Restaurateurs Hugh Connerty and Johnny Carrabba congratulate Antico Pizza Napoletana owner Giovanni Di Palma and his son Johnny for recent accolades.

Restaurateurs Hugh H. Connerty (founding principal of Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill) and Johnny Carrabba recently stopped by Antico Pizza Napoletana to congratulate owner Giovanni Di Palma and his son Johnny for recent accolades.

Johnny Carrabba proclaimed, “This is the best pizza and crust I’ve ever tasted…even better than my mother’s!”

Known the city over for its unrivaled quality, flavor and ambiance, Antico Pizza Napoletana is very good, indeed. Recognized across the Southeast for its unique Italian offerings, the Atlanta favorite is quickly becoming known globally. In fact, Italy’s own Festa Della Pizza, held annually in the birthplace of pizza near Naples, has recognized Antico for its award-winning take on tradition.

A worldwide, two-day festival, the Festa Della Pizza in Salerno, Italy has chosen Antico to receive its Top in Class award for the United States. The organization’s Top in Class honor is bestowed among certified entities the world over that best represent the Italian region’s flavors, colors and traditions.  Furthermore, Antico has obtained the European Commission’s Traditional Specialties Guaranteed certification for Neopolitan pizza, given by the Instituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione. IMCERT is the institution for the certification of agricultural and food quality, and it awards the STG certification to restaurants committed to preparing only the best and most quintessential Italian Neopolitan pizza. As a certified pizzeria, Antico uses authentic ingredients, including Molino San Felice, one of the designated Italian flours for STG certification.

Among its many accomplishments, Antico is thrilled to be recognized by such a prestigious organization.

“To even be considered to receive this award – the highest international pizza certification for the United States – from Italy is a tremendous honor for me and my family. This recognition for pizza in Naples is like winning an Oscar in Hollywood.” said owner Giovanni Di Palma. And ever the innovator, Di Palma invited the city to celebrate with him.

On Friday, September 10, Antico broadcasted the real-time ceremony, streamed live from Salerno, Italy, at its outdoor event – and into the Antico kitchen. Echoing the charm of the Old World, Antico transformed its outside streets into a veritable Italian piazza for a refreshing al fresco experience. At the future site of Antico’s outdoor Piazza San Giovanni, eatery enthusiasts enjoyed a taste of Antico’s awardwinning pizza and several other in-town favorites. Partners Westside Creamery, King of Pops and Perrine’s Wine Shop offered a sampling of the city’s best refreshments at a European-style celebration at Piazza San Giovanni, across from Antico.

At a press conference, streamed live from the Festa Della Pizza, Antico was named the best STGcertified pizza in the United States – or Top in Class for the country. As the crowd erupted in cheers, revelers were showered with champagne by a celebratory di Palma. “So from no on,” the owner said, “when you eat pizza anywhere else, you’re allowed to pay with fake money. And you can tell them I said so.”

With a healthy appetite for tradition – and a deep respect for pizza crafters everywhere, Di Palma looks forward to leading Antico toward even more growth.

Located in Atlanta, GA, Antico Pizza Napoletana opened its doors in October 2009 and has quickly gained a passionate following the city over as a refreshing addition to the thriving west Midtown area.  The brainchild of Italian visionary Giovanni Di Palma, Antico offers a unique experience. The restaurant is heralded by regulars, newbies and members of the media alike as unrivaled. Inspired by the flavors of his grandparent’s village near Naples, Italy, Di Palma combines his rich heritage and New York City know-how to realize his vision in Atlanta.

Every visit to CiCi’s Pizza, home of the $4.99 endless pizza, pasta, salad and dessert buffet, ends with two words: Thank You. This November, CiCi’s will provide our communities and guests an opportunity to show appreciation this Thanksgiving with “Thank Yous Count.”

Starting Nov. 1 and continuing through the end of the month, each restaurant will stock “Thank Yous Count” trackers. The pocket-sized cards help parents note each time their child offers an unprompted “thank you.” Once the card is full, parents can present the card for a free buffet for kids 10 and under with the purchase of an adult buffet.

Guests can also log on to CiCi’s Pizza Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cicis, write a note of thanks to teachers, firefighters, military personnel or any Facebook friend who deserves a special thank you – the possibilities for sharing are endless. And as a thanks from CiCi’s, during the month of November thank you recipients will receive a 2 can dine for $9.99 offer (includes two endless adult buffets and drinks).

“At CiCi’s, we believe an environment that fosters kindness, and appreciation is as essential to our success as our hot, fresh buffet,” CEO Mike Shumsky said. “That’s why we greet every guest with ‘Hi, welcome to CiCi’s’ and conclude with ‘thank you,’ and it’s why we created the ‘Thank Yous Count’ campaign.”

Some locations will also have giant thank you cards, posters or banners for guests to sign. CiCi’s employees will then hand deliver the cards along with piping hot CiCi’s pizza, fresh salad and its signature ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls throughout November to community groups they would like to thank.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) (NASDAQ:CPKI), home to the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, made-to-order pastas, creative salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts, opened its first full-service restaurant in Pittsburgh today.

The new 5,000 square-foot restaurant is located near the entrance of the Ross Park Mall, next to L.L.Bean. Hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. Guests can dine-in or place a take-out order by ordering online at www.cpk.com, from their iPhone app or by calling (412) 548-1399.

The menu will feature all of the popular favorites along with the newest menu additions including a Four Seasons Pizza with imported Italian tomatoes, oven-roasted artichoke hearts, salami, fresh mushrooms, mild onions, Mozzarella and fresh Mozzarella cheeses topped with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese; Roasted Artichoke and Spinach Pizza, inspired by CPK’s popular Spinach Artichoke Dip, with a blend of oven-roasted artichoke hearts, sautéed spinach and garlic, Fontina, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and a spinach artichoke sauce; Baby Clam Linguini featuring linguini fini and baby clams with garlic, fresh Italian parsley, Parmesan cheese, white wine and red pepper flakes tossed in either a light lemon cream sauce or imported Italian tomatoes and fresh basil; Italian Deli Sandwich, a combination of spicy Capicola ham, salami and pepperoni topped with Mozzarella and Fontina cheeses, basil and shredded lettuce tossed in a herb-mustard Parmesan vinaigrette; Turkey Stack Sandwich, oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced fresh Roma tomatoes, mayonnaise, shredded lettuce and Grey Poupon Dijon honey mustard; and Butter Cake, an oven-baked butter cake served with fresh whipped cream. The new restaurant will also feature an extensive beverage menu from its full bar, including the CPK Margarita and popular favorites such as Cranberry Mint Cooler and Cherry Lime Sparkler.

Following CPK’s tradition of giving back to the communities in which it operates, the new CPK restaurant will donate 100% of all dine-in pizza sales during regular business hours on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to Junior Achievement (JA). Junior Achievement is a youth development organization with the core purpose to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today JA reaches more than 61,000 students in western PA through some 3,000 local volunteers.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain featuring an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts. Of the chain’s 264 restaurants, 208 are company-owned and 56 operate under franchise or license agreements. CPK premium pizzas are also available to sports and entertainment fans at three Southern California venues including Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and STAPLES Center. Also included in the Company’s portfolio of concepts is LA Food Show Grill & Bar, which has locations in Manhattan Beach and Beverly Hills, California. The Company also has a licensing arrangement with Nestle S.A. to manufacture and distribute a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen products. For more details, visit www.cpk.com.

Trick-or-treat, give me something good to eat — like Domino’s pizza! As dinnertime arrives on Oct. 31, families around the nation will order enough pizza to make it one of the busiest days of the year for Domino’s who will deliver more than 1 million pizzas to trick-or-treating households across the United States.   Not only will Domino’s deliver pizza right to your door, they have designed an inexpensive idea for a homemade Halloween costume — a slice of pizza!  

If you are looking for an original Halloween costume, the Domino’s pizza slice is an easy, affordable and creative option for you.  Those ready to trick-or-treat, can go to www.facebook.com/dominos and look for the “Halloween” tab for step-by-step instructions on how to make a perfect Domino’s pizza slice costume. Make sure to upload photos of your pizza slice costumes on our Facebook page — we look forward to seeing all the creative costumes.

“Ordering dinner from Domino’s Pizza gives families and trick-or-treaters one less thing to worry about on Halloween,” said Chris Brandon, spokesperson for Domino’s Pizza. “Domino’s will take care of delivering dinner while everyone puts last minute touches on their pizza slice costume before heading out to trick-or-treat.”

In addition to all this other spooky fun, Domino’s wants to see how customers spend Halloween with Domino’s Pizza. Starting Oct. 21 and until Nov. 3, fans can upload pictures of their ghostly pizza parties, pumpkin carvings or costumes to www.facebook.com/dominos. Pictures that meet Domino’s approval will be collected into an album on the Domino’s Facebook page. Full submission guidelines will be posted on the Domino’s Facebook page.

Traditionally, Halloween ranks as one of the top five busiest days for pizza delivery in the United States.  Other top days for Domino’s are Super Bowl Sunday, Thanksgiving Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

To locate a local Domino’s store or place an order online, please visit www.dominos.com.

Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, today announced strong results for the third quarter ended September 12, 2010. The Company’s domestic same store sales rose 11.7% during the third quarter versus the year-ago period on sustained positive consumer response to its improved pizza and the effectiveness of its advertising. Robust sales volume also drove positive results in the Company’s domestic supply chain business. The International division continued its strong performance with same store sales growth of 7.0% in the third quarter, marking the 67th consecutive quarter of positive same store sales growth for the division. The Company repurchased $20.0 million of its debt during the quarter, for a total of $289.6 million in repurchases of its fixed rate notes since the beginning of 2009.

J. Patrick Doyle, Domino’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re pleased that people love our reformulated pizza, the value of our offer and our honest and straight-forward communication of our brand values.  We’re a new Domino’s. This quarter has proven that our strategy is working, resulting in higher sales, operating income and cash flows. Despite these tough economic times, we continue to outperform the majority of the restaurant industry due to our energized domestic business and our powerful international division.”

Doyle added, “Our international division posted another excellent quarter; both sales and store growth were outstanding. As we continue to expand in existing markets and open stores in new markets, this division will continue to accelerate our drive to 10,000 stores worldwide.”  

Third Quarter Highlights:

• Revenues were up 14.8% for the third quarter versus the prior-year period, due primarily to higher volumes and commodity prices in supply chain, higher same store sales in both domestic and international stores and store count growth in international markets.

• Net Income was down 6.9% for the third quarter versus the prior-year period. Management noted that the third quarter net income comparison was impacted by certain items affecting comparability.  (See the Items Affecting Comparability section and the Comments on Regulation G section.)  Excluding these items, net income for the third quarter would have been up approximately $6.7 million, or 70%, primarily driven by improved domestic and international sales, international store growth, higher volumes in supply chain, lower interest expense and a lower effective tax rate.

• Diluted EPS was 27 cents on an as-reported basis for the third quarter versus 31 cents in the prior- year quarter. The decrease was driven primarily by the aforementioned decrease in net income. Diluted EPS, as adjusted was 27 cents for the third quarter versus 17 cents in the prior-year quarter, an increase of 10 cents, or 59%. The 59%  increase was primarily due to the strong same store sales performance in domestic and international markets, higher volumes in supply chain, lower interest expense and a lower effective tax rate. (See the Items Affecting Comparability section and the Comments on Regulation G section.)  

• Global Retail Sales were up 12.5% in the third quarter, or up 12.1% when excluding foreign currency impact.

Conference Call Information

The Company plans to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q this morning.  Additionally, as previously announced, Domino’s Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 11 a.m. (Eastern) to review its third quarter 2010 financial results.  The call can be accessed by dialing (888) 306-6182 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 634-4947 (International).  Ask for the Domino’s Pizza conference call.  The call will also be webcast at www.dominosbiz.com.  If you are unable to participate on the call, a replay will be available for thirty days by dialing (800) 642-1687 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International), Conference ID 45891782.  The webcast will also be archived for 30 days on www.dominosbiz.com.

Debt Repurchases

During the third quarter of 2010, the Company repurchased and retired $20.0 million of principal of its outstanding fixed rate notes, resulting in a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.9 million.  This pre-tax gain was recorded in the “Other” line item in the Company’s consolidated income statement.  Including the $20.0 million of repurchases in the third quarter of 2010, the Company has repurchased $289.6 million of its fixed rate notes to date.  The fixed rate notes require interest-only payments until April 2012. This interest-only period can be extended through 2014 if the Company meets or exceeds a key financial ratio in April 2012 and April 2013. Management noted that the Company again exceeded this ratio that will be calculated at the end of the five-year term.

Items Affecting Comparability

The Company’s reported financial results for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2010 are not comparable to the reported financial results in the prior-year periods.  The table below presents certain items that affect comparability between 2010 and 2009 financial results.  Management believes that including such information is critical to the understanding of its financial results for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009 (See the Comments on Regulation G section).

In addition to the items noted in the table below, the Company experienced lower interest expense primarily as a result of lower debt levels, further impacting comparability to periods in the prior year.  Lower interest expense resulted in an increase in diluted EPS of approximately two cents in the third quarter of 2010 and nine cents in the first three quarters of 2010 versus the comparable periods in 2009.

1. Represents the gains recognized in the third quarter and first three quarters of 2010 on the repurchase and retirement of $20.0 million and $100.4 million of principal on the fixed rate notes for a total purchase price of $19.2 million and $92.2 million, including accrued interest of $0.2 million and $0.4 million.
2. Represents the write-off of deferred financing fees and, in 2010, the prepayment of insurance fees in connection with the related debt extinguishments.
3. Represents $1.7 million of income tax benefit and $0.6 million ($0.3 million after-tax) of interest income, both relating to tax reserve reversals for a state tax matter.
4. Represents the gains recognized in the third quarter and first three quarters of 2009 on the repurchase and retirement of $71.8 million and $140.0 million of principal on the fixed rate senior notes for a total purchase price of $57.8 million and $92.4 million, including accrued interest of $0.3 million and $0.7 million.
5. Includes $1.0 million of stock compensation expense and $0.2 million of legal and professional fees incurred in connection with a stock option exchange program as well as $0.3 million of incremental compensation expense and $3.4 million acceleration of compensation expense for a retirement provision added to existing stock option agreements.
6. Represents $0.2 million of income tax benefit and $0.1 million of contra interest expense in the third quarter of 2009.  Additionally, represents $1.6 million of income tax provision and $0.5 million ($0.3 million after-tax) of interest expense in the first three quarters of 2009.  The amounts presented relate to required tax reserves for certain state tax matters.

Management noted that its fourth quarter of 2009 included a 53rd week.  The Company’s 53rd week in 2009 benefited diluted EPS by approximately five cents per share for both the fourth quarter and full year 2009.

Liquidity

As of September 12, 2010, the Company had:

• $39.2 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents,
• $77.5 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents, and
• approximately $1.48 billion in total debt, including $60.0 million of borrowings under its $60.0 million variable funding note facility.

The Company’s cash borrowing rate for the third quarter of 2010 averaged 5.9% versus 6.0% in the prior-year period.  The Company invested $16.3 million in capital expenditures during the first three quarters of 2010 versus $13.5 million in the first three quarters of the prior year.  The $2.8 million increase in capital expenditures was due primarily to investments in the Company’s technology initiatives.

The Company’s free cash flow, as reconciled below to cash flows from operations as determined under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), was approximately $66.0 million in the first three quarters of 2010.

Comments on Regulation G

In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, the Company has included non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G due to items affecting comparability between fiscal quarters.  Additionally, the Company has included metrics such as global retail sales growth and same store sales growth, which are commonly used statistical measures in the quick-service restaurant industry and are important to understanding Company performance.

The Company uses “Diluted EPS, as adjusted,” which is calculated as reported Diluted EPS adjusted for the items that affect comparability to the prior year periods discussed above.  The most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is Diluted EPS.  The Company’s management believes that the Diluted EPS, as adjusted measure is important and useful to investors and other interested persons and that such persons benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison between reporting periods.  Management uses Diluted EPS, as adjusted to internally evaluate operating performance, to evaluate itself against its peers and to determine future performance targets and long-range planning.  Additionally, the Company believes that analysts covering the Company’s stock performance generally eliminate these items affecting comparability when preparing their financial models, when determining their published EPS estimates and when benchmarking us against our competitors.  

The Company uses “Global retail sales” to refer to total worldwide retail sales at Company-owned and franchise stores. Management believes global retail sales information is useful in analyzing revenues because franchisees pay royalties that are based on a percentage of franchise retail sales. Management reviews comparable industry global retail sales information to assess business trends and to track the growth of the Domino’s Pizza^® brand. In addition, domestic supply chain revenues are directly impacted by changes in domestic franchise retail sales. Retail sales for franchise stores are reported to the Company by its franchisees and are not included in Company revenues.  

The Company uses “Same store sales growth,” calculated by including only sales from stores that also had sales in the comparable period of the prior year.  International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to domestic same store sales growth.  Changes in international same store sales are reported on a constant dollar basis, which reflects changes in international local currency sales.  

The Company uses “Free cash flow,” calculated as cash flows from operations less capital expenditures, both as reported under GAAP.  Management believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors and other interested persons, and that such persons benefit from having a measure which communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing debt, making acquisitions, repurchasing shares, paying dividends or other similar uses of cash.

About Domino’s Pizza^®

Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery. Domino’s is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “DPZ.” Through its primarily locally-owned and operated franchised system, Domino’s operates a network of 9,169 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and over 60 international markets. The Domino’s Pizza® brand, named a Megabrand by Advertising Age magazine, had global retail sales of over $5.6 billion in 2009, comprised of nearly $3.1 billion domestically and over $2.5 billion internationally. During the third quarter of 2010, the Domino’s Pizza® brand had global retail sales of nearly $1.4 billion, comprised of over $747 million domestically and nearly $650 million internationally. In June 2010, Pizza Today, the leading publication of the pizza industry, named Domino’s its “Chain of the Year” – making the company a two-time winner of the honor, which it previously received in 2003. Domino’s has expanded its menu significantly since 2008 to include Oven Baked Sandwiches and BreadBowl Pasta^™, and in 2009 debuted its ‘Inspired New Pizza’ – a permanent change to its hand-tossed product, reinvented from the crust up with new sauce, cheese and garlic seasoned crust.

Order – www.dominos.com

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” or “anticipates” or similar expressions that concern our strategy, plans or intentions.  These forward-looking statements relating to our anticipated profitability, estimates in same store sales growth, the growth of our international business, ability to service our indebtedness, our intentions with respect to the extensions of the interest-only period on our fixed rate notes, our operating performance, the anticipated success of our reformulated pizza product, trends in our business and other descriptions of future events reflect management’s expectations based upon currently available information and data.  However, actual results are subject to future risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the level of our long-term and other indebtedness; uncertainties relating to litigation; consumer preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends; the effectiveness of our advertising, operations and promotional initiatives; the strength of our brand in the markets in which we compete; our ability to retain key personnel; new product and concept developments by us, such as our reformulated pizza, and other food-industry competitors; the ongoing level of profitability of our franchisees; and the ability of us and our franchisees to open new restaurants and keep existing restaurants in operation; changes in food prices, particularly cheese, labor, utilities, insurance, employee benefits and other operating costs; the impact that widespread illness or general health concerns may have on our business and the economy of the countries where we operate; severe weather conditions and natural disasters; changes in our effective tax rate; changes in government legislation and regulations; adequacy of our insurance coverage; costs related to future financings; our ability and that of our franchisees to successfully operate in the current credit environment; changes in the level of consumer spending given the general economic conditions including interest rates, energy prices and weak consumer confidence; availability of borrowings under our variable funding notes and our letters of credit; and changes in accounting policies.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are more fully described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the section headed “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K.  Except as required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

TABLES TO FOLLOW

Any way you slice it, TV’s tastiest fast-food ads are peddling pizza.

Seven of the top 20 “quick service restaurant” commercials of the year were produced by Pizza Hut and Domino’s – including four of the top 10, according to rankings by California-based Ace Metrix.

The best Domino’s ad (ranked No. 2) urged customers to send in photographs of their pizza, ending with the tag line, “At Domino’s, what you see is what you get.”

And the most effective Pizza Hut commercial (No. 3) promised any pizza for just $10.

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Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) has given its revolutionary Pizza Tracker tool an auditory upgrade! Beginning today, customers who order online from Domino’s will not only see, but hear their order being made – thanks to the introduction of a brand new feature.

The upgrade also allows users to customize their order tracking experience. After an order is placed at www.dominos.com, customers can choose from six themes – each one giving the Pizza Tracker interface a distinct look and voice.

Depending on the theme, Pizza Tracker might sing, cheer or even sweet talk the status of customers’ orders from the moment it is prepared to the second it is out the door or ready for pickup.

“We’re continuing to add to the convenience of Domino’s online ordering and Pizza Tracker, now allowing customers to leave their computers and still follow the ordering process – as long as their speakers are turned up, of course,” said Chris Brandon, Domino’s Pizza spokesperson. “Adding this element is our way of making sure we are creating the most convenient and innovative ordering experience possible.”

Domino’s is rewarding lucky customers who tune in to Pizza Tracker this week through the “Track and Win” sweepstakes. Domino’s will give away one iPod shuffle per day and one $15 iTunes gift card per hour to customers who place their order online from Oct. 18 through Oct. 25.

Pizza Tracker has been a popular feature of Domino’s online ordering system since it launched in 2008. Domino’s celebrated surpassing $1 billion in online sales in February 2010.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 48 CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES (D.C.) 13 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID IN AK, HI AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes ends 10/25/10. For Official Rules, free method of entry, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.dominos.com. Sponsor: Domino’s National Advertising Fund Inc., 30 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

The recipe is his. He developed the “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” promise, too. John Schnatter, the Founder of Papa John’s, has done a lot to turn the pizza company he started inside the broom closet of his dad’s tavern 26 years ago into the world’s third-largest pizza chain.

One thing he’s never done, though, is order a pizza online. Until now.

Recognizing the impact online ordering has had on the company’s growth the last decade – Papa John’s was the first pizza company to introduce online ordering in 2001 at www.papajohns.com and the brand has since transacted more than $2 billion in online sales – Schnatter marked the rollout of the company’s revamped website this week by placing his first order from his home in Louisville, Ky. – with a big assist from his 12-year-old son, Beau. Watch the video at Papa John’s Facebook page.

“When I started Papa John’s 26 years ago, I never dreamed customers would one day be ordering pizza by computer,” Schnatter said. “Now it looks like online and mobile web ordering will surpass phone ordering, and likely in the not too distant future. With the launch of this new site, I decided that it was time to try it for myself, but I made sure I had an Internet expert on-hand: my son Beau. It was easy.”

To celebrate the launch of the new website and “Papa” John Schnatter’s first online order, between now and October 24 customers will receive a FREE order of cheesesticks with any online purchase of a large specialty pizza at regular menu price at papajohns.com. Since Papa John’s became the first pizza chain to offer online ordering in 2001, the brand has garnered the highest online sales average per restaurant in the country.

Features of the newly launched papajohns.com website include:

• Pizza Builder Graphics – Allows customers to put together their own pizzas through an interactive pizza-making application, showing them a visual of their finished product that matches in-restaurant topping specifications.
• Papa Points Online Loyalty Program – With the launch of the only online pizza loyalty program, customers can earn points towards free pizza with each online purchase. Once enrolled, customers earn one point for every $5 spent online; when customers accumulate 25 points, they receive a free pizza with their next online pizza purchase.
• Quick Click Ordering – For the quickest online experience, customers have the option to select their pizza directly from a list of the most frequently ordered items.
• Future Orders – Allows customers to order their pizza up to 28 days in advance.

According to NPD Group/CREST® year-to-date through August 2010, the percentage of Papa John’s traffic originating from Internet orders outpaces all other major pizza chains.

In addition, had pizza chains been included in Internet Retailer magazine’s recent ranking of the top online sellers in 2009, Papa John’s online transaction levels would have merited a Top 5 spot next to brands like Apple, Wal-Mart and Amazon.com.

“Papa John’s customers already love ordering their pizzas online,” said Jim Ensign, vice president of digital marketing at Papa John’s. “Our new site will make online ordering even easier, will reward them for ordering online like no other pizza company with our Papa Points loyalty program and with the Pizza Builder feature, will give them creative ways to interact with our pizza like never before.”

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world’s third largest pizza company. For 10 of the past 11 years, consumers have rated Papa John’s No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John’s also was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (R&I) with the 2009 Gold Award for Consumers’ Choice in Chains in the pizza segment. Papa John’s is the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League and Super Bowl XLV, XLVI and XLVII. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John’s at www.papajohns.com.

Tom Krouse, unlike many foodservice industry leaders, has had a good year. Krouse, last week crowned Donatos new CEO, has led the pizza chain’s new retail distribution arm, Jane’s Dough Foods, to double-digit growth in the last year, having tripled the number of customers served. Jane’s Dough has achieved success especially by developing private label take ‘n’ bake pizza for grocers such as Kroger, and other, more uncommon channels. By now, retail commitments are at 1,400 points of distribution in the United States.

Krouse says his appointment was part of a plan to “put the right leadership in the right place at the right time,” a strategy started when Jim Grote and Jane Grote Abell bought the company back from McDonald’s in 2003. Krouse proved himself for the task most recently with Jane’s Dough’s performance, which will continue to be a primary focus for the leader moving forward.

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Toarmina’s Pizza aims to utilize its pizzerias to give back to the Detroit metro region as they form a partnership with adjacent Detroit Area Fire Departments.  Toarmina’s Pizza, will discount their signature 24” pizza to $15.99 ($5.00 Discount).  100% of the profits from every pizza sold will go to fire prevention.   The day-long event is planned for Wednesday October 27, 2010 thru out Southeast Michigan and on October 26, 2010 in New Boston.

Firefighters from area companies will assist in preparing and delivering the pizzas.  Upon delivery firefighters will offer fire safety tips to the residents and test smoke alarms.  A complimentary smoke detector will be supplied to homes in need, limit one per household.  Residents with smoke detectors lacking batteries, or with dead batteries, will be provided a fresh battery free of charge courtesy of the local fire departments.

In Taylor every 10th Pizza will be delivered via fire truck!

October is National Fire Prevention Month.  Lou Toarmina, president and founder of Tourmina’s Pizza stated, “We wanted to do something distinct for National Pizza Month by reaching out to the community.” Toarmina worked with area franchisees and fire companies to develop the promotion.  “We all share a commitment to the community and we wanted to make this a win-win event for everyone.”  Those who are unable to attend the event on October 27rd will still be able to purchase a Pizza and Prevention card for a 24” pizza to be used at a later date.  ”We realize that not everyone will be able to eat pizza on that day, so we have come up with the coupon card concept so that customers can still take advantage of the discount, be safe and a further donation can be made to the fire companies.”

“Many homes in Westland either do not have any smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old, or alarms that are not working,” says Fire Chief Michael J. Reddy Jr. “We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced.”

To get a head-start on fire prevention month, here are a few fire safety tips:

• Practice fire drills at home.
• Check batteries in smoke detectors.
• Stay low in smoke.
• Choose an emergency meeting place.
• Never play with fire.

About Toarmina’s Pizza

Since 1987, Toarmina’s has been selling their authentic Itailan pizza with an American twist in the state of Michigan.  The company currently has 15 locations in Southeastern Michigan.  Additional company information can be found at www.Toarminas.com.

About National Fire Prevention Month:   Information can be found at www.NFPA.org  and www.DetroitMI.gov.

They are used to serving up plenty of mozzarella.

But now staff at Pizza Express could be treating their diners to a side order of cheesy lines – as the company trains staff in the art of flirtation.

The style of flirtation however, might not be quite as traditionally Italian as the pizzas they are hoping to sell.

Waiters and waitresses at the restaurant chain are learning interaction skills in an attempt to help customers relax.

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Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ) is introducing a brand new pizza to its American Legends® specialty pizza line that will make cheese lovers rejoice and “cheeseheads” very proud!  This is the first new product Domino’s has introduced in 2010 – the last being the launch of its ‘Inspired’ pizza and change to its core hand-tossed recipe, which took place last December.

The Wisconsin 6 Cheese is the first extension to the American Legends specialty pizza line, which showcases iconic tastes from across the country, and will feature cheeses from a place recognized by consumers for its expertise in all things cheese.  Topped with robust tomato sauce and six flavorful cheeses including mozzarella, feta, provolone, cheddar, parmesan and asiago on a crust sprinkled with oregano – the quality and flavor of this pizza is as fulfilling as it sounds.

“The Wisconsin 6 Cheese is the perfect addition to our line of American Legends specialty pizzas,” said Russell Weiner, chief marketing officer of Domino’s Pizza.  ”We continue to develop inspired, quality, great-tasting product choices – and we are especially excited for the commercial to begin so all can see our latest ‘Oh Yes We Did’ moment.”

The distinctive national advertising campaign, which begins on Oct. 13, illustrates how the process of quality starts well before the pizza store, and shows consumers the true source of the 100 percent real cheeses used on all Domino’s Pizza products.

Shot on location in Blanchardville, Wis., the campaign demonstrates that there is only one place that quality Domino’s Pizza cheeses truly come from – America’s dairy farms.  Real consumers thinking they are attending a focus group are shocked when the “office building” walls collapse, revealing they are actually in the middle of a dairy farm – proving the point that 100 percent real cheese from America’s dairies is a critical component to Domino’s Pizza quality.

The partnership between Domino’s and Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) was a critical factor in the development and rollout of The Wisconsin 6 Cheese.

“America’s dairy farmers are proud of our partnership with Domino’s Pizza, and are excited to support the newest addition to the American Legends line of specialty pizzas. We are thrilled that Domino’s continues to innovate in a category that is vital to the success of dairy farmers,” said Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management, Inc.

Domino’s will also launch an interactive site called “Behind the Pizza,” which will take consumers on an interactive journey with 10 Domino’s ingredients.  Consumers can see real farms, discover real stories and earn points by playing mini-games, viewing photos or watching a short story of how each ingredient lands on their pizza.  Updates and information can be found at www.dominos.com.

Pizza Inn, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZI) is celebrating National Pizza Month this October with a new item on its menu: the Loaded Baked Potato Pizza. 

An instant hit with customers, the Loaded Baked Potato Pizza features Pizza Inn’s signature made from scratch dough; a ranch dressing base; a mozzarella, bacon and cheddar mix; sliced potatoes and a finishing sprinkle of chives when it delivers fresh out of the oven. 

The culinary sensation is also the winning recipe of Pizza Inn’s companywide 2010 Culinary Challenge – a contest unveiled this year that turned willing employees and franchise owners into one of the largest and most innovative test kitchens in America.

Chris Cuthbertson, of Greenville, S.C., accepted the challenge and combined his love for the All-American baked potato with more than 10 years of knowledge about Pizza Inn’s menu. Cuthbertson, who began his career a decade ago as a dishwasher at Pizza Inn, admits he learned to cook at an early age. But he never entered a contest in his life . . . until now.

Over the years, Cuthbertson worked his way up to assistant manager, general manager and now serves as district manager over two locations in South Carolina. He also saw what worked on the menu with Pizza Inn’s customers.

“I love baked potatoes,” Cuthbertson said. ”I thought to myself, why don’t we have a baked potato pizza?” With access to some savory ingredients and the ability to test recipes on the buffets in his stores, the experiment was set. 

Today, Cuthbertson said he now averages 150 Loaded Baked Potato Pizzas a week on the buffets. The recipe also earned him a trip to the 2010 annual Pizza Inn Franchise Convention in Grapevine, Texas, bragging rights as the contest winner and $1,000 in cash. He can hardly believe his recipe is now served at all Pizza Inn stores.

“Nobody knows our customers and their taste buds better than team members like Chris who serve them every day,” said Charlie Morrison, president and CEO of Pizza Inn. ”The culinary challenge was our way to honor that talent. And the success of the Loaded Baked Potato Pizza is proof that fantastic ideas can come from within.”

While New Meadowlands Stadium shares its facility with two NFL teams, it is now home to only one pizza provider – Papa John’s.

Resulting from a partnership announced today by Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) and New Meadowlands Stadium, all 82,000-plus fans attending each New York Giants and New York Jets home games, as well as other stadium events, are able to enjoy the fresh taste of Papa John’s.

Papa John’s pizza will be sold at pizza stands throughout the stadium and will be available on suite and club menus beginning mid-November.

The sponsorship further enhances Papa John’s position as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and Super Bowls XLV, XLVI and XLVII through the 2012 NFL season, and brings to 14 the number of NFL franchises for which Papa John’s is the official pizza sponsor, including the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins.

“From the earliest building plans to the final construction of the stadium, we have paid the utmost attention to delivering the very best fan experience,” says Mark Lamping, President and CEO of New Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLC. “Partnering with Papa John’s further proves our dedication to superior quality in everything we do and sell here.”

“We are excited to be the Official Pizza of New Meadowlands Stadium and to provide special offers to Jets and Giants fans, and other visitors to this incredible stadium,” said Richard Schragger, NYC Co-op President for Papa John’s. Papa John’s has over 130 locations throughout the tri-state area.

“Consistent with our brand promise, Papa John’s always delivers better ingredients, better pizza, which, in our eyes, makes for a better football experience,” said Andrew Varga, Papa John’s Chief Marketing Officer.

As the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, Papa John’s is offering Free Toppings Football — a large pizza for $10 with up to three free toppings.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world’s third largest pizza company. For 10 of the past 11 years, consumers have rated Papa John’s No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John’s also was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (R&I) with the 2009 Gold Award for Consumers’ Choice in Chains in the pizza segment. Papa John’s is the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League and Super Bowl XLV, XLVI and XLVII. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John’s at www.papajohns.com.

The New Meadowlands Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, sets the standard for venue excellence, with state-of-the-art technology, comfort and amenities. With a full seating capacity of 82,500, the New Meadowlands Stadium is the third-largest stadium in the National Football League. Highlights include four massive 30′ X 118′ HD video display boards in each of the stadium corners; a 48″ X 1810′ ribbon board that circles the interior bowl; 2100 + HD Monitors throughout the stadium; and 20 HD video pylons ranging in size from 20′ X 40′ to 20′ X 60′. Outside the stadium, a 350,000-square-foot outdoor plaza will boast fan-centric activities and pregame entertainment zones. The new stadium will have numerous dining options, wider concourses and more HD square footage than any other stadium in North America. A signature amenity of the stadium is the brand new rail line that drops off passengers directly in front of the stadium.

© 2010 NFL Properties LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.

Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah is the newest home to the third NYPD Pizzeria to open for area developers Angelo Zullo and Jim Rodriquez in the Salt Lake City region of Utah.

NYPD Pizza whom was recently named the “Best New York Style Pizza in State” for 2010 is on the move to expanding the popular worldwide recognized brand state wide.

The pizzeria is located in the redevelopment phase of the Valley Fair Mall in a spacious 3,000 square foot spot which offers abundant seating available inside and outdoors. The newest Utah NYPD Pizzeria is located at 3606 South 2700 West Suite 100 West Valley City next to the Petco. NYPD Pizza is open seven days a week and offers dine-in, take-out, catering and deliveries.

Area developers Jim Rodriguez and Angelo Zullo said, “We are excited to develop and grow the NYPD Pizza brand in our own backyards with such a warm welcome from our communities.”

The location at the Valley Fair Mall includes an updated pizza menu and will be involved in fundraisers giving back to the community.

NYPD Pizza offers the highest quality pizza products and Italian restaurant menu items made of all the freshest ingredients. All of the pizzas are hand-tossed, made with NYPD Pizza’s own unique pizza dough, top quality 100% real mozzarella cheese, 100% Virgin Olive Oil and NYPD Pizza’s own specially spiced tomato sauce, finished with fresh toppings, and baked in NYPD Pizza’s own special brick oven. We offer many other menu items which include delicious appetizers, fresh salads, cheesy calzones, meaty strombolis, specialty hot hero sandwiches and a full line of mouth watering deserts. NYPD Pizza offers a menu selection for everyone offering full service dine-in, take-out, delivery and catering services.

Established in 1996 and headquartered in Orlando, FL, New York Pizza Development, LLC proudly serves authentic New York style pizza. CEO and President, Paul Russo, is a native New Yorker from Bayside, Queens. Mr. Russo’s goal is to bring the taste of real traditional New York style pizza worldwide.

NYPD Restaurants is currently franchising throughout the country and is currently accepting area development and individual franchise applications.  For franchise information please see NYPDPizzeria.com

NYPD Pizza is a franchise operated restaurant established in 1996 serving only the best ingredients available.

Domino’s Pizza Inc. is offering two medium specialty pizzas like “Honolulu Hawaiian” and “Philly Cheese Steak” for $7.99 each, a new deal that signals the chain is trying to increase the average ticket after advertising $5.99 pizzas for most of the past year.

Domino’s will still run the deal for two medium, two-topping pies for $5.99 each, but in recent days has launched the new promotion as an option for customers to spend more, Domino’s spokeswoman Lynn Liddle said Tuesday. Customers can also convert one of the two-topping pies to the premium “American Legends” line of specialty pies, which have more toppings, for an extra $2.

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Villa Enterprises Management Ltd., Inc., the global multi-concept restaurant franchisor, announced today its Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen locations across the country will celebrate October’s National Pizza Month offering the restaurant chain’s legion of Facebook fans complimentary slices of its pizza on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

During the one-day-only promotion known as “Have a Slice Day,” participants will be able to access a Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen free pizza slice coupon after liking Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen on Facebook. The coupons will be accepted at participating store locations across the United States.

“We’re excited to celebrate National Pizza Month by sharing our famed pizza with our valued customers,” said Villa Enterprises Management President Biagio Scotto. “Have a Slice Day is our way of thanking them for their continued patronage throughout the year.”

For more information or to print a Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen free pizza slice coupon, visit Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen’s Facebook page or www.freesliceday.com.

About Villa Enterprises Management

Villa Enterprises Management Ltd., Inc. (and its affiliates, Villa Enterprises) is a global multi-concept restaurant franchisor with 322 quick service restaurant (QSR) locations across 38 U.S. states along with five additional countries. Founded in 1964 by Naples, Italy native Michele Scotto as a small pizzeria next to the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, Villa

Enterprises today is an international organization that owns several unique QSR brands: Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen; Villa Pizza; Green Leaf’s; Bananas; Casa Java; Mo’ Burger; Far East; and South Philly Steak & Fries. These brands can be found in malls, airports, casinos, college campuses, and outlet centers across the U.S. and internationally. Additionally, Villa Enterprises Management owns and operates several upscale full-service restaurants in the New York City Metro area. For more information, please visit www.villaenterprises.com.