September 22, 2009
Industry Headlines
Domino’s Pizza recently announced the launch of a new version of its mobile ordering Web site. The enhanced version is optimized for the Apple iPhone, Palm Pre and phones that support the Google Android operating system. Customers visiting www.dominos.com from a browser in one of the supported devices will be automatically connected to the new, enhanced site.
Some of the enhancements of the new site include:
• Pizza Tracker. The addition of the Pizza Tracker, which allows users to track the progress of their pizza order. More than 75 percent of the millions of online customers use Pizza Tracker after completing their order.
• Faster Ordering. An Express Ordering option which provides a more streamlined ordering experience with 50 percent less clicks needed to order than the previous version of the site.
• Full Ordering Functionality. A visual of the entire menu, and full ordering functionality including: allowing toppings on pizza halves; topping portion options; and ordering of sides, drinks, sauces and desserts.
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• Past Order Functionality. Favorite past orders available in one simple step.
• Browse and Redeem Coupons. Including functionality that sort coupons by most popular and number of people it will feed.
• No Downloading or Registering. Domino’s iPhone optimized mobile ordering site is ready for orders.
• Text Message Confirmation. Consumers can elect to receive a text message confirming that their order has been placed.
“Domino’s Pizza was the first pizza company to launch web-based mobile ordering more than two years ago,” said Rob Weisberg, Domino’s Vice President Multi-Media. “Since that time, we’ve been regularly enhancing our site to allow an even better user experience and decreased ordering time.
“Domino’s mobile ordering is growing at an average of 20 percent each month with the majority of mobile orders coming from iPhone customers,” continued Weisberg. “These site enhancements cater to the largest segment of our mobile customer base and also provide a platform that can be expanded on for our other mobile customers down the road. We plan on following up with a Blackberry-optimized version in the near future.”
Domino’s will continue to have two versions of the site and consumers with all other web-enabled phones will be able to order on the existing site as usual.
After spending two decades growing a competing brand in markets around the country, Ray Williams, Jr. is returning to his Louisiana roots to open the first of approximately 10 Hungry Howie’s Pizza locations in the Baton Rouge area within the next few years. The restaurant will be located at 1533 N. Airline Hwy. in Gonzales.
Williams previously spent two decades as an area franchisee for Domino’s.
“Though I enjoyed my work with Domino’s, I felt Hungry Howie’s offered a greater opportunity for me as a business owner because it allowed me to develop an entirely untapped market while remaining in an area I love most,” says Williams, 45, in a press release. “It’s an established brand with great products like our freshly-baked dough and eight flavored crusts, and I’m sure local residents will realize this as soon as they have their first taste.”
Brian Ognian, Hungry Howie’s vice president of franchise development, says: “Ray’s experience and great business sense are assets to the brand and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him into the Hungry Howie’s family. We’re confident he will make a big impact in the area and make Hungry Howie’s a household name in Baton Rouge and beyond.”
Papa Murphy’s International, the country’s largest and fastest-growing take ‘n’ bake pizza chain, has set its sights on Greensboro, North Carolina as a key market for growth. Last month Papa Murphy’s signed an Area Development Agreement with Tar Heel Pizza Company, LLC that includes nine new stores over the next five years. The first store, to be located at 4016 Battleground Ave in Greensboro, will open this December. For the past seven consecutive years, Papa Murphy’s has retained the title of “Best Pizza Chain in America” based on the annual Restaurants and Institutions “Choice in Chains” consumer survey.
“Get ready to have a new favorite pizza, Greensboro. The Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza revolution has arrived!” says Keith Bristol, who owns Tar Heel Pizza Company. “Our customers will have the satisfaction of making something at home with the flexibility of preparing it quickly. Beyond the great food and value, we’ll also be creating new employment opportunities in the community.”
According to Papa Murphy’s Director of Franchise Sales, Jim Werling, Greensboro is suited for an additional 15 franchisee-owned stores. “The area is high on our priority list for aggressive expansion,” says Werling.
