Commodity prices up, stock values down: Spring starts on sour note for most pizza brands

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

The first week of spring brought higher prices for all the basic pizza commodities and — aside from Papa John's — lower stock values for the brands monitored…

3 brand leaders on the good, the bad, the ugly of third-party delivery

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Love it or hate it, third-party delivery is likely here to stay. At this week's Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Louisville, three restaurant…

March 14: The irrational li'l sweetie 'Pi' that stole the pizza leader's heart

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

Hopefully, you as a restaurant industry executive have already appropriately "circled" this Thursday on your calendar as that celebration of all things…

Smoke’s Poutinerie founder: 'We are entertainers'

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Ryan Smolkin, whose Smoke's Poutinerie has opened more than 150 locations in North America in less than 10 years, insists he is in the entertainment business…

What in the world is blockchain?

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

Blockchain, cryptocurrency, bitcoin: These terms can often be highly confusing to those not in some level of the IT industry. Ray Wiley, CEO and co-founder of…

Domino's suffers another down week on NYSE

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

Papa John's, Papa Murphy's and Pizza Hut all posted nice gains in value in stock trading last week, while Domino's continued to fizzle for another week.

In trading, March comes 'in like a lion' for Domino's

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

In weather lore, March skies that come "in like a lion" are assured to go "out like a lamb," but it remains to be seen whether that same forecasting axiom…

&pizza's 'Hallway Pizza Guy' shows the power of responsive marketing

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

Today's pizza marketing environment leaves little time for deliberation and this week, &pizza's quick, creative response to the so-called Hallway Pizza Guy…

Louisville Pizza artist's love of fermentation goes beyond the dough

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

There's nothing new about fermentation for pizza crafters since the crust itself is the product of dough fermentation. But when it comes to the toppings, this…

Domino's, Papa John's land in the 'doghouse' with investors last week

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

Earnings reports can make a world of difference in any publicly traded pizza brand's value, which Domino's and Papa John's proved last week.

Why pizza brands should pay attention to the buzz about non-buzz-producing drinks

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

Is non-alcohol drinking really a "thing"? Well, if Coke, Gordon's or some of the world's best chefs have anything to say about it, it is. Here's why pizza…

Traders give Papa John's, cheese producers most Valentine's Week 'love'

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

Love -- in the form of investor dollars -- was most plentiful during the last Valentine's Week for one turmoil-embroiled pizza brand, as well as many of the…

Foodservice Packaging Institute: Restaurateurs struggle for options to single-use packaging

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

There may never have been a more contentious time for restaurant brands when it comes to their dependence on single-use packaging. Read on for news about what…

Markets poised for trader action after Papa John's investment announcement

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

Pizza stocks will be among those to watch in the week ahead after Papa John's announced its $200 million cash infusion from turnaround company, Starboard Value…

Papa John's sells $200M stake in brand, names new board chair, member

A New York-based turnaround investor pumps $200 million into Papa John's and adds a new board chair and one other member to the brand's board of directors.

At Spin Pizza, growth means rolling right into community's 'embrace'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Spin Pizza Founding Partner Ed Brownell discusses how the brand's recent rebranding will help it grow.

In the run-up to Super (pizza) Bowl, commodity winners, losers emerge

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

The winners and losers were evident in the commodities report this week, as it was split right down the middle. Half the brands watched here weekly gained…

Could Pie Five's 'Goldilocks' be its golden opportunity?

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

In the famous children's story, Goldilocks, the pint-sized heroine goes through the paces to land on something that's "just right." Now Pie Five hopes its…

Attention new brands: Make Perfect Pitch nominations by June 14 or miss the chance of a lifetime

New brands have until June 14 to apply for a chance to win a spot on stage in the popular Perfect Pitch restaurant standoff at the Fast Casual Executive Summit…

Commodities: Rising stock values, falling commodity prices help operators fight 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase

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

It's costing nearly 3 percent more to live in the U.S. this year than last, according to the Consumer Price Index cost-of-living adjustment for 2019, but the…