Pizza Power 2021

In a challenging year, pizzeria owners kept up with offpremise demand and proved that pizza is recession-proof and pandemic proof. PAGE 16

IT

GOOD KNOWING ONE INGREDIENT ISN’T DEBATABLE. JUST GO WITH THE BEST. END OF DISCUSSION.

What’s your declaration of independence?

Grande is championing operators who have an independent spirit and shared passion for excellence. By providing the finest all natural, authentic Italian cheeses, along with an unwavering commitment to quality, we’ll continue to advocate for independents and their love of the craft.

STUDY: ROBOTS WILL REPLACE HUMANS IN RESTAURANTS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

A recent study found that most respondents believe there’s no stopping automation from taking over the foodservice industry— but they’re not keen on the idea.

PMQ.COM/ROBOTS-IN-RESTAURANTS

DOORDASH INITIATIVE AIMS TO HELP RESTAURANTS REBOOT FOR DELIVERYONLY MODEL

Not every restaurant was primed to switch to delivery and carryout when the pandemic broke out in March. Many struggled with logistics and with menu items that simply weren’t meant to travel. As the National Restaurant Association predicts the loss of 100,000 dining establishments by the end of the year, third-party platform DoorDash has launched an initiative to help restaurants survive the crisis by matching them with ghost kitchens for delivery-only service.

PMQ.COM/DOORDASH-REOPEN-FOR-DELIVERY

3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ADD GLUTEN-FREE DESSERTS TO YOUR MENU

As restaurants grapple with the economic fallout from COVID19, gluten-free diners represent an underserved market for desserts, especially during the holidays.

PMQ.COM/GLUTEN-FREE-DESSERTS

THIS UNIQUE PIZZA STYLE HAS PUT WINDSOR, ONTARIO, ON THE CULINARY MAP

Not only does Windsor, a city in Ontario, Canada, claim to have its own unique pizza style—it has launched a campaign to promote independent pizzerias and tourism.

PMQ.COM/WINDSOR-STYLE-PIZZA

MARKETING MASTERS: HOW TO DEVELOP A BESTSELLING MENU

In this exclusive video interview, Gregg Rapp, one of the restaurant industry’s best-known consultants, shares the secrets of menu engineering for higher restaurant profitability.

PMQ.COM/MENUS-THAT-SELL

Pizza Power 2021

Faced with unprecedented challenges in 2020, the pizza industry showed that it’s both recession-proof and pandemic-proof. As operators continue to adapt and innovate, we review the past year’s trends and offer suggestions for

A Publication of PMQ, Inc.

662-234-5481

Volume 24, Issue 10

December 2020

ISSN 1937-5263

PUBLISHER

Steve Green, sg@pmq.com ext. 123

CO-PUBLISHER

Linda Green, linda.pmq@gmail.com ext. 121

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Rick Hynum, rick@pmq.com

ART DIRECTOR

Eric Summers, eric@pmq.com

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Tracy Morin, tracy@pmq.com

IT DIRECTOR Cory Coward, cory@pmq.com ext. 133

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

Blake Harris, blake@pmq.com ext. 136

TEST CHEF/USPT COORDINATOR

Brian Hernandez, brian@pmq.com ext. 129

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Ingrid Valbuena, ingrid@pmq.com ext. 137

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER

David Fischer, david@pmq.com

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Shawn Brown, shawn@pmq.com

ADVERTISING

SALES DIRECTOR

Linda Green, linda.pmq@gmail.com ext. 121

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Tom Boyles, tom@pmq.com ext. 122

SALES ASSISTANT

Brandy Pinion, brandy@pmq.com ext. 127

PMQ INTERNATIONAL

PMQ CHINA

Yvonne Liu, yvonne@pmq.com

PMQ RUSSIA

Vladimir Davydov, vladimir@pmq.com

PMQ PIZZA MAGAZINE 605 Edison St. • Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.5481 • 662.234.0665 Fax

PMQ Pizza Magazine (ISSN #1937-5263) is published 10 times per year.

Cost of U.S. subscription is $25 per year. International $35. Periodical postage pricing paid at Oxford, MS. Additional mailing offices at Bolingbrook, IL. Postmaster: Send address changes to: PMQ Pizza Magazine, PO Box 9, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-9953.

Opinions expressed by the editors and contributing writers are strictly their own, and are not necessarily those of the advertisers. All rights reserved. No portion of PMQ may be reproduced in whole or part without written consent.

The Art Of Mellow

Crafting everything from psychedelic T-shirt designs to garden gnomes, more than a dozen artists contributed thousands of original works to help Mellow Mushroom close out 2020 with flair. The Atlanta-based chain unveiled its new Art of Mellow sweepstakes campaign in late October. Every guest who places an online order can opt in to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a piece of signature art commissioned from 13 artists. Even better, every entrant automatically receives a digital gift for Zoom backgrounds, Instagram and Snapchat filters, wallpaper and more. Sweepstakes prizes include limited-edition prints, T-shirts, pullovers, coasters, and other wearable and displayable art, created by artists from around the world. The campaign, which runs through January 3, promotes the chain’s new online ordering system and website. Anne Mejia, Mellow Mushroom’s vice president of brand development, says the promo “brings Mellow Mushroom out of the stores and into customers’ phones to be a part of their everyday lives.”

PHILLY’S SIXTH MAN GETS INTO THE GAME

Angelo’s Pizzeria South Philly fired up Philadelphia 76ers fans in October with a pie honoring Alan Horwitz, the team’s superfan and so-called “Sixth Man.” For every order of The Sixth Man Pizza—a half-sausage and half-pepperoni combo—Horwitz, a local businessman, donated $1.76 to Philadelphia Youth Basketball, a nonprofit organization that uses hoops to help young people in underserved communities develop their potential as studentathletes and leaders. Horwitz has attended Sixers games since the 1960s, always seated courtside wearing his #76 jersey—and he just happened to turn 76 in January. Angelo’s also promised free pies to the first 25 frontline workers who ordered The Sixth Man Pizza on October 15, the first day of the promotion.