Attendees

You could feel the energy and excitement as soon as you stepped inside the exhibit hall or tried to find a seat in one of more than 50 pizza-focused seminars.  Pizzeria owners and operators from around the world converged on Las Vegas, April 1-3, for another successful show.  International Pizza Expo® 2008 – the Show of Shows for the Pizza Industry – was definitely THE place to do business, to learn, to network and to deal. The past three shows have been huge successes and 2009 will be no different. Planning will begin soon for the 25th anniversary of Pizza Expo®, but in the meantime, see below for this year's highlights. 

Designed for pizzeria owners and operators, there was something for everyone at International Pizza Expo® 2008, whether you’re a veteran or just opening your first store. When the show closed on Thursday afternoon, you could have visited nearly 1,000 exhibits and attended your choice of more than 50 educational sessions. Rounding out the experience were numerous culinary competitions, contests, and other special events. Learn who took home top honors by clicking on the appropriate event name.

	On Day One (Tuesday) we opened the show with a keynote address from Nigel Travis, CEO of Papa John's International, Pizza Today™ 2007 Chain of the Year. The first preliminary rounds of the International Pizza Challenge™ were held and World Pizza Games® Trials began. The first of two Beer & Bull Idea Exchanges® were held at the end of the day.
	Day Two (Wednesday) began with a keynote from Darryl Reginelli and Bruce Earhardt, owners of Reginelli's Pizzeria, Pizza Today™ 2007 Independent of the Year. The final preliminary rounds of the International Pizza Challenge™ and The Pizza Festiva® Elite 8 competition were held. The World Pizza Games® Trials concluded. This special day concluded with the World Pizza Games® Finals - a rockin’ party for attendees and exhibitors with food, drink, music, and fun. The Pizza Festiva® Final 4 and the International Pizza Challenge™ Regional Winners were announced at the party.
	Highlights of Day Three (Thursday) included the finals for Pizza Festiva® and the International Pizza Challenge™. Grazziano Bertuzzo of Italy took first place and $10,000 in the International Pizza Challenge™, with Tom Costello of Gracie See Pasta Ria in Detroit taking second place and Luciano Passeri of Italy coming in third. The Aussies walked away with both first and second place in Pizza Festiva®. Raffaele Brotzu of Perth claimed first prize money of $5,000 and Theo Kalogeracos, also from Perth, took home second place and $2,000. John Gutekanst, Avalanche Pizza in Athens, Ohio and Dave Winchester, Black Rock Pizza in Sparks, Nevada came in third and fourth respectively. The show closed with the drawing for the $20,000 MEGA BUCKS Giveaway. Chuck Kreutz, owner of The Original Gino's Pizza in Toledo, Ohio, was the lucky winner.

Use the navigational directory located on the left side of this page for more details about International Pizza Expo® 2008. There you will find everything from seminar descriptions to a complete list of companies exhibiting. This site will remain active until planning for 2009 concludes. Attending International Pizza Expo® 2009 could be the best thing you’ve ever done for your business, so save the dates now.