Here is the inside scoop for Pizza Expo 2012

Listen as Tony G. talks about what he will be doing at Pizza Expo:

Keynote Addresses

The first two days of Pizza Expo will kick off with remarks from a couple of industry standouts with very different stories to tell.

Tuesday, March 13, begins with a speech—open to all attendees—by Nick Sarillo, owner of two hugely popular Nick’s Pizza & Pub locations in suburban Chicago.

Dubbed two years ago as the “Blue-Collar Millionaire” by Inc. magazine, Sarillo left his first career as a home-builder and dusted off some old family recipes to enter the pizza business in 1995. He placed two goals among his top priorities: creating a family-friendly restaurant that would become a hub for repeat business; and molding a new model for employee culture, one that drives his staff to stay longer and work harder.

That he’s succeeded is obvious by the multi-million-dollar revenue at both Nick’s restaurants, and by the advance interest in his new book outlining his business philosophy, A Slice of the Pie, scheduled for releas in summer 2012.

Wednesday, March 14, will be launched with a 7:45 a.m. keynote by Marla Topliff, president of another suburban Chicago-based success story—the 170-unit Rosati’s Pizza chain.

She’ll share her personal journey from local representative for Welcome Wagon to a position as its national sales manager, and relate how some of Welcome Wagon’s then-novel neighborhood marketing tactics still apply today. But Topliff credits another position she held while raising her children as her truest training ground: president of the local PTA. She’ll explain how running a Parent Teacher Association group educated her in the arts of politics and persuasion, and helped fuel her rise from marketing director to president at Rosati’s, where she is one of the top women executives in the pizza business.

She’ll also address the role marketing has played in Rosati’s tremendous growth and explain how the company’s cohesive brand image continues to solidify its success.

Competitions

For the 2012 show, we’re adding a new demonstration area—located on the Exhibit Hall floor and outfitted with stadium seating—allowing us to expand the International Pizza Challenge? while continuing the Making Dough With Tony Gemignani workshops and a full slate of pizza-making and hot-topic menu item demonstrations.

The Pizza Challenge will feature four divisions in March 2012: Traditional and Non-Traditional, plus the first-time categories of American-Pan and Italian-Style. Attendees can observe the preparation and judging of these entries and taste the pies themselves to form their own opinions. Winners in each division move on to the Pizza Maker of the Year finals.

The Challenge will also bring back past Pizza Maker of the Year winners for a special “Best of the Best” competition that is sure to wow the audience.

Seminars and Workshops
Among the 75-plus seminars and cooking demonstrations will be these special new sessions:

Power Panels

We’ll convene panels consisting of top operators who are on the cutting edge in their approaches to top-of-mind topics. You’ll be able to learn from the best on subjects including: finding and keeping the best pizzeria employees, building blocks for profitable menus and proven tactics for driving business with social media marketing.

Operator Presentations

We’ve gone to great lengths to bring in more pizza owners and operators to speak about how they excel in specific segments of the business. Among the operator-presenters appearing at Pizza Expo 2012 are: Peter Cooperstein of Amici’s on delivery, Glenn Cybulski of Seasons Pizzeria and Clovers Sports Bar on appetizers, Doug Ferriman of Crazy Dough’s on selling slices, Clayton Krueger of Farrelli’s on social media, George Hadjis of Oggi’s on building community partnerships—and several more.

Super-Segment Thursday

Seminar sessions on the final morning of Pizza Expo will be turned over to special topics presented by those who know them best—pizza people. The morning will begin with a Power Panel on social media marketing featuring advanced practitioners of this new advertising art. Breakout sessions will follow: Bill Jacobs of Piece Pizza on his branding campaign, Mike Rangel of Asheville Pizza and Brewing on tapping higher beer sales, Matt Galvin of Pagliacci’s on growing the catering segment, Michael Shepherd of Michael Angelo’s on working well with vendors—and more.

