by Herb Woerpel

Looking to order a tasty pizza pie, but hate dealing with lengthy hold times and confused clerks over the phone?
Now hungry residents can order pizzas, breadsticks, soda pop and a list of other items from multiple pizzerias across the greater southeastern Grand Rapids area with the click of a mouse.

Large chains, such as Pizza Hut and Papa John’s are currently accepting online orders at several of their West Michigan locations. Several other area pizzerias plan on joining them in the e-tail business in months to come.

Papa John’s currently offers online ordering at all of its locations nationwide, including their 4236 Kalamazoo Ave. and 2367 44th St. Kentwood locations.

Papa John’s cyber customers may place their orders outside of store hours and choose a specific time for the pizza to be made and delivered later that day.

Pizza Hut offers similar options, allowing customers to select their choice in crusts, toppings, drinks, salads, desserts and more. Patrons simply have to register with an email address and select a password prior to placing an order. After entering their address, the Web site automatically connects customers with the closest Pizza Hut accepting online orders.

“Online ordering has been a very valuable service for our restaurant and people have definitely been taking advantage of it,” said Curt Teachout, manager at Caledonia’s 6450 100th St. SE Pizza Hut. “Customers seem to enjoy the convenience of ordering without making a phone call. So far it has been a well-utilized ordering option.”

Pizza Hut does not offer online ordering at all of its restaurants. Online ordering is currently available at its 6670 Kalamazoo Ave. and 5524 Division Ave. Kentwood restaurants, but not at its 4257 Kalamazoo Ave. location.

Currently about 1,000 of Domino’s more than 7,000 outlets offer online ordering. Their 1429 60th St. location is currently not accepting online orders.

Hungry Howie’s Pizza offers online ordering at select restaurants in Ohio and North Carolina, but not at their 5428 Eastern Ave. SE location.

Smaller chains such as Peppino’s Pizza, which operates 12 pizzerias across West Michigan, are breaking into the online ordering market.

Peppino’s has been developing an online ordering system for several months and by the end of January, hope to offer online ordering at all 12 of their locations, including their 9952 Cherry Valley Ave. restaurant in Caledonia and their Kentwood location at 2903 Breton Road.

“Online ordering is designed for the convenience of the customer. For example, you can order lunch on a Blackberry in the middle of a business meeting without making a peep and have it ready for pick up or delivery by the time the meeting is over,” said Peppino’s Pizza Franchise Director Eric Tuinstra.

“You can program your favorite pizza into the computer, save coupons and payment preferences, or even set delivery times for future dates.”

Area restaurant managers said hungry patrons should not be afraid their order will be lost in transition.

“We haven’t missed an order yet. When customers order online, it comes through our system just like a phone order or an order from the counter,” said Teachout. “The only one who ever knows the difference is the manager when he details the source of the delivery on his computer.”

Tuinstra agreed, saying that freak accidents do occur, but a customer should order with confidence when ordering from their computer.

“There’s a possibility the pizzeria could miss a fax, lose signal on a cell phone, have the battery die on a pager or other instances,” Tuinstra said. “Other than that there really aren’t any disadvantages to online ordering.”

Popularity: 32% [?]

  DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pizza has long been the food of choice for video game fans and now Pizza Hut, America’s Favorite Pizza, is giving gamers an opportunity to play their favorites in style with the “Gamer Fantasy Package” from Pizza Hut and GameFly.com. Click on Gamer Fantasy Package for details.

Playing three different video-game systems on a big screen plasma TV while enjoying surround sound and free Pizza Hut pizza for a year might sound like a dream, but that prize package will become very real for one lucky winner. And, with the new promotion, everyone who orders online at pizzahut.com will get 30 days of free game rentals from GameFly.com.

“Gamers have always been big fans of Pizza Hut so this sweepstakes is a natural fit,” said Brian Niccol, Pizza Hut CMO. “Your next online order at pizzahut.com could be your ticket to a gaming package that will make you the envy of all your friends.”

