2006: A Year in Review

Following is a look at the serious and funny events transpiring last year in the pizza industry.

Gift cards boost profits

Huge sales prove customers love gift cards.

Visa USA Pledges $20MM to protect cardholder data

December 11, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — Visa USA announced it will offer $20 million in financial incentives and create new sanctions in an effort to further merchant compliance with…

NAPICS preview

December 10, 2006

Operators can taste a few good pies and lick the best ice cream and gelato at the 2007 North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show, where 4,500 pizza makers and…

Manny & Olga's Pizza launch ONOSYS online ordering system

December 5, 2006

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Seven-unit Manny & Olga's Pizza, based in Washington D.C., has selected ONOSYS to provide online ordering capabilities to all of its…

Mangia Pizza shipping stuffed pizzas online and nationwide

November 30, 2006

Austin Business Journal: Six-unit Mangia Pizza is now selling its stuffed pizza online and shipping it nationwide — overnight, if customers desire.   Read more

Mr. Jim's Pizza adds online ordering

November 27, 2006

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — Mr. Jim's Pizza is providing online ordering at all franchisee locations. According to a news release, Mr. Jim's operates 74 units. …

Papa John's and Blockbuster partner on movie-gift card promo

November 26, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Users of www.papajohns.com can get unmatched access to movies for a free 14-day trial period through a new alliance with Blockbuster and…

NEXTEP SYSTEMS launches Pizza Builder for online ordering

November 21, 2006

TROY, Mich. — NEXTEP SYSTEMS announced the launch of Release 3.0, its dynamic Online Ordering application for quick-service, fast-casual and pizza operations.

Papa John's Pizza signs title sponsorship of Papajohns.com Bowl

November 16, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Papajohns.com, the online ordering site of Papa John's Pizza, signed a multiyear agreement as the title sponsor of the inaugural…

Papa John's Pizza rolls out holiday gift cards

November 13, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hoping to reduce customer holiday stress, Papa John's is selling gift cards.   According to a news release, the cards are sold in $…

O-Web changes eOrderManager online ordering software to ONOSYS

November 9, 2006

CLEVELAND — O-Web Technologies, designers of the eOrderManager online ordering software package, announced that it has changed the software's name to ONOSYS.

Restaurants drive Wi-Fi growth in North America

November 5, 2006

Wireless Week: North America and Europe are expected to lead the Wi-Fi hot spot charge, according to new findings from ABI Research. The firm predicts…

CiCi's Pizza launches online educational games

October 23, 2006

COPPELL, Texas — CiCi's Pizza is launching two new online interactive games, Numberzerk and Kaplink, at cicispizza.com.   According to a news release, both…

U.K. pizza association forms alliance with orderTalk

October 11, 2006

IRVING, Texas — orderTalk Inc. and the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association (PAPA) in the United Kingdom have entered into a strategic alliance for the…

Papa John's Pizza intros Web ordering in Spanish

October 4, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Papa John's Pizza has added Spanish text to its online ordering site (papajohns.com) to better serve Hispanic consumers.   According to a…

Rascal House Pizza launches online ordering

August 30, 2006

CLEVELAND — Think independent pizzerias are too small to afford and benefit from online ordering? Think again. Six-unit Rascal House Pizza in Cleveland has…

Pizza Pan reaps benefits of new online ordering system

August 9, 2006

CLEVELAND — eOrderManager, an innovative new software package that allows customers to place food orders online, was recently launched at Pizza Pan, home of…

Online ordering is becoming affordable for pizzerias

August 9, 2006

If you own a pizzeria, chances are you have considered employing an online ordering system. If not, maybe it's time. 

Search Marketing: The new, hip way to reach your target audience

Pizza operators enjoy good organic search traffic while QSRs face several obstacles.