Pre-Show Monday

After a well-attended day of workshops and seminars geared toward new operators and first-time attendees in 2011, we’re expanding the offerings in 2012. In addition to repeating Big Dave Ostrander’s workshop, “So You Want to Open a Pizzeria,” a second pay-to-attend session is being added: “How to Turn Your Good Restaurant Into a Great Business” with restaurant business guru Jim Laube.
A special Power Panel—“The $2 Million Club”—will also convene, featuring Tony Gemignani, Peter Cooperstein, George Hadjis, Bill Jacobs and Mike Rangel, all of whom preside over pizza operations that average $2 million-plus per unit in revenue. Their subject: “How to Outcompete the Big Chains.”
And a track of afternoon seminars for first-time attendees is being added to go with the track for new operators that was so well attended at our last show.

Here is what Tony had to say to me last year at The Pizza Expo:

As a side note:

Attending Pizza Expo 2012
will be an incredible opportunuty for you and your business!

If you are serious about your pizza business, just do it!

Respectfully submitted,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter

Scott Anthony Pizza Consultant and Author of "Profits in the Pie".

Scott Anthony knows pizza. From his humble pizza shop in rural Pennsylvania he has built an empire.

Profits in the Pie
is based on his experiences at:

Fox’s Pizza Den
115 N Findley Street
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
814-938-4615
Fox’s Website

Scott’s Pizza Consulting Business Website

Now he is ready to tell all of his secrets. He has published a new book entitled: Profits in the Pie: Effective Marketing Tactics to Seize YOUR Slice of the $38.1 Billion Pizza Pie

This is an outstanding book for anyone who is in the pizza business. Or for anyone who is seriously considering the pizza business.

Anthony holds nothing back here. He reveals all of his secrets, and what has made him a success.

I personally know Scott and I can attest to his expertise in the business.

One of the best things about him, is that he and his pizzeria, give much back to the community.

That may be an inkling to his wildly successful restaurant.

He is able to go head to head with much larger chains. As a matter of fact the town he is located in: Punxsutawney, PA has a population of less than 10,000. Very small by anyone’s standards.

Yet, Scott has been able to grow his business exponentially.

Scott explains:

Profits in the Pie: Effective Marketing Tactics to Seize YOUR Slice of the $38.1 Billion Pizza Pie

“Turn YOUR Passion into Profits’, so you can always do the things you love.
The business tactics and strategies in this book flat out work – not only for
me, but for students and friends of mine. Inside this book you will find tactics
and strategies to:
-Help you envision what your life can be out of the kitchen – Have the time
to do the things you love with the people you love!

-Open your eyes to the possibilities of happiness in the pizzeria – looking
forward to a profitable & enjoyable day at work – everyday!

-Give you marketing ideas that are tried & true – not wasting money, but
making $1000’s!

-Help you easily implement marketing tactics – have an action plan you can
act on making you a local celebrity!

-Tweak ideas & make them your own – be the talk of your town with
‘innovative’ ideas that generate free press!

My 17 years of pizza experience can help put you on your way to the bank.
This book has no theory. It’s operator to operator – and contains what you
need to grow your pizzeria!”

If you run a pizza business or ever thought of the pizza business, you need to grab this book:

Here is my audio review:

Profits in the Pie Review by albert Grande [ 1:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Profits in the Pie: Effective Marketing Tactics to Seize YOUR Slice of the $38.1 Billion Pizza Pie

Also available in Kindle format:

Profits in the Pie

Pizza Beer is here! In the following interview we discover the history of pizza beer, how it was created and the future of pizza beer! Stay tuned to this one, its a sohcker!

I did sample some Mama Mia’s Pizza Beer and I must admit I really liked it. The taste was bold but not overstated. There is a hint of pizza taste with every sip. And believe it or not that is a good thing.

Pizza Beer is the brain child of Chef Tom. He was experimenting with some home brews in his own kitchen when he made the discovery.