Order Online for Your Chance to Win

From May 27 through July 26, customers ordering online at pizzahut.com can enter for their chance to win the “Gamer’s Fantasy Package.” One lucky winner will take home a prize package valued at over $10,000, including a 60” LG Plasma TV, an XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation3 gaming systems, a Bose Home Theater System, a Berkline home theater seating set and a popcorn machine. GameFly.com will make sure you have plenty of games to play on your new systems with a free one-year subscription, while Pizza Hut will make sure you don’t go hungry with a year’s worth of free pizza. Five first prize winners will receive one-year trial memberships to GameFly.com, while 500 second-prize winners will receive 60 day trial memberships. Official rules and contest details are available at pizzahut.com.

Everyone’s a Winner with a Free Month of GameFly.com

Even if you don’t take home the Gamers Fantasy Package, you can still score big with a free month of GameFly.com when you order online at pizzahut.com. Beginning May 27th, customers placing an online order will receive a code good for 30 days of free game rentals from GameFly.com, a $22.95 value. GameFly.com is your ticket to thousands of your favorite video game titles delivered right to you door.

The P’Zone is Back!

If you’ve got one hand glued to your game controller and only one hand free for eating, then you’ll be glad to welcome back the P’Zone. The P’Zone from Pizza Hut has savory toppings and mozzarella cheese sealed inside a folded 12” pizza crust, perfect for feeding hungry gamers while they’re otherwise occupied. Each P’Zone is baked calzone-style and served with marinara sauce. P’Zones come in one of three flavors: Classic, Meaty, and Pepperoni. With over a pound of ingredients baked inside, you can get one P’Zone for $5.99 or two for $10.99.

About Pizza Hut

As the world’s largest pizza restaurant company with almost 6,200 restaurants in the United States and more than 4,000 restaurants in 100 other countries, Pizza Hut, Inc., is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). The company’s 49-year legacy of leadership and innovation has made it the recognized leader in the $37 billion pizza category. Those hungry for more information can go to the official Pizza Hut Website at www.pizzahut.com.

About GameFly

GameFly™ is the leading online video game rental service. With a choice of more than 5,000 titles, GameFly offers the widest selection of games for the PlayStation® 2, PlayStation® 3, Xbox™, Xbox 360™, GameCube™, Game Boy™ Advance, Nintendo DS™, Nintendo Wii™ and PSP™ without the hassle of due dates or late fees. With plans starting at $15.95 a month, GameFly subscribers can rent one to four games at a time and keep them for as long as they like. Subscribers manage their GameQ™ online and receive games directly from the U.S. Postal Service via first class mail. GameFly is also a great source for high quality, used video games at exceptional prices. For more information and a free trial, please visit www.gamefly.com.

Popularity: 35% [?]

Everyone is feeling the pain at the pump, but imagine if your income and job depended on how much was in your tank. Well, that’s exactly the case for people in the delivery business. We caught up with two local pizza deliverers who say the high gas prices are leaving their pockets empty.

Jim Talley is the owner of Pizza Pronto in Columbus.

The sign on the front of his business reads Free Delivery, but he says that may be changing soon.

“If prices continue to be high, you will see an increase in our price and we have not had one of those in 18 years. We’ve shortened our delivery area some,” says Talley.

And James Lee starts his car over 20 times a day to deliver pizza’s for Pizza Hut.

He’s been a delivery man for the past 15 years and says he’s never wanted to get another job until now.

“I’m trying to hang on to this one. I’ve had it for quite some time and I like my job, but the gas makes it rough,” says Lee.

Lee is like all other pizza deliverers who have to provide their own gas.

It takes about $65.00 to fill up the tank in his 97 Ford Explorer, but the amount he gets paid per delivery isn’t putting the same amount he spends in gas back in his pocket, leaving him in the red on many nights.

“Well I mean it averages out sometimes it’s good and sometimes its bad, depending on how the deliveries are coming in,” adds Lee.

We followed Lee on a delivery.

It took us about seven miles to get to the customer.

Lee says sometimes the trip is longer than that.