In order to get as many qualified franchisees involved with the brand as soon as possible, Papa Murphy’s representatives will be in Greensboro to host a Franchise Opportunity Seminar on Thursday, September 24th.
This past weekend, Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza, based in Centennial, Colorado, threw a public party to celebrate a restaurant renovation and ownership change of its Valencia, California, location. Officiated by Santa Clarita mayor Frank Ferry, the celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a community gift-giving program, along with live music, face-painting, pizza samples and a clown visit. Franchise owners Abbas and Sean Moshrefi, along with partner Ray Shirani, presented donations to local charities.
“Pizza is all about bringing people together, whether it’s for a special occasion, sporting event or a family dinner,” said Nick-N-Willy’s franchise owner, Abbas Moshrefi. “On Saturday, September 19th our goal (was) to unite local residents for the ultimate pizza party and demonstrate our commitment to the community by offering a ‘slice of our pie’ to local non-profits currently in need.”
Pizza Fusion opened its sixth California location in Hollywood at 7950 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 104, this month. The Orlando family, including Kay, daughter Michele, and son Craig, are the eco-entrepreneurs behind Pizza Fusion's new Hollywood location.
"The response we received at our soft opening on Tuesday was wonderful", Michele states. "Hollywood residents are really warming up to our organic and socially conscious approach to restaurant service. It was a heartfelt, rewarding milestone to see our doors open to the public. We're excited to enhance Hollywood's restaurant portfolio with a healthy take on America's favorite food — handcrafted pizza made with authentic ingredients …"
Pizza Fusion is the first and only restaurant chain to mandate third-party organic restaurant certification at all its locations. The chain, whose motto is 'Saving the Earth, One Pizza at a Time,' practices a socially conscious approach to its entire existence, including the restaurants' build-out, service and overall operations. Through building all of its restaurants to LEED standards, delivering its food in company owned hybrid vehicles, and offsetting 100% of its power consumption at all of its restaurants, among many other green initiatives, Pizza Fusion is pioneering the sustainable restaurant movement.
"We're thrilled to have a new home in Hollywood and look forward to earning the loyalty of L.A. residents through our delicious menu, environmental stewardship, and community oriented values", Vaughan Lazar, president and co-founder of Pizza Fusion, states. "We're very proud to welcome the Orlandos into the Pizza Fusion family."
On September 18, Orlando-based Flippers Pizzeria opened a new store in nearby Kissimmee. Located at the Rolling Oaks Shopping Plaza, the opening follows on the heels of new stores in downtown Orlando and the Dr. Phillips area. The new 70-seat restaurant in Kissimmee features an updated color palette with shades of red, fresh greens, cream and tan. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The National Restaurant Association last week announced a partnership with the Food Donation Connection (FDC), an organization that works to help foodservice companies reduce food waste and feed those in need. The Association is a longtime supporter of anti-hunger initiatives and a champion of strengthening tax legislation that provides incentives for foodservice companies to donate food to hunger-relief organizations. Through a national partnership with FDC, the Association will work to galvanize the industry to donate surplus food while taking advantage of unrealized tax benefits of food donation.
“Our industry’s nearly one million restaurants serve more than 130 million individuals each day, and by using innovative and effective food donation programs, they can serve even more,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “The Food Donation Connection has expertise in helping restaurants turn their surplus foods into meals for those in need, and we are excited to partner with this organization. Together, we can truly make a difference in eliminating hunger in America while at the same time facilitating the donation process for our members.”
Founded by a former restaurant executive, Food Donation Connection serves as the liaison between the companies interested in donating food and the organizations that provide meals to those in need.
FDC has assisted foodservice companies with the development and implementation of programs designed to provide an alternative to discarding surplus food, while capitalizing on the economic benefits of those donations through tax savings. Since 1992, it has helped facilitate the donation of over 140 million pounds of wholesome, prepared food to non-profit, hunger-relief agencies.