill, back in May 2008.

"The Loop Pizza Grill has long been a campus favorite at Valdosta State, and we're pleased to once again offer our signature dishes to students on the go; this time in a newer, upscale student facility," said Cathy Manzon, the director of marketing for The Loop Pizza Grill. "The Loop offers a variety of made-to-order fresh foods perfect for an on-campus lunch, dinner or snack."
 
The VSU location will be open Sunday-Friday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information visit The Loop Pizza Grill at http://www.looppizzagrill.com/.  

The Loop Pizza Grill is a neighborhood fast-casual restaurant that offers the quality and atmosphere of a full-service dining establishment. Open for lunch and dinner, the average sales volume per restaurant is $1.2 million, with guest checks averaging $10. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., The Loop Pizza Grill was founded by Mike and Terry Schneider in 1981 as a 60-seat restaurant. Today there are 18 locations in three states.