Attendees

Can you imagine a place the size of four football fields with nothing but pizza-related goods, equipment and services? A place where you can shop and sample and network with your peers from around the world?  If you were in Las Vegas March 10 – 12, then you know that International Pizza Expo® was the THE place to be if you’re in the pizza business.  While other tradeshows are experiencing declines in attendance, Pizza Expo bucked the trend and held even with 2008 numbers.  And for that we are thankful for all those who came to do business, to learn, to network and to deal. 

Designed for pizzeria owners and operators, there was something for everyone at International Pizza Expo® 2009, whether you're a veteran or just opening your first store.  When the show closed on Thursday afternoon, nearly 5,700 buyers had visited more than 900 exhibits and attended more than 60 educational sessions.  Rounding out the experience were numerous culinary competitions, contests, demonstrations and other special events.

	On Day One (Tuesday) we opened the show with a keynote address from one of the pizza industry’s most respected leaders, Mike Mrlik II, CEO and President of Gatti’s Pizza.  The preliminary rounds (Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge™ were held with the following regional winners advancing to the Final Challenge:  Frank McCarron, Valley Center, CA – Western Region; Dave Cozzola, Ft. Collins, CO – Mid-American Region; R. C. Gallegos, Kingwood, TX – South Central Region; Ron Erich, Mansfield, OH – Eastern Region; Grazziano Bertuzzo, Lecce, Italy – Open Division; Leah Scurto, Los Gatos, CA – Wild Card; and Joe DeVellis, Shelton, CT – Wild Card.  The World Pizza Games® Trials also began. The first of two Beer & Bull Idea Exchanges® was held at the end of the day..
	Day Two (Wednesday) began with a keynote from a second pizza industry leader, Joey Todaro, La Nova Pizzeria in Buffalo, NY.  The preliminary rounds (Non-Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge™ was held with the following regional winner advancing to the Final Challenge:  Scot Cosentino, Staten Island, NY – Eastern Region; Fran Carroll, Dublin, Ireland – Open Division; John Cammack, Nevada City, CA – Western Region; Matthew Swan, Las Vegas, NV – Mid-American Region; Kris Kaiser, Bloomington, IN – South Central Region; Frank Baird, Avon Lake, OH – Wild Card; and Cemal Ramusevic, Staten Island, NY – Wild Card.  The World Pizza Games® Trials concluded.  The climax of this special day was the World Pizza Games® Finals & Rockin’ Party where attendees and exhibitors gathered for food, drink, music, and fun.  First place in the World Pizza Games went to the following: 1st Division Freestyle Acrobatics – Justin Wadstein, Santa Cruz, CA; Fastest Dough – Richard Allen, Dayton, OH; Fastest Box Folding – Justin Stokes, Urbana, OH; Largest Dough – Spencer Glenn, San Jose, CA; and Longest Spin – Akaogi Kazuya, Japan.
	Highlights of Day Three (Thursday) included the finals for both divisions of the International Pizza Challenge™ and a new competition to name the World Champion Pizzaiolo.  Scot Cosentino, Goodfella’s Pizza, Staten Island, NY took top honors (and $10,000) for World’s Best Non-Traditional Pizza.  Grazziano Bertuzzo, Lecce, Italy, once again captured the World’s Best Traditional Pizza title (and $10,000). Grazziano also won the first Pizzaiolo of the Year contest and an additional $5,000 first prize.  The show closed with the drawing for the $25,000 MEGA BUCKS Giveaway.  Todd Dorroh, Mr.Grumpy’s Pizza in Bakersfield, CA was the lucky winner.

Thank you pizzeria operators from around the world for making the 25th Anniversary of International Pizza Expo a resounding success!