An egg-cellent pre-Easter week for pizza brands

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Cheese, wheat and natural gas prices fell last week in the run-up to Easter, while only one of the pizza brands monitored here dropped in value.

Fueled by $3.75M investment, Pupatella expands around DC

April 22, 2019

Neapolitan pizza brand, Pupatella, will open two restaurants in South Arlington and Reston in the Washington, D.C. area. A $3.75 million investment secured…

Pizza Hut pulls out all the stops for NFL draft

April 22, 2019

Pizza Hut is promoting its second year as the NFL Official Pizza Sponsor by giving customers a code for half off its pizzas for a limited time. The 2016's…

Bertucci's adds 8 dishes to menu

April 22, 2019

Bertucci's is adding starters, entrees and brick-oven pizzas to its lunch and dinner menus at all 57 locations, a news release said. 

Uncle Maddio's files bankruptcy with millions in liabilities

April 19, 2019

The parent company of Uncle Maddio's Pizza, Integrity Brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta.

In Canada, alternative proteins 'moo-ve' in on center-of-plate red meat offerings

April 18, 2019

In Canada, much like the U.S., the center of the plate is tilting more toward alternative proteins to red meat, according to a consumer trend report from…

Capturing that elusive 'earned media': A reporter's 6 pointers for pizza brands

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

You might call earned media the "snow leapard" of restaurant marketing -- elusive, hard to capture, but potentially invaluable when you can land it for your…

US authorities recall frozen ground tuna after 13 reported ill

April 17, 2019

Restaurants should not serve or sell frozen ground tuna recalled this week due to a number of Salmonella Newport infections. The U.S. Food and Drug…

Boston's US gets set to grow with 'simplified' menu, more flexible store design

April 17, 2019

Boston's Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar is improving its franchise model through restaurant redesign and menu offerings. The move is part of the brand's…

Blaze opening in Yorba Linda, California

April 16, 2019

Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza will open a 2,600-square-foot open kitchen location Thursday in Yorba Linda, California, near two other restaurants on Yorba Linda…

Mountain Mike's moves in to Redwood City, California

April 16, 2019

California-based,family style pizza chain, Mountain Mike's, has opened a San Francisco peninsula-area store in Redwood City, California. The Jefferson Plaza…

Papa Murphy's stock soars post-acquisition announcement

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The stock value for Papa Murphy's soared up to late 2017 levels last week after Wall Street learned of the chain's pending $190 million acquisition with MTY…

Dine-in … delivery … drive-thru? Rave Restaurant Group president talks fulfilling diners' druthers today

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Pizza customers are a finicky bunch, with some seeking a nice dine-in experience, others insisting on delivered pies and still more who want to pick up their…

&pizza 'Cubed' = 300 kiosk-cooked pies an hour

April 12, 2019

D.C.-based &pizza is plunging into the restaurant kiosk business next week when it opens what it called the industry's first "cube kiosk." The brand, which…

Mici 'caters' to grads

April 12, 2019

Denver micro-chain, Mici Handcrafted Italian, is helping high school and college graduates celebrate their accomplishments this year by donating money to…

Rapid Fired opens 31st store near San Antonio

April 11, 2019

Rapid Fired Pizza is opening location No. 31 Monday in Universal City, Texas, just northeast of San Antonio, a news release said. The brand will gather a crowd…

Papa Murphy's to be acquired for $190M by MTY Foods

April 11, 2019

Papa Murphy's has signed a $190 million definitive merger agreement with MTY Food Group Inc, a restaurant franchisor with nearly 6,000 stores in North America…

When pizza brands take root: Franchisee's tips on growing your pizzeria's community connections

Your Pie franchisee Lisa Maclellan said restaurant operators stand to gain a long list of business and personal positives by establishing strong roots in their…

Campbell’s Foodservice launches educational, inspirational video series

April 10, 2019

In a quest to support its operators, Campbell's Foodservice is launching a video series providing industry insights, segment trends, menu items and insight…

Fuel prices soar, pizza stock values tumble over April Fool's week trading

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The joke — and not a nice one — was on pizza restaurateurs during April Fool's Week last week.