Frozen pizza sales rose last year, but Kraft's brands were down

January 18, 2004

NORTHFIELD, Ill.—Kraft Foods Inc., the world's No. 2 food maker, reported in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing that its frozen pizza sales…

Prices fall as tensions rise in Aussie pizza price war

January 18, 2004

WENDOUREE, Australia--The pizza war here is heating up as operators slash prices to match their competition.

Following Moscow opening, Papa John's eyes 600 new intl. pizza units in 7 years

January 15, 2004

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Papa John's International announced the opening of its first unit in Moscow.

Pizza Patron signs 18-unit development deal in Austin, Texas

January 15, 2004

DALLAS—Continuing its aggressive growth spurt, Pizza Patron has signed a development agreement to open 16 units in 36 months in the Texas cities of Austin…

Pizza Hut hurdles franchisee conflict to intro 4forALL Pizza on Jan. 26

January 15, 2004

DALLAS—Pizza Hut will introduce its new 4forALL Pizza on Jan. 26.

Image isn't everything

Marketing experts say direct response ads generate the most sales for pizzerias, not image ads.

Pizza Patron unit cracks $1 million in sales mark

January 14, 2004

DALLAS, Texas—Pizza Patron, a Latino-focused pizza concept based in Dallas, announced that one of its stores posted more than $1 million in sales for 2003.

Looking Back '... Looking Ahead

PizzaMarketplace's editor reviews five significant events that occurred in the pizza industry in 2003, and makes five predictions for 2004.

Pizza Inn board 'frustrating' Newcastle proxy solicitation by delaying annual meeting again

January 14, 2004

DALLAS—Newcastle Partners, which owns a 36-percent stake in 410-unit Pizza Inn, is accusing the company of frustrating its attempts to solicit shareholder…

Donatos Pizzeria tests low-carb, no-dough soy-based pizza

January 13, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Donatos Pizzeria is testing a low-carb no-dough pizza at multiple outlets in and around Columbus.

Vistar acquires pizza, Italian distributor Original Brand Foods

January 13, 2004

DENVER—Vistar Corp., based here, announced Jan. 9 that it acquired Original Brand Foods of Atlanta Inc.

Gibbs' Redskins return leads D.C. Papa John's to counter Domino's Pizza special

January 13, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The return of Joe Gibbs to the head coach's spot at the Washington Redskins, the very team he led to three Super Bowl wins, has sparked a…

Donatos Pizzeria rolling out ''NoDough' low-carb pizza chain-wide on Jan. 20

January 13, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Donatos Pizzeria will end a limited-market test phase of its "NoDough" low-carb pizza by rolling it out chain-wide on Jan. 20.

Menu price hikes help '03 comp-sales at Chicago Pizza & Brewery

January 12, 2004

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Chicago Pizza & Brewery reported its comparable-restaurant sales at BJ's restaurants increased approximately 3.3 percent for the…

Pizza delivery driver shot multiple times in face with BB gun

January 12, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Police are seeking a man who shot a pizza delivery woman with a BB gun on the night of Jan. 11.

Patrick Cudahy serves up fully cooked bacon pizza toppings

January 12, 2004

CUDAHY, Wis.—Operators of multi-unit pizzerias will benefit from the ease of use and consistent quality of Patrick Cudahy's Golden Crisp fully cooked bacon…

Domino's Pizza franchisee applies ''Gibbs tax' to celebrate return of Redskins coach

January 11, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The return of Joe Gibbs as head coach over the Washington Redskins has prompted Domino's Pizza stores in the Washington, D.C., area to…

U.S. group may bid for Domino's Pizza Israel

January 11, 2004

JERUSALEM—A group of U.S. investors is one of six groups mulling the purchase of the bankrupt Domino's Pizza Israel franchise.

Papa John's Dec. sales drop 2.5%--UPDATED

January 8, 2004

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Papa John's International, Inc. announced its domestic systemwide comparable sales for the five weeks ended Dec. 28, 2003, decreased 2.…

Dec. judge's ruling against Shakey's Chin-Yong bodes negatively for beleaguered pizza chain

January 8, 2004

Last month's court ruling against Shakey's chairman leaves the chain's franchisees confident they'll win their March fraud and negligence trial against the…