He shared it with some Friends and they shared it with their Friends. He knew he had a hit on his hands.

As a matter of fact, one pizzeria in California (Portino’s) actually uses pizza beer as the basis for all of their pizza.

And it’s good. chef Tom uses basic beer ingredients and then adds: basil, oregano , tomato and garlic.
I was able to do an interview with the creator of Pizza Beer, Chef Tom and Frank of Portino’s.

Chef Tom explains the entire history of Mama Mia’s Pizza Beer and Frank explains how he uses Pizza Beer in his pizza.

Here is the story:

You can learn to make your own beer. Who knows where that will take you?

Coopers Brewery DIY Beer Kit (See all Beer Brewing)

This is one of the most amazing pizza ovens, I have ever seen.

Watch as the oven revolves. The pizzas are cooked compleely in just a few minutes.

A most incredible way to cook pizza.

This oven is avaiable from Goodfellas Woodfired Pizza School.
Ask For Scot THE BEST OVENS IN THE WORLD! 718 987- 2422

Music in this video from Glen Kaiser Band.
The Glen Kaiser Band rocks and so does this pizza oven!

pizza on earth,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter

Frank Giovanni helps pizzerias by supplying them with the finast ingredients. Salandino’s has been in the business for over 50 years. They always put their customers first. You can visit them at;

The story of Saladino’s, Inc., is proof that great things can come from personal commitment, unwavering determination and old fashioned family values.

The story begins in Fresno, California, where Don Saladino worked in the meat department of his father’s grocery store. In 1944, Don combined his meat packaging experience with Old World family recipes from Italy’s Calabrese region, and launched Saladino Sausage Company – the business grew quickly and earned a widespread reputation for delicious, high-quality sausage products.

In 1980, Don’s son, Craig, joined his father in the family business. Together, they expanded their product offerings to include specialty sausage and linguica, which they sold to local pizzerias and restaurants. The company’s wide variety of raw and cooked sausage products attracted a loyal following among a growing number of retail and institutional customers.

Visit them, here:
http://saladinos.com/

If you want to purchase pizza supplies for your pizzeria, you need to check out, Saladino’s.
Tell them, Pizza Therapy sent you!

A very important aspect of using the Internet is the use of video. If you are not using video for your website, or your business, you are leaving money on the table.

If you would like a custom video created for your pizzeria, please to go:

The Pizza Promoter.
We can create a website for you. We can make vidoes for you.

Also check out: Hawaii Business Videos

pizza on earth,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter.

I was just informed that the following pizza business is for sale:

It’s a La Panyol model 83. (from Maine wood heat)
The oven is on a lazy Susan so no matter where you park, the oven will spin to the position that you need it too. The trailer tongue is also removable. It’s a custom 6′x8′ trailer with electronic brake assist (7 pin wire harness). 1 full size spare tire with matching rim (has u-bolt to attach it to the trailer tongue). The oven and trailer weigh 1,280 lbs.  Uses a 2″ ball hitch.

Tools:
4 peals (2 wood peals for making and loading pizzas, each holds 3-4 10″ pizzas. 1 sm peal, 1 large peal for moving pizzas in the oven)
Wire brush, ash rake, and ash shuttle.
2 sneeze guards each 2′x 4′ long, each 2 pcs
1 sneeze guard @ 2′x2′, 2 pcs
1 sneeze guard end cap @39″
Sneeze guards are made with 1/2″ copper pipe and Lexon plexiglass they’re designed for use with 6′ folding tables, and to start at the table top. End cap’s designed for use with custom garnish caddy (also included) but could be used with out the caddy with a slight modification.
Custom garnish caddy with 2 metal inserts for ice and 3 metal dividers.
2-6′ foot folding tables
“wood fired pizza” lawn signs
1-infrared digital thermometer
 Approximately 200 10″ pizza boxes
1 soft sided cooler for dough boxes