“It’s cheaper to pay the pizza guy to deliver than drive and go get the pizza. At $4.00 a gallon, I don’t drive anymore. If I can avoid it, I walk,” says customer, Jason Gilbert.

And as for Lee, he says he’s going to try to tough it out a little longer.

But until gas prices go down, he says his routine will probably stay the same, leaving his customers stomachs full and his gas tank on E.

Popularity: 30% [?]

It was inevitable that someone would capitalize on the American passion for pizza and beer, and literally put two and two together.

Illinois homebrewer and entrepreneur Tom Seefurth contracted with Sprecher Brewery in Glendale, Wis., to produce Mamma Mia! Pizza Beer, brewed with tomatoes, garlic, oregano and basil.

Seefurth was the first to admit that a pizza beer is not the type you would want to chug a six-pack of. He described it as a “culinary beer,” designed to drink with food.

I had an experience with something similar when I tried a thyme beer at a former brewpub in De Pere, Wis. By itself, it tasted awful, but with a pizza, it wasn’t too bad. So with that in mind, I had a Pizza Beer by itself and later with some pizza bread.

The aroma was encouraging - it was mostly like fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza dough with a hint of garlic, though the garlic became more pronounced as the beer warmed up.

The copper-colored beer was nice and clear with a head that didn’t last too long. The first taste started off with the tomato and garlic dominating, and the oregano and basil coming through more in the aftertaste. The flavor is all pizza, overwhelming any actual beer flavor, though I could tell the base beverage wasn’t just some cheap mass-produced knockoff.

The flavors were solid, but this is not a beer I would ever drink again by itself. I had another with some pizza bread and it did complement it well. On the other hand, I like a somewhat plain beer with my pizza in order to counteract the excessive salt and oil in most of them. And since I like pizza with lots of garlic, fresh tomatoes, herbs, etc., do I really need a beer with the same ingredients?

That’s something people will have to decide for themselves.

Although it’s currently only sold in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, Seefurth said the beer can be mail-ordered from Sam’s Wines and Spirits 800-777-9137; www.samswine.com, and Top Shelf Wine and Spirits 847-214-8300; www.topshelfwineandspirits.com, if your state allows shipping of alcohol products.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Tuesday, Papa John’s International, Inc. (PZZA), an operator and franchisee of pizza delivery and carryout restaurants, announced that it has added a 100% whole-wheat crust to its menu effective May 26. The new menu would be available at the more than 2,700 Papa John’s restaurants in the US.

The Louisville, Kentucky-based company said whole-wheat crust, containing 40 grams of whole grains per serving, which is more than 80% of an entire day’s recommended intake, will be delivered in a special pizza box with the official “100% Whole Grain Stamp” from the Whole Grains Council.

PZZA is currently trading at $27.93, up $0.11 or 0.40%, on a volume of 100,411 shares on the Nasdaq.

Popularity: 29% [?]

 CLEVELAND, May 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — ONOSYS Online Ordering, a leading provider of remote ordering technologies for pizza, quick-service, and casual sit-down restaurants, today announced the launch of online ordering in Canada for Papa John’s (NASDAQ: PZZA), at www.papajohnspizza.ca.

The ONOSYS online ordering technology will provide Papa John’s customers with a quick and simple way to view menu choices and place orders for pickup or delivery. Intelligent technologies incorporated into the ONOSYS design also provide each restaurant with detailed sales and marketing data, enabling individual restaurants to customize each customer’s web experience.

“Papa John’s is the recognized industry-leader in online ordering with more than 40 million orders taken since the company was the first to launch online ordering in the U.S. in 2001,” said Rob Wathen, director Restaurant Systems of Papa John’s International. “Expanding online ordering to our Canadian customers is a high priority as we ramp-up restaurant development in Canada. We selected ONOSYS to partner with because of their experience in pizza and quick service concepts. We were also impressed with their systems’ flexibility, and their willingness to provide a solution that meets our needs, and the needs of our customers.”

As part of its international expansion plans, Papa John’s recently announced the signing of development agreements to open 57 additional restaurants in Canada to compliment the 18 that are currently open throughout Western Canada.

