Papa John's Pizza posts positive December, flat ''04

January 4, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Papa John's International, Inc. announced that domestic systemwide comparable sales for the five weeks ended Dec. 26, 2004 increased 2.…

Eatza Pizza names Cordova director of franchise development

January 4, 2005

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ronn J. Cordova has been named director of franchise development for 25-unit Eatza Pizza Inc.

Marco's Pizza eyes 77 new Cleveland-area units

January 4, 2005

TOLEDO, Ohio — Marco's Pizza is positioning itself to triple its Greater Cleveland store count in the next few years.

Pizza Inn appoints Page new acting CEO

January 4, 2005

THE COLONY, Texas — The board of directors of Pizza Inn appointed Robert B. Page as acting chief executive officer during a special meeting convened Jan. 5.

SERVICE: The 'psychic benefits' of creative customer service

January 3, 2005

According to Paul Paz, doling out small but meaningful freebies to customers is a great way to build relationships.

Pizza driver delivers, is duped and drubbed

January 3, 2005

Potomac News: A pizza delivery driver was attacked during a delivery in Woodbridge, Va., on the night of Jan. 2.

Schwartz named CEO at Pizza Hut mega-franchisee NPC

January 3, 2005

PITTSBURG, Kan. — NPC International Chairman Gene Bicknell announced that the Pizza Hut mega-franchisee has named Jim Schwartz its CEO.

Pizza Hut Dec. comps up 1%

January 3, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Comparable-store sales at Pizza Hut's 1,760 U.S. corporate units rose 1 percent for the final four weeks of 2004.

Pizza Hut raises prices in China

January 2, 2005

Shanghai Daily News: Five years after the last price increase, Pizza Hut this week raised prices of some menu items in its China outlets.

Lost bank deposit returned to pizzeria owner

January 2, 2005

Newsday: When Norwich, Conn., pizza shop owner Rena Dorr heard that an employee had lost a bank deposit bag full of thousands of dollars, she didn't worry too…

Winners and Losers in 2004

December 30, 2004

Senior Editor Steve Coomes takes a look at who won and who lost in the pizza business in 2004. He also analyzes his predictions made at the end of last year…

Pressure increases on Olympia Pizza owner to remove "rings" logo

December 29, 2004

Canadian Broadcasting Company: The head of the Olympic Organizing Committee is giving the owner of a Vancouver restaurant until Jan. 31 to take his Olympic…

Ann Arbor Domino's Pizza stores to dole out freebies if Wolverines win Rose Bowl

December 29, 2004

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Domino's Pizza stores here will give out orders of free Cheesy Bread or Cinnastix if the University of Michigan Wolverines beat the…

Dairy co-op's influence on milk and cheese markets under question

December 29, 2004

Chicago Tribune: With timed trades through Chicago's Mercantile Exchange, Dairy Farmers of America's Gary Hanman has found a way to support cheese prices…

Trio batters pizza driver in attempted robbery

December 28, 2004

Akron Beacon Journal: Three teen-agers are accused of assaulting a pizza delivery driver in Akron, Ohio. The trio, ages 17, 15 and 14, approached the…

Can't they all just get along?

December 27, 2004

After pizza came to the United States nearly a century ago, it remained predictable for the next 75 years.

Online ordering saves time, improves service

December 27, 2004

Michelle Burt knew she could order her pizza supplies online, she just never did it. Two years later her distributor rep convinced her to give it a try. Now…

Jim Grote: Casting dough upon the water

by Steve Coomes — freelance writer, Words to Chew On

December 27, 2004

Jim Grote is contented, wealthy, healthy — and back at the helm of the company he founded: 182-unit Donatos Pizzeria. After selling the chain to McDonald's…

Even mom-and-pop shops can do phone marketing

December 27, 2004

Enrico's Pizza Shop used to sell about four meal deals at lunchtime. But since this fall, when the Winchester, Va., shop installed a call-sequencer and upfront…

Inking a deal with the right printer

December 27, 2004

If print advertising is the lifeblood of the pizza industry, why are so many pizza print campaigns positively anemic?