Tire lock for trailer

Food storage (all Cambro):
6 stackable dough boxes (18x26x3)  (new in case)
6 Dough box lids  (new in case)
1-deep 1/3 size with sealable lid
3-1/2 deep 1/3 size with sealable lids
9 1/2 deep 1/6 size
8 1/6 size sealable lids
2 hard plastic lids for use with ladles
1 hard plastic lid
2 2oz ladles

1 pizza cutter

The oven is in Glastonbury, CT
I’m asking $19,000 or B/O, as part of the purchase I will train whoever buys the oven in how to operate and maintain it. If it’s to be operated in the state of CT and they like the registered business name “The Rolling Stone llc” I’ll include that as well.

Ask for

Scott   Tell him Pizza Therapy sent you.

Call

860-899-8690

email:

mghomemade@gmail.com

 
Get a Free $100 Starbucks Gift Card!

Over 40 years ago, in New York, two cousins learned to make pizza at their family pizzeria.

Young John Arena, (12) started working for 50 cents an hour. It was fun but difficult. He worked hard but he began to learn the pizza business.

After a short while he asked his younger cousin Sam Facchini (11) to come by to work as well.

This did not sit well with Uncle Rocky, one of the brothers who owned the pizzeria.

He told John, “I didn’t hire him, you did…so you pay him…”

And John did. He split his 50 cent per hour wage in half. Both he and Sam were now making 25 cents an hour.

Here is the story as explained by Sam:

Years later, Sam and John , would see an ad in an Italian newspaper in New York, describing a pizzeria for sale. The problem was that it was in the desert town of Las Vegas. The year was 1980.

The first day they opened, someone rode up to their shop on horseback and ordered pizza. They knew they were in for a ride!

They struggled at first. Making dough in Las Vegas was very different from making dough in New York. The humidity of the desert air affected the dough process greatly. They experimented and after a short while they perfected their dough.

They have come a long way since those early years and now make award winning pizza. They are both Legends of Pizza.

They have been featured on Entertainment Tonight, guests on Regis and Kathy Lee, and made pizza for Air-Force One.  John and Sam, now host monthly “reservation only” pizza seminars. Metro has received the highest awards in the restaurant industry, including:

• Top Ten Pizzerias in America- USA Today
• National Pizzerias Operators of the Year- Pizza Today Magazine
• Best of Las Vegas- Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Best Pizza-LV Weekly Magazine
• Top Pizza  in Las Vegas- Zagat’s Restaurant Review
• Best in City- aol.com
• Best Pizza in town- UNLV

They learned their craft well and now make the best pizza in Las Vegas.

Visit Metro at:

1395 East Tropicana Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tropicana & Maryland Parkway
Phone: (702) 736-1955

Repectfully submitted by:
Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter

Ads By CbproAds

Here is an interview I did with Scot Cosentino of Goodfella’s Pizza on Staten Island, New York.

The interview took place at the Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Scot describes how he got into the pizza business. His motivation was that he really loves pizza. He has always been a fan of some of the best pizzas in New York. In particular he loves gourmet pizza. He particularly loves wood fired pizza. He admired the pizzas from New York and wanted to do the same thing.

He had never made pizza before but he decided to build his first brick oven by hand. He purchased a number of recipes and books about pizza. He explains that he learned by studying and learning all he could about pizza. He is a self taught pizzaiolo.

He developed his skills and was able to create artisan pizza. Or as he says, “Great pizza”.

His pizzas have won awards. He has also had his pizza described as being the best in the world.

Scot’s secret to making great pizza? He says you need to really care aobut what you do. You need to have a passion for pizza and you need to use the best ingredients that you can.

Thanks Scot.

You can visit his website, here:

Goodfella’s Pizza

And if you want to learn about the pizza business, please check out How to Get into The Pizza Business.
You will discover inside tricks and tips avialable no where else. you can also get interviews with world famous pizzaioli.

How to Get into The Pizza Business from Pizza Therapy

Let’s face it, most people use their cell phones to text message. Have you considered using text messaging as a way to personally stay in touch with your customers?