“We are thrilled to have been selected by Papa John’s to provide online ordering in Canada, and look forward to exploring additional international markets with them,” said Stan Garber, Senior Sales Manager & Partner of ONOSYS. “Since Papa John’s is a pioneer and leader when it comes to online food ordering, this was a great validation of the quality of the ONOSYS product and services team. We look forward to helping them grow the sales in their locations by enhancing the customer experience through tools like easy repeat ordering, intelligent up-selling, email marketing, and loyalty programs.”

Popularity: 30% [?]

 New Applications, Start Page Modules and Embeddable Widgets Deliver Specials and Favorites Right to Desktop

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — In its continuous quest to be the technology leader among the nation’s pizza companies - first introducing system wide online ordering in 2001 and then text message ordering in 2007 - Papa John’s (NASDAQ: PZZA) has now launched ‘myPapa(SM’), a unique set of widgets that streams exclusive product discounts, personalized Favorites, and incentives to customers’ desktops. The suite of widgets can also be embedded on favorite personalized startpages and available right where consumers log on to receive up-to-date information.
Downloadable at www.papajohns.com, myPapa users now have access to a number of features not available through Papa John’s traditional online and e-mail channels.

Every day, myPapa customers will receive as many as 12 custom discounts and product offers, accessible by simply clicking on the myPapa widget installed on their computer desktop. These discounts and online coupons will be restaurant-specific and streaming 24-hours a day.

“MyPapa will offer deals that are relevant to each individual customer and will be accessible the minute hunger strikes. No sifting through e-mails, newspaper coupons, or online offers necessary - it’s all right there on your desktop, start page, social network page or blog,” said Jim Ensign, vice president of marketing communications for Papa John’s International, Inc. “Does your family order the same two pizzas every week? Then you will love the convenience of ordering a Favorite with a click. Or are you always the first to try Papa John’s new specialty pizzas and side items? Then you’ll be the first to hear about new additions made to our menu.”

According to eMarketer, widgets are implemented by many of the 69 million adults and 15 million teens who will use social network sites in 2008. That represents 43.5% of adults and 77% of the teen Internet population.

With just a click of the mouse, customers can select the Papa John’s pizza box icon displayed on their desktop to access discount offers and place an order. As with www.papajohns.com, advance online ordering is also accessible via myPapa - letting customers place their order up to 21 days in advance of their preferred delivery or pick-up date and time. In addition, myPapa provides direct access to the Papa John’s menu and nutritional information, restaurant locator, and catering menu, and even allows pizza lovers to send Papa John’s gift cards.

“Having recently surpassed the $1 billion mark in online sales, we strive to continue offering digital innovations that make our customers’ lives easier,” said Ensign. “MyPapa is our latest convenience innovation for customers - a convenient and non-intrusive application that allows for quick and easy ordering, tailored to each individual’s preference.”

To download the myPapa application and experience the latest revolution in pizza ordering, visit www.papajohns.com/widgets.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world’s third largest pizza company. For eight years running, consumers have rated Papa John’s No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the highly regarded American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John’s also ranks first among pizza companies in the 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index and was named 2007 Pizza Today Chain of the Year. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John’s at www.papajohns.com.

SOURCE: Papa John’s International, Inc.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Brisbane owned Pizza Capers has announced an ambitious growth strategy to operate a network of 100 stores in the next two years and establish a presence in New South Wales and Victoria.

Based in Queensland and starting with one concept store in Toowong in 1996, partners Scott Geiszler and Anthony Russo have built a franchised chain with 25 stores in Brisbane, selling over one million pizzas per year.

Geiszler and Russo plan to open another 24 stores across the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and North Queensland regions by the end of 2008.

Expansion into Sydney and Melbourne is flagged for 2009.

“Demand from existing franchisees to open a second and even third store will provide a strong platform to propel the company’s growth in Brisbane and we are on track to become the city’s biggest pizza franchise,” says Geiszler.

“Almost 80 percent of our current franchisees own second stores or are in negotiations to open a second store which is testament to the financial success of our franchise system.”

