Commodities update - Week of June 1, 2009

May 31, 2009

CHICAGO -- Block cheese prices edged slightly upward last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with prices averaging just under $1.15 per pound for the…

Yum! Brands completes cash tender offer

May 31, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Yum! Brands Inc., parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC, has announced the results of its cash tender offer to purchase up to $15…

Pizza Hut partners with EA Sports for video game promo

May 28, 2009

DALLAS -- Pizza Hut has teamed with video game publisher EA Sports for the "Rumble in the Ring Ultimate Fight Sweepstakes," promoting the June 30 launch of the…

U.K. Domino's franchisee launches prepay contactless smart card

May 28, 2009

BOLTON, England – A Domino's franchise in Bolton is introducing its own branded smart card payment system using London-based sQuidcard's tap-and-go eMoney…

Jackson, Miss., Pizza Huts offering free samples of new products

May 28, 2009

MSNBC: Next Wednesday, Pizza Huts in Jackson, Miss., will offer a free two-piece order of new Stuffed Pizza Rolls, which are cheese- and pepperoni-filled rolls…

Restaurant Performance Index hits highest level in nearly a year

May 28, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The outlook for the restaurant industry grew more optimistic in April, as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of…

HotBox Pizza, Tetherball partner on mobile marketing

May 27, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- HotBox Pizza has partnered with mobile loyalty and rewards solutions provider Tetherball, the company has announced. Tetherball reconstructed…

Former mob hit man closes pizzeria

May 27, 2009

News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Fla.): Joseph Milano, who was charged in January for allegedly pistol-whipping two men who complained about their calzone order…

Getaway driver in vandalism case to be deported

May 27, 2009

Pocono Daily Record: The getaway driver in two separate break-ins at Pennsylvania pizzerias will be deported to his home country of Turkey after serving three…

ASK THE EXPERTS: How can restaurant operators leverage online ordering?

by Valerie Killifer — senior editor, NetWorld Alliance

May 27, 2009

Online ordering is taking over the restaurant industry as another way operators can add brand value, and pizzerias are leading in the technology's…

ASK THE EXPERTS: What are the latest trends in labor scheduling?

May 27, 2009

The use of online labor-management tools is increasing as restaurant operators look to take employee schedules from the cork board to the Internet. These…

ASK THE EXPERTS: How will online ordering evolve over the next several years?

May 27, 2009

According to Food Action Group, 87 percent of consumers say they plan to use online ordering more in the future. How will that information impact restaurant…

Toppers picks up expansion pace

May 26, 2009

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scott Gittrich dropped out of the University of Illinois to pursue his dream of opening a pizzeria. He now owns Toppers Pizza Inc.…

D.C. councilman denies pushing for slice ban

May 26, 2009

WTOP-FM: Washington, D.C., council member Jim Graham says that contrary to news reports, he does not want to ban sales of single slices of pizza in certain…

CEC Entertainment to present at investor conference

May 26, 2009

IRVING, Texas -- Chuck E. Cheese parent CEC Entertainment Inc. will present to investors attending the Stephens Inc. Spring Investment Conference being held at…

Yum! Brands adds price to cash tender offer

May 26, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yum! Brands Inc., parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, has announced that it has priced its cash tender offer to purchase up to…

Green Box to launch in June

May 26, 2009

NEW YORK -- Environmentally Conscious Organization Inc., a maker of environmentally friendly and multifunctional packaging, will release its first shipments of…

Uno partners in 'Operation Pizza Surge'

May 25, 2009

CHICAGO -- Uno Chicago Grill and delivery and logistics company DHL have teamed with nonprofit organization Pizzas 4 Patriots for Operation Pizza Surge. The…

Pizza blamed for D.C. crime

May 25, 2009

Fox News: Washington, D.C., councilman Jim Graham is proposing legislation to crack down on selling pizza slices in a northwest neighborhood, saying the…

India Pizza Huts roll out 'Enhanced Dine-in' concept

May 25, 2009

Business Standard: Pizza Hut plans to implement its 'Enhanced Dine-in' brand transformation concept to almost a third of its 147 stores across India by next…