In this installment of PMQ Live Update, Adam Weisell, chef-owner of l’Aventino Forno Romano in Chicago, speaks about monitoring the pandemic situation week by week, shutting down and reopening his Pinsa (Roman-style pizza) restaurant, and staying connected with employees and customers through social media. “As this became a reality… when … More
Coronavirus News
This Ohio Pizzeria Has Given Away Thousands of Free Meals During the Pandemic
Even as the pandemic continues to kill jobs and wreak havoc on the national economy, no one will go hungry in the Athens, Ohio area if John Gutekanst, owner of Avalanche Pizza, can help it. Since March, Avalanche has provided thousands of free meals—including so-called “mega-lunches”—to people in need through … More
Coronavirus News
PMQ Live Update: Running A Proactive Business Model With Nick Karvelas of Karvelas Pizza Co.
In this installment of PMQ Live Update, Nick Karvelas, the co-owner of two Karvelas Pizza Company locations in Hogansville and LaGrange, Georgia, talks about developing discipline with supply-ordering routines, maintaining open lines of communication with sales representatives, and staying proactive to control costs during the coronavirus pandemic. “Adapt, overcome and … More
Coronavirus News
NPD Group: Consumers Likely to Keep Eating More Meals at Home
Restaurant traffic was down 35 percent in April, and that’s not the only worrisome news from a study by research firm NPD Group. Customers are likely to keep eating more meals at home even after restrictions on dine-in services are lifted, NPD predicts. And when they do eat restaurant food, … More
Coronavirus News
Marco’s Pizza Is Testing Pizza-Making Machines for a Post-Pandemic Future
Marco’s Pizza, the No. 6 pizza chain in the U.S., has seen its year-over-year sales climb by 20 percent systemwide, but President/COO Tony Libardi has his gaze fixed firmly on the post-pandemic future—and that likely includes more automation and pizza-making machines in the kitchen, he believes. In a recent podcast … More
Coronavirus News
PMQ Survey: 90 Percent of Pizza Restaurants Still Open Thanks to Delivery and Carryout
PMQ Pizza Magazine would like to thank all 490 pizza operators, suppliers and distributors who participated in our recent “PMQ: Please Help Us All” survey that measured the pizza industry’s COVID-19 disposition. Of those 490 respondents, 97% were pizzeria operators, 81% were independent operators, 11.4% were franchises and 4.5% work … More
Coronavirus News
Insurance Expert: Will Business Interruption Policy Cover a Restaurant’s Pandemic Losses?
As more states allow restaurants to reopen for dine-in services around the country, operators will have to navigate tricky waters. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, health and safety concerns abound for employees and customers alike, and insurance issues are likely to arise. To help answer some common questions … More
Coronavirus News
Niko Frangos: 3 Ways to Prepare for Reopening Your Pizza Restaurant
By Niko Frangos, Rascal House Some states are starting to ease restrictions on dining rooms, but before reopening for in-restaurant dining, pizzeria operators should create a plan for what the “new normal” will look like in their restaurant. Even if your state hasn’t announced a reopening date, create a plan … More
Coronavirus News
Restaurant Leaders Meet With President Trump to Ask for Help
National Restaurant Association officials met with President Trump to plead for help addressing the restaurant industry’s nationwide job losses and closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association said today. Marvin Irby, the association’s interim president and CEO, and Association Board Chair Melvin Rodrigue were among the restaurant leaders who … More
Coronavirus News
Chicago Requires More Transparency from Third-Party Delivery Companies
Another major pizza city has joined the move to help restaurants cope with high third-party delivery fees during the coronavirus pandemic, although Chicago’s new rules don’t go nearly as far as those recently approved by the New York City Council or implemented last month in San Francisco. Chicago Mayor Lori … More
Coronavirus News
New York City Council Sets Cap on Third-Party Delivery Fees
Following the lead of San Francisco, the New York City Council voted on Wednesday to set caps on the fees that third-party delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash and UberEats can charge restaurants, the New York Times reported. Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he supports the limits and will sign … More
Coronavirus News
How to Best Use Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly put pizzeria operators of all shapes and sizes in a unique position. On the one hand, it has introduced diverse operational challenges, from supply chain disruptions to the sudden and complete loss of any revenue that would have come from events such as the NCAA … More