Geiszler says the company is very well positioned for future growth, with a strong business model in place, strong customer and franchisee demand, and a long-term vision.

Pizza Capers began franchising in 2005, resulting in 11 new stores opening in three years up to April 2008.

“Our most significant challenge so far has been the growth from an independent business to a small multi-store business and now a medium-sized company,” says Geiszler.

“We faced significant corporate costs and payroll taxes as well as difficulties in finding the right staff.”

Pizza Capers is expected to report a 40 percent increase in revenue to more than $15 million in the year ended June 2008.

Geizler attributes the success of the company to its unrelenting focus on using good quality ingredients.

He also boasts one of the lowest-oil pizza bases with 4ml of oil used per 200ml of dough and reduced fat cheese on all pizzas.

The company also sought to secure a competitive advantage with the first gluten free pizza base on the market in 2003.

“We were also the first Queensland company to offer internet ordering in 2001 and in 2002 we developed a line of fresh pastas and sauces using a special cooking style unique to Pizza Capers,” says Geiszler.

“We want to cater to a wide range of customers and we will concentrate on introducing new menu items and providing innovative ideas as well as continuing to provide excellent service levels.”

Pizza Capers was ranked 16th fastest-growing franchise by revenue and 19th fastest-growing franchise by outlet in BRW’s Fast Franchises 2008.

Popularity: 32% [?]

CHICAGO, May 14 (Reuters) - Papa John’s International Inc (PZZA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it will soon begin nationwide sales of a whole-wheat pizza crust, a move that comes as pizza sellers are striving to spark flagging traffic.

The company said it would be the first national pizza chain to roll out a 100 percent whole-wheat crust when it debuts the product at all of its roughly 2,700 domestic restaurants on May 26. Customers can order the whole wheat crust on any of its large-size pizzas at no additional cost.

Restaurant companies are responding to consumer demand for healthier menu items by offering more natural and organic food.

The company did not say how the introduction of the whole wheat crust will affect its bottom line. It also declined to say what it would spend to promote the new crust.

Popularity: 29% [?]

LEAMINGTON, Ontario, May 12 /CNW/ — Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, this month celebrates its 25th anniversary in Canada and Mike Schlater, who opened the first Domino’s Pizza store outside the United States on May 12, 1983, is celebrating his homecoming after recently being named president of the Master Franchise.
    Today, Domino’s Pizza stores throughout Canada will be donating $2.50 per order to local charities in celebration of the 25th anniversary.    Founded in 1960 in the U.S. college town of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Domino’s Pizza grew slowly but steadily throughout the United States in its first 20 years, but it was a pioneering young entrepreneur who saw the potential to deliver pizza to hungry customers in Canada. Mike Schlater, originally from Ohio, opened his first store in Winnipeg, thus turning Domino’s Pizza into an
international enterprise, which today has more than 8,600 stores in more than 55 countries.

    In 2008, Domino’s Pizza of Canada Ltd. is a system comprised of 140 individual franchise owners, who operate a combined 280 stores. Domino’s Pizza has a presence in every province, and two of the three territories. The northern-most store in the Western Hemisphere is in Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories. Delivery personnel there can often be seen making deliveries via snowmobile when the weather dictates. The store that lays claim to being the “most remote” Domino’s Pizza store in Canada is in Whitehorse, Yukon.

    Schlater, who operated stores in Canada for several years before becoming a multi-store franchisee with stores across the U.S., recently returned to Canada after being named President of Domino’s Pizza Canada Ltd., which is now based in Leamington, Ontario.
    “I feel like I’ve come full circle,” said Schlater. “It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago, I was just opening that first store in Winnipeg and now, I’ve got the pleasure of leading this great company into the next quarter century. We’ve had our ups and downs over the years, but the strength of our system is in our business model and in our franchisees. I see great things in store for us.”

    Schlater noted that Domino’s Pizza is looking to build momentum by opening at least 75 stores within the next five years, with the goal of having at least 350 Domino’s Pizza stores operating by the end of 2013, the year in which Domino’s Pizza of Canada will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Popularity: 9% [?]