The best way to stay in touch with these mobile phone users is use text messaging to promote your pizza and your pizza business via text. By offering an incentive, such as a special deal or preffered customer list. You can explain they can immediately and permanently be removed form your text messaging at any time.

Imagine a text list of only 100 customers. If you have a special of the day, you can immediately let them know about it. You can use text messaging to fill up your restaurant when things are slow.

The great thing about using text messaging is the fact that you can instantly stay in touch with your customers.

The worst thing is the cost. That is until now.

Here is an excellent and affordable (under $75 a month) Unlimited Text Message Marketing (Text Message Coupon) program. You read that correctly: unlimited text.

FREXTR http://www.frextr.com/ text programs are as good as magnets in creating an excellent repeat customer retention program.

If used regularly it can increase customer return rate and daily sales.

A good deal at the regular price, the referral code ALTXT25 will get you a permanent discount and a number of other things to help get going.

Go to www.frextr.com FREXTR http://www.frextr.com/ to register. And make sure you use the discount code:
ALTXT25

Program Highlights:

You have complete and exclusive control of your list, unlimited access and unlimited use. Send as many text coupons and offers as you want each month with no additional fees! The Frextr FLAT RATE of $67.45 per month covers everything.
The monthly rate will not increase over time as long as your account remains active.

Once you register your keyword the following will come to you to help get your text message marketing program up and running:

* 1,000 double laminated pass along cards will arrive about two weeks after your register your keyword.
* Shortly there after 2 Push/Pull stickers that announce the text message program will arrive.
* Forward-able email to introduce your text message program to existing email list clients.
* Email with instructions to help turn twitter and facebook followers to text coupon users.
* Email “owner’s manual” to the Frextr program.
There is no contract term.
There are no limitations on the number of users or the frequency of messages sent.
Users opt in and opt out instantly.
You can track your program in real time 24/7 via the browser based application.
Messages are schedule-able years ahead of time in five minute increments.
Use one Keyword for all your locations or give each manager their own at just $67.45 each and each manager will get the whole package as listed for each keyword registered.

Check out the details in the attached PDF file or go to FREXTR http://www.frextr.com/ to register.
Either way remember to use the ALTXT25 referral code to get the ongoing discount.
Download the pdf file Click Here.
(Right click and save to your hard drive…)

Use the ALTXT25 referral code to get the ongoing discount.

Enjoy success!
–

pizza on earth,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter
Owner of Pizza Therapy
P.S. Go to: FREXTR http://www.frextr.com/ And make sure you use the discount code:
ALTXT25

Goodfella’s Brick Oven Pizza of Staten Island New York opens Official Brick Oven Pizza School

The world famous Goodfella’s of Staten island announced today its official opening of Goodfella’s wood fired pizza school of New York. It will be one of the most comprehensive pizza schools in the country.

Focusing on the art of wood fired pizza ,gourmet breads and cheese making. Founder Scot Cosentino Says “We will be running the school from our original location at 1718 Hylan Blvd Staten Island New York.

It will be a completely hands on experience turning pizza makers from all over the world into gourmet artisans who will master the art of wood fired pizza. We also will be focusing on Gourmet Breads, Sauces, Cheese making and offer a variety of services from custom brick ovens to complete consulting on start up operations.”

Goodfella’s Founded in 1992 and has been an industry trend setter and leader in gourmet brick oven pizza since its inception. Wining numerous national and international prizes for its gourmet creations such as the Vodka Pie,Smokin Goodfella and Sally Pie.

Goodfella’s Brick Oven Pizza has also been known as one of Rudy Giuliani favorite place for pizza and known as a local celebrity hot spot for years and featured on many TV Segments.

****

Contact information Scot Cosentino

(718) 987-2422 www.goodfellas.com

Scot, I want to wish you all the best
with your new Pizza School!

pizza all over Staten Island,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter