May 12, 2009

Industry Headlines 

Papa John's debuts new reality TV-style "Papa's in the House" ad campaign

Twenty-five years ago, "Papa" John Schnatter sold his beloved '72 Z28 Camaro to fund his other passion: delivering a superior-quality pizza to residents in his hometown of Jeffersonville, Indiana (near Louisville, Kentucky).

Now, as Papa John's celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2009, Schnatter's two loves –– his Camaro and delivering Better Ingredients, Better Pizza –– have been reunited. Papa John’s has launched a new ad campaign letting everyone know that the next time they order a Papa John's pizza for delivery, they should pay special attention to the person at the door. It might very well be Papa John himself, driving a replica of the '72 Z28 Camaro that he sold to purchase the equipment for his first restaurant, located in a broom closet of his father’s tavern.

The ads, shot over a two-day period throughout Louisville by Papa John’s advertising agency, Z Group, feature Schnatter personally delivering pizzas and being welcomed into real customers’ homes. No paid actors were used in any of the footage.

“We’ve been making our pizza with Better Ingredients for 25 years,” said Schnatter, “and we’re still making them the very same way; we’re just making more of them. This campaign excites me because it provides me the opportunity to get out there and be with our customers.”

In addition to the TV spots, the “Papa’s In the House” campaign will include a new website, banner ads featuring the Camaro, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube integration, boxtoppers, and a special offer for the “Founder’s Favorite” – John’s favorite pizza topped with sausage, pepperoni, and a six-cheese blend.

But the ad campaign is just the beginning of Schnatter’s personal home pizza deliveries. Later this month, the Papa John’s founder will embark on a nationwide road trip – behind the wheel of a ’72 Z28 Camaro –– to meet personally with his legion of team members and loyal customers, all the while telling the story of how he’s living and breathing the American Dream.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc. is the world's third largest pizza company. 

Stanislaus Food Products - Since 1942, our family-owned cannery has specialized in premium tomato products "packed from fresh tomatoes, not from concentrate" for quality-oriented Italian restaurants and pizzerias throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, we invite you to call us at (800) 327-7201!  www.stanislaus.com

NYPD Pizza expands in central Florida

World renowned NYPD Pizza has expanded with two new locations in central Florida, bringing the total to six in the region while creating jobs to stimulate the central Florida economy. Both locations are endorsing their grand openings with rewarding specials for the community and offer dine in, take out, delivery and catering services while operating seven days a week.

Poinciana residents now have their own convenient neighborhood pizzeria at Cypress Plaza. The Lake Cay, Orlando location is walking distance from the Orlando Convention Center and Shingle Creek in the Lake Cay Commons development.

“The growth of NYPD Pizza in Orlando and the surrounding areas represents incredible success for our organization,” CEO & President Paul Russo said. “Since the first location in 1996, it has been a dream and aspiration of ours to expand in the community that has always been so loyal and dedicated to us and our product. We could never have franchised our brand if it wasn’t for the Orlando community behind us.”

Established in Orlando is 1996, NYPD Pizza’s mission is to protect and serve authentic New York style pizza, commit to top quality products, provide a family neighborhood atmosphere and deliver the best customer service in the world pizza market from its squad members and franchise owners.

 Flippers Pizzeria Unveils Chute Gerdeman-designed prototype

Flippers Pizzeria has developed a new store format and logo design, working with retail design experts Chute Gerdeman Retail, the Columbus, Ohio-based branding and design firm.

The first prototype location will open its doors in Orlando May 6. The new warm and casual design communicates Flippers’ freshness message while maintaining its operational efficiencies.

In the business of handcrafted, authentic pizzas since 1987, Flippers has successfully grown to six locations in the central Florida vicinity with plans to add an additional 10 to 15 corporate units over the next few years. To continue growth, Flippers’ co-founders Todd Dennis and Scott Kousaie enlisted the design expertise of Chute Gerdeman to position Flippers as a national pizzeria franchise while also enhancing the local brand presence.

Chute Gerdeman’s first step in the re-branding process was a redesign of the Flippers identity to better complement the fresh, authentic food offer. Highlighting their use of fresh ingredients and handcrafted approach to pizza making, Chute Gerdeman transformed the Flippers Pizzeria identity.
The new identity design features a handcrafted visual aesthetic, updated color palette and classic logotype that speak directly to the authentic, high quality food. In addition to the updated design,” says Corey Dehus, Senior Designer, Brand Communications, a logo kit-of-parts was developed to allow for various logo configurations ranging from storefront signage to packaging and advertising, all while maintaining a consistent look and feel. The logo design was recently honored in the American Graphic Design & Advertising competition.

The restaurant features an updated color palette with warm, saturated shades of tomato red, fresh greens, cream and tan. Seating options are varied, with tables, bar-height counters and booths for a more private dining experience. Another new addition is the pizza oven theater area, where customers can watch their pizzas being prepared.

Since 1987, Orlando, Fla.-based Flippers Pizzeria has been in the business of handcrafted, authentic pizzas. Today with six corporately owned pizzerias and further growth planned, Flippers offers franchise opportunities to allow others to share in the passion and be part of Flippers’ success.

Extreme Pizza opens its doors to Dublin, California

Extreme Pizza, the leading purveyor in gourmet pizzas, subs and salads announces the opening of its latest store in Dublin, California. Extreme Pizza is a one-of-kind restaurant experience that delivers delicious pizzas and other food fare, prepared fresh daily. Homemade sauces, locally grown vegetables, all-natural cheeses and the highest quality meats available, make their menu offering irresistible. With more than 44 premium toppings to choose from, customers can create more than one million pizza combinations.

"We are very excited to be opening Extreme Pizza in Dublin! Being a local of Dublin, I plan on being a big part of our community as well as an active part of the Pleasanton community,” says franchise owner, Greg Sklavos. “I encourage schools, church groups and other fund raising groups to contact me on ways that we can help raise money in our community. Drop in for a slice and say hello. I love to meet and greet all my guests and create a comfortable, part of the family type environment."  

Extreme Pizza is located at 6599 Dublin Boulevard, Suite G in the Shops at Tralee Center, in Dublin, California.

Extreme Pizza is the leading purveyor of specialty pizzas, subs and gigantic salads. Founded in San Francisco in 1994, the company boasts 7 corporate locations and 33 nationwide franchises, as well as international.

Pizza Patrón Opens first two of 12 Stores in Miami

 
Pizza Patrón, the premier Latin pizza brand, has opened the first two of its 12 stores in a development agreement with Latitude Partners Florida, LLC.

The first store opened April 13 in Miami, and the second April 27 in Hialeah. Both have received an enthusiastic response from the community with large turn-outs and many repeat customers.

“We’ve been here seven days, and some customers have been here five out of the seven days,” said Daniel Feldsberg of Latitude Partners. “Denis Contreras, one of the store managers, told me one man said to him, ‘my kids won’t eat anything else, and my wife hasn’t cooked in five days!’”

Feldsberg said they will spotlight each store with a grand opening event within the next few weeks. He said they plan to open the remaining ten stores over the next two years to better serve the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.

“Our goal from the beginning has been to create a distinctly Latin experience at our stores which makes us unique from any other brand,” said Andrew Gamm, director of Brand Development for Pizza Patrón. “Until now, most of our Hispanic customers had roots in Mexico, but in Miami, the Latino demographic is primarily composed of Caribbean, Central and South American descent. Pizza Patrón has been, and always will be, about celebrating the Latin life no matter where your roots take you.”

Pizza Patrón was founded by Antonio Swad in 1986. Since franchising began in March 2003, the brand has grown from four locations in Dallas to 88 locations in six states, with more than 40 additional stores under development.

Fox’s Pizza Den partners with Roma to optimize its distribution

 Fox’s Pizza Den, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Roma of Georgia, to provide distribution to 66 Fox’s locations in the southeastern United States. Distribution began in March 2009.
 
“After an extensive search for a provider, we chose Roma as our distribution partner,” said Ken Crosby, Fox’s director of operations. “During the process, it quickly became very clear that the Roma team matched up well with Fox’s. We have experienced the same level of service from Roma, an International company, as we are used to getting from smaller distributors.”
 
Fox’s search for a distributor had several goals in mind, including: lowering overhead of distribution; assuring the consistency of the Fox product nationwide and lowering food cost for franchisees
 
The affiliation was confirmed in May at a Roma /Fox’s exhibition held in Atlanta, Georgia. Crosby stated, “This is a meeting to introduce Roma to our southern franchisees.  It will also be an opportunity for our franchisees to meet with other vendors and see new products. In keeping with helping our franchisees weather the current economic crisis, we will also have marketing experts speak and help our stores strengthen, grow and prosper.”
 
Founded in 1971, Fox's Pizza Den, Inc. is a family-oriented restaurant.Since opening its first location in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, Fox’s has grown to over 300 restaurants nationwide.

Roma of Georgia is a division of Richmond, Virginia-based Roma Food Enterprises, a Performance Food Group Company. Founded in 1955, Roma Food is the premier distributor to the pizzeria and Italian restaurant trade and provides coast to coast service across the U.S. from more than 20 distribution centers.

Sofo Foods establishes distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia area

  Antonio Sofo & Son Importing Co. (Sofo Foods) has announced that it has established a food service warehouse and distribution operation in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area.

Operating through its subsidiary as Sofo Foods of Georgia, LLC, the new center will service the food distribution needs of the South Eastern United States. Sofo Foods is an independent, family-owned and operated foodservice
distribution company based out of Toledo, Ohio. It has additional locations in New Albany, Indiana and are the operating manager for Bellissimo Foods of Texas, which is located in the Houston area. 

With the addition of Sofo Foods of Georgia, LLC the company now serves 15 states which include Ohio, Michigan,
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia,  Tennessee, Missouri, South Carolina, North  Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Texas.