Pizza

Marketing

California Pizza Kitchen hopes a fake rebrand will get people talking

The casual-dining chain created some buzz this week by unveiling a bold new look, only to reverse course with the help of actress and superfan Busy Philipps.

Marketing

Restaurants jump through hoops to lure March Madness fans

College basketball fever goes beyond sports bars and wing joints this year, as steakhouses, pizza chains and Asian concepts compete to score big.

After a year of re-energizing marketing, simplifying operations and closing 13 restaurants, the 46-unit fast-casual pizza chain now hopes to reach 300 mostly franchised units by 2030.

The pickles and hot honey dominating 2024 pies are making room for different toppings this year. Crusts are getting some action, too.

The quick-service pizza chain upgraded its Papa Rewards program in November, which the company argues is getting lapsed customers ordering pizzas again.

The pizza delivery chain struggled to generate positive same-store sales last quarter, but it still led a sector that is having a tough time in an unfavorable restaurant market.

A media report said an investment fund backed by the Qatar royal family is considering a bid for the pizza chain. The stock is up 30% this week.

The Detroit-style pizza chain received a $32.5 million growth investment from majority investor Savory Fund along with Asilia Investments and Brightwood Capital. The concept plans to double its unit count by 2028.

The pizza chain itself is among the buyers who won the right to buy restaurants owned by the bankrupt EYM Group for nearly $12 million. The locations are in Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia and South Carolina.

The Connecticut-based tavern-style pizza chain that was created because its owner had some space to fill just hired a new president in Carl Bachmann and is intent on taking the next step.

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