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Home Thank You for a Fantastic International Pizza Expo®
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| Monday, March 12 |
| Our Special Pre-Show Programming started off with the first in our Power Panel series: The $2 Million Club. A panel of super-successful operators, all of whom oversee restaurants that bring in $2 million-plus per unit in annual revenues, discussed how to climb to the mountaintop in the pizza business. Monday was designated New Operator and First-Time Attendee Day and featured an afternoon of seminars followed by a reception where sponsors had the opportunity to meet and network with new operators and first-time Expo attendees. This program, included in the three-day registration fee, was a resounding success with nearly 700 pre-registrants. |
| Tuesday, March 13 |
| We opened the show with a keynote address from the founder and CEO of one of the busiest independent pizza companies in per-store sales in the United States, Nick Sarillo of Nick’s Pizza & Pub. Nick highlighted many of the principles behind his business’ success, including an inventive, purpose and values-driven approach to training and leadership. You could tell his message resonated with the pizzeria operators in attendance. During our Power Panel 2: Finding and Keeping the Best Pizzeria Employees, more super-successful operators provided attendees with valuable knowledge about how to recruit and retain the type of workers that have kept their businesses profitable. The preliminary rounds (Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge® were held, with the following regional winners advancing to the Traditional Finals: • Reál Varela, Brooklyn Pizza & Pasta, Los Angeles, CA – Southwest Region • Tim Silva, Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA – Northwest Region • Mark Briand, Bondi’s Pizza, London, Ont. – Mid-America Region • Giovanni Gagliardi, Pizzeria La Leggenda, San Felice, Italy – International Region • Marlene Smith, Pizza Palace Plus, Emporium, PA – Northeast Region • Keith Coffman, Lost River Pizza Co., Bowling Green, KY – Southeast Region • Frank Baird, Franco’s Pizza, Chardon, OH – Wild Card Each of the region winners received a plaque and $500 and went on to compete in the Traditional Division Finals. We added two new divisions to the International Pizza Challenge™ this year, American-Pan and Italian Style. The American-Pan Division Finals were also held, with the following results: • Shawn Randazzo, Cloverleaf Pizza of St. Clair, St. Clair Shores, MI – 1st Place • Matthew Heard, Humble Pie, Edmond, OK – 2nd Place • Alex Abellan, Pizza Zone, Victoria, BC – 3rd Place The winner of the American-Pan Division earned $4,000 and a place in the bake-off challenge for Pizza Maker of the Year on Thursday. Also new this year was a “Best of the Best” Masters Division, a blind-box challenge between four past pizza world champions. Tony Gemignani won the title of Master Pizza Maker of the Year, along with $2,500. The World Pizza Games® Trials also began and the first of two Beer & Bull Idea Exchanges® was held at the end of the day. We also announced the first winner of our iPad2 giveaway on Facebook and Twitter, Christopher Cartenuto of Joey Tomato’s in Niceville, FL. |
| Wednesday, March 14 |
| Once again the day began with a keynote from a pizza industry leader. Marla Topliff, President of Rosati’s Pizza, headquartered in suburban Chicago, led a session in which she described in detail the pivotal role of marketing and branding in the carry-out and delivery niche. Her presentation gave great insight into how she helped nurture the company’s rise to $150 million-plus annual revenues. Wednesday morning also featured Power Panel 3: Building Blocks for a Profitable Menu, moderated by Aaron Allen, a menu development specialist. Another group of very successful operators discussed the art and science of constructing a bottom-line-boosting menu. The preliminary rounds (Non-Traditional Division) of the International Pizza Challenge™ were held with the following regional winners advancing to the Non-Traditional Finals: • Joleen Piser, AJ Barile’s Chicago Pizza, Yucaipa, CA – Southwest Region • John Cammack, Lefty’s Grill, Nevada City, CA – Northwest Region • Rick Mines, Nima’s Pizza & More, Gassville, AR – Southeast Region • John Gutekanst, Avalanche Pizza, Athens, OH – Mid-America Region • Andrew Scudera, Goodfella’s Brick Oven Pizza, Staten Island, NY – Northeast Region • Tsutomu Inayoshi, Home Delivered Pizza, Aichi, Japan – International Region Each of these finalists also won a plaque and $500 and went on to compete in the Non-Traditional Finals. The Italian-Style Division Finals were also held with the following results: • Umberto Fornito, Italy – 1st Place • Saverio Ciampi, Italy – 2nd Place • Alessandra DeBellis, Italy – 3rd Place The winner of the Italian-Style Division earned $4,000 and a place in the bake-off challenge for Pizza Maker of the Year on Thursday. 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. Winners in the World Pizza Games® received a check for $1,000 and were as follows: 1st Division Freestyle Acrobatics • Kazuya Akaogi, Red Japan Co., Japan – 1st Place Masters Division Freestyle Acrobatics • Jay Schuurman, Pizza Rock, Sacramento, CA – 1st Place Fastest Dough Stretch • Ingrosso Simone, Pizzeria Del Mille, Italy – 1st Place Fastest Box Folding • Jimmy Xang, Pizza Guys, Rancho Cordova, CA – 1st Place Largest Dough Stretch • Mario Sigmorile, Pizzeria Del Centro, Italy – 1st Place Longest Spin • Kazuya Akaogi, Red Japan Co., Japan – 1st Place We also announced the second winner of our iPad2 giveaway on Facebook and Twitter, Jonathan Cowan of Old Town Pizza Company in Orland Park, IL. |
| Thursday, March 15 |
| The last day of Expo kicked off with Power Panel 4: An Operator’s Social Media Roundtable. Four pizza professionals who are exploring the frontiers of social media marketing passed along their knowledge to help fast-track the audience’s online presence. The third winner of our iPad2 giveaway on Facebook and Twitter, Steve Miller of Jan’s Village Pizza in Westfield, IN, was drawn during this Power Panel from panel attendees. We also announced the fourth and final winner of our iPad2 giveaway, Randy Hoover of Noble Roman’s in Kokomo, IN. Highlights included the finals for the Traditional and Non-Traditional divisions of the International Pizza Challenge™ and a “mystery-ingredient” competition to name the World Champion Pizza Maker. Tim Silva of Pizza My Heart in Los Gatos, CA, won the World’s Best Traditional Pizza (and $7,500). Andrew Scudera of Goodfella’s Brick Oven Pizza in Staten Island, NY, won World’s Best Non-Traditional Pizza (and $7,500). Following the traditional and non-traditional finals of the International Pizza Challenge™, the top finisher in each division squared off in the Pizza Maker of the Year Bake-Off. Contestants were presented with a table of ingredients from which to choose and then prepare one more pizza to be judged. There were no restrictions for toppings, but all contestants had to use the mystery ingredient—Cattlemen’s® Carolina Tangy Gold™ Barbeque Sauce. Shawn Randazzo of Cloverleaf Pizza of St. Clair in St. Clair Shores, MI, walked away with the title of World Champion Pizza Maker and an additional $5,000 first prize. The show closed with the drawing for the $20,000 MEGA BUCKS Giveaway™. Frank Savastano of Savastano’s Pizzeria in Tulsa, OK, was the lucky winner. Whether you attended the show to buy and learn or came looking for new customers, International Pizza Expo 2012 was a success because of you. We sincerely appreciate your support and participation. Planning for next year’s show will begin soon, so save the date—March 19-21, 2013. We’ll keep you posted as plans progress for another great pizza show. Can’t get enough International Pizza Expo? “Like” our Pizza Expo page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @PizzaExpo to keep up with the Expo all year long!
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