Robber murders CiCi's Pizza employee, shoots another

March 17, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- One employee was killed and another was wounded during a March 16 robbery at a CiCi's Pizza restaurant in Charlotte.

Kudos and raspberries to this month's newsmakers

March 17, 2003

A few awards and tongue-in-cheek booby prizes go out to this month's pizza industry newsmakers.

Co-founder of Valentino's pizza buffet chain dead at 87

March 17, 2003

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Zena Weiler, who co-founded the 50-store Valentino's Grand Italian Buffet chain with her husband, Valentine, died on March 16 following two…

Delivery fleet is 'Echo' friendly to Portland operator

March 16, 2003

PORTLAND, Ore. -- When it comes to looks, there's little to love about the Toyota Echo.

Private Lives

March 16, 2003

Wall Street neglect spurs the pizza industry's two largest franchisee companies, NPC International and PJ United, to go private.

Control food cost, reap profits, says Ostrander

March 16, 2003

Keeping food cost in line isn't rocket science, but it represents a change of habit for some operators.

Debit at the Door

March 16, 2003

Canadian chain rolls out wireless payment terminals to merge debit cards and pizza delivery.

Truth or Consequences

Restaurant operators are steamed over a Supreme Court ruling making them liable for employees' underreported tips.

Yum! Brands to repurchase $300 million in stock

March 16, 2003

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Stock buybacks have become popular financial strategies for foodservice companies in recent weeks.

Internet education for operators

March 16, 2003

Once a mere information source, the Internet has become a classroom and a wealth of educational materials for pizzeria operators.

Pizza Hut memo warns of cut in driver reimbursements, hints at sales declines

March 16, 2003

Pizza Hut moves to standardize its delivery driver reimbursement rate to 50 cents, while AAA figures say operating an auto for an employer's purposes costs…

Rights to area Pizza Huts to be sold in KFC Malaysia MBO

March 16, 2003

KUALA LUMPUR -- KFC Malaysia Bhd's management, led by executive director Johari Abdul Ghani, is undertaking a buyout of the company via a complex restructuring…

Domino's Pizza to use FEDChex check authorizer 'at the door'

March 16, 2003

IRVINE, Calif. -- Payment solutions provider FEDChex announced it will provide electronic check recovery services for Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Domino's Pizza's…

Afton to close 241 Pizza call center but outsource same service

March 16, 2003

BURLINGTON, Ontario -- Afton Food Group Ltd. (TSX: AFF) announced its subsidiary 241 Pizza Inc. will close its own one-number call center in March and…

Window of Opportunity

Drive-thru service for pizza places is convenient for everyone, but is it worth the investment in equipment, plus the effort required to educate customers?

Consultant says labor pool is deeper than you think

March 16, 2003

Front-of-the-house management consultant Shelley Prueter doesn't buy the notion that 'you can't find good help anymore.' You just have to know how to hire it…

Who's Who: Harry Bond

March 16, 2003

President of Monical's Pizza proves that putting employees first draws customers and reaps profits.

Seven pizzerias charged with delivering smokes to minors

March 16, 2003

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Seven independent Edmonton pizza shops and several of their delivery drivers are charged with selling cigarettes to minors.

LaVan Hawkins to sell Pizza Huts to Yum

March 16, 2003

DETROIT -- Pizza Hut franchisee LaVan Hawkins, who owns Wolverine Pizza L.L.C., said he has an agreement to sell his company's 89 Pizza Hut units in Michigan…

President of Comac, Domino's franchisee, resigns

March 13, 2003

CALGARY, Alberta -- Brad Holt, chairman of Comac Food Group Inc., announced the company's president, John G. Beauparlant, will resign on March 31 to pursue…