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.

Pizza driver robbed and murdered in Cincinnati

December 19, 2006

The Cincinnati Enquirer: A Donatos Pizza delivery driver was robbed and murdered during a late-night shift on Dec. 19. Authorities identified the man as Jeff…

Fingerprint I.D. safe foils pizzeria robbery

December 18, 2006

NBC2.com: An attempted robbery at Perky's Pizza in Leigh Acres, Fla., was foiled when thieves couldn't access the contents of a safe designed to be opened via…

Trans-fat bans based on junk science

Columnist: Anti-trans-fat research doesn't warrant bans.

Marco's Pizza hires former Domino's president as EVP

December 13, 2006

TOLEDO, Ohio — Marco's Pizza announced the appointment of P. David Black, former president and chief operating officer at Domino's Pizza in the 1990s, as its…

FDA says Taco Bell's lettuce carried E. coli bacteria

December 13, 2006

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concluded that Taco Bell's lettuce appears to be the most probable source of…

Consumers in favor of NYC trans-fat ban, study says

December 12, 2006

CHICAGO — Foodservice industry research firm, Technomic Inc., has found that 63 percent of restaurant goers nationally support New York City's ban on…

NRA study predicts industry sales of $537 B in '07

December 12, 2006

WASHINGTON D.C. — The restaurant industry will enter its 16th consecutive year of real growth in 2007, according to the National Restaurant Association's…

'Boring' retirement returns Patsy Grimaldi to pizza oven

December 12, 2006

New York Times: After a six-year retirement from Grimaldi's Pizzeria, founder Patsy Grimaldi, 75, is back at the pizza oven.   "I've been retired — it was a…

Pizza chains to watch in 2007

PizzaMarketplace looks at four chains to watch in 2007.

Domino's Pizza drivers in Ireland strike over pay

December 11, 2006

The Irish Examiner: Fifty Domino's Pizza drivers protested what they claim is low by walking a picket line on Dec. 8, a commonly busy Friday night.   "When we…

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…

Four chains to watch

December 10, 2006

Market changer: Little Caesars Pizza   Privately held Little Caesars Pizza doesn't share clear details about its operation, but according to past officers of…

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…

Gelato boosts profits

December 10, 2006

If pizza ever had a soul mate, it would surely be gelato. Both have ancient roots in Italy, and both are comfort foods.   The one glaring difference: pizza…

Baking with a full deck

December 10, 2006

Friday nights at Family New York Pizza used to be the best of times and the worst of times for Rob Papile. Business would boom at his Tannersville, Pa.…

Add sandwiches to your menu

December 10, 2006

When it came time to open her first pizzeria, Loriann Sorce carried over one staple from her past restaurant ventures: sandwiches. She understood the value of…

Papa John's predicts domestic comps growth of 2% in '07

December 7, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Papa John's International predicted 2007 will be a solid year for sales, but comparably less exciting than '05 and '06, when it strung…

Survey depicts 'holiday' takeout habits

December 7, 2006

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Some 56 percent of American consumers will order takeout one or two nights a week this holiday season, according to new survey from…