Who's our No. 1? - Networld Media Group

followers, and is working to do the same on
Twitter as well. Monical’s menu includes a
gluten-free pizza, and the company’s online
store features its in-house Sweet & Tart
French dressing.
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leapfrogpos.com
Nick’s Pizza and Pub
Crystal Lake, Ill.
Nick Sarillo, a former construction worker,
opened his first pizzeria in 1995, and has since
received a wave of media attention, including
a cover photo on the Feb. 1, 2010 issue of
Inc. magazine, due to his company’s impressive
employee retention rate of 80 percent
and his philanthropic efforts. The company
surprised guests one evening a few years ago
by picking up the checks – a $20,000 gesture
aimed at helping families during the recession.
The brand has been ranked as one of
the most successful independent pizzerias in
per-store sales in the U.S.
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Brixx Woodfired Pizza
Belmont, N.C.
Since its beginning in 1998, Brixx Woodfired
Pizza wanted to push healthy options onto
consumers. Salads and vegetarian items
have always been a part of its menu and the
company has added whole wheat, glutenfree,
and vegan crusts, as well as vegan
cheese. Located in North and South Carolina,
Virginia and Tennessee, Brixx only uses
brick ovens, giving the pizzas a wood fired
taste. Brixx believes in recycling, and most
of its beers are on tap to help eliminate
waste. The company also supports numerous
local and national charities.
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Chuck E. Cheese
Irving, Texas
For years, Chuck E. Cheese restaurants were
known more for its indoor playground than
its food. The company is working to change
that, though, in an effort to make the restaurant
an enjoyable experience for adults as
well. Last year, the company announced it
would begin making its dough in the restaurants
rather than have it shipped in frozen.
In addition, the company dropped its frozen
cheese blend in favor of freshly shredded
mozzarella. The company has added online
games to its website, and spent $68 million
in 2011 updating its stores and adding new
games. It is also testing gluten-free pizzas in
Minnesota.
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Foreign Brands
As American brands increasingly explore
new markets overseas, they may encounter
more competition than expected from
the home teams. Foreign brands, such as
Eagle Boys, Pizza Express and Hell’s Pizza,
are stepping up their game in attempt to
maintain their market share and improve
the customer experience. For example,
Pizza Express, which operates about 450
restaurants in the United Kingdom, Europe,
Asia and the Middle East, recently
launched a major rebranding effort, which
includes a new logo, celebrity ad campaigns,
menu additions such as a low-fat
Leggera pizzas, and an iPhone app that
provides a restaurant locator, menu and
special offers, and allows guests to order,
make reservations and pay via PayPal. Australia’s
Eagle Boys has outwardly communicated
that it’s growing in the attempts to
take over No. 1 Domino’s in that market,
and has added quick-service non-traditional
units to its portfolio. And New Zealand’s
Hell Pizza always generates media coverage
with its creative advertising and social
media campaigns.
37 Giordano’s
Chicago
Based on a long-standing Italian family
tradition, Giordano’s has been in existence
in Chicago for nearly 40 years. Famous for
its deep dish Chicago-style stuffed pizza, it
has also opened several locations in Florida.
Giordano’s pizzas can be ordered online
and shipped anywhere in the U.S. Giordano’s
filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and has
since been purchased by Victory Park Capital
(VPC) Pizza Holdings for $52 million.
VPC has pledged to help spread the iconic
Chicago restaurant throughout the U.S.
without terminating current employees at
the Illinois and Florida locations.
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Papa Gino’s
East Boston, Mass.
Papa Gino's got its start in 1961 as "Piece
O' Pizza," later changing to Papa Gino’s. In
1997 the company bought D'Angelo Sandwich
Shops and today there are more than
370 Papa Gino's, D'Angelo and dual-location
restaurants, primarily in New England. The
company is moving beyond the traditional
lunch and dinner dayparts with its “anytime
menu,” featuring its signature fillings rolled
into crusty pizza dough. Papa Gino’s has
also taken part in the “better burger” movement,
adding a number of Angus burgers to
its menu, and has embraced technology in
its marketing efforts, offering online ordering
and discounts to customers who “like” the
restaurant on Facebook.
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