January 25, 2010
Industry Headlines
Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza, based in Tacoma, Washington, is encouraging patrons to view the Super Bowl in any of the company's five locations in a big way. A former Pizza Today Independent Pizzeria of the Year, Farrelli's is giving away unlimited free slices of pizza to dine-in customers during the Super Bowl on February 7. The promotion will begin one hour prior to the game and end one hour following the Super Bowl's conclusion. The promotion will take place in the bar side Farrelli's stores, which will be showing the game on flat-panel televisions. To be eligible, guests must purchase a beverage and be members of the Farrelli's Fire Club, which is free to join.
"The difficulty is getting people to choose our restaurant over their friend's house for a Super Bowl viewing party," says Clayton Krueger, director of marketing and communications for Farrelli's Pizza. "So it will be exciting to see how much success we can have with this promotion. After all, who doesn't like free pizza?"
Farrelli's will promote the event through its new Web site, which integrates all of the company's social media initiatives as well as a loyalty-based e-mail club — the aforementioned Farrelli's Fire Club.
Marco’s Pizza, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has announced the launch of a distribution service. Marco’s Pizza Distribution, LLC (MPD), recently opened its first distribution center at 1435 B Holland Rd. in Maumee, Ohio. The center serves more than 100 Marco’s Pizza locations in the Midwest Region and will add stores and territories over time. Additional distribution centers are planned as Marco’s continues to grow.
“Marco’s Pizza Distribution signifies the next phase of growth at Marco’s,” says Jack Butorac, president and CEO of Marco’s Pizza. “With more than 900 new stores signed and in development, it is crucial for Marco’s to maintain product quality and consistency in every store as the company expands. MPD will help us accomplish this efficiently and also cost-effectively for our franchisees.”
Marco’s Pizza Vice President of Purchasing Don Vlcek, who also serves as president of MPD, outlined three distinct benefits to franchisees. “MPD will help protect product quality,” he said. “Only items approved by Marco's own product team will be in our warehouse and on our trucks. MPD is also able to provide increased service to Marco's Pizza stores because we only have one customer. Improved delivery service means that store operators can spend more time focused on sales, quality and efficiencies.” Lastly, Vlcek noted that MPD offers franchisees a chance to improve profitability. “A distribution company with a single focus can achieve greater cost efficiency, monitor all product costs, purchase larger volumes at better prices and manage inventory levels to take advantage of predicted fluctuations in commodity markets,” he said.
“MPD will publish its P&L statements quarterly and provide rebates to participating franchisees at the end of the year,” said Butorac. “The distribution service will be another asset to franchisees as Marco’s growth continues.”
Marco’s Pizza operates 200 stores in 17 states and the Bahamas.
Nick-N-Willy's, based in Centennial, Colorado, has been named the official pizza provider of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The in-kind relationship means that Nick-N-Willy's will provide over $30,000 worth of pizza, sandwiches and salads to approximately 3,000 festival volunteers between now and January 31. In exchange, the pizza company will be featured in numerous Sundance Film Festival marketing materials, including festival signage, the film guide and catalog, advertising and on the Festival's Web site. The Festival started on January 21 and runs through the end of this month in Park City, Utah. More than 40,000 people are expected to attend.
"As we continue to expand our franchise through the U.S., we're seeking to build further brand awareness to attract new customers and franchisees," says Richard Weil, COO of Nick-N-Willy's Pizza. "The 2010 Sundance Film Festival presents a unique opportunity for us to market ourselves to thousands of independent film makers and indie film enthusiasts, a demographic we're keen to capture."
LaRosa's Pizzeria, with 62 units in the greater Cincinnati area, recently announced the results of their holiday parntership with the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati and The Foodbank in Dayton, Ohio. The company set aside a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every large pizza during the promotional period and says it will donate $39,400 to the foodbanks to help replenish the food supply following the busy holiday season.
"We would like to sincerely thank our guests as well as our team members for supporting our promotion benefiting the area food banks and for making it a success," says company CEO Mike LaRosa. "We know this donation will help our friends at the foodbanks continue to do the good work that they do to serve so many neighborhoods."
Willis HRH has set up a Haitian relief fund in response to the devastating earthquake that has crippled one of the world's poorest nations and may have caused upwards of 100,000 deaths and billions in economic losses. The Willis Group Haiti Relief Fund is matching contributions, dollar for dollar — up to $200,000 — from its 20,000 associations in 400 offices and nearly 120 countries.
Meanwhile, a number of pizza companies have gotten in on the act as well. For example, New York-based Famous Famiglia scheduled an all-day fundraiser last Tuesday, January 19. A total of $14,565 was raised for Haitian earthquake victims through sales, donations and a gift from the Famous Famiglia organization.
"The powerful earthquake and unthinkable death-toll and suffering in Haiti is a crises that tugs at the heart of all mankind," said Famous Famiglia CEO Paul Kolaj. "This is the time to help the Haitian community."