LOS ANGELES, Jul 06, 2011 — California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (CPK) , home of the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, made-to-order pastas, creative salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts, announced today that Southern California resident Susan Williams has won the $100,000 grand prize in the restaurant chain’s nationwide Thank You Card program, which kicked-off in April. Karl Thomas from Houston, TX won the $50,000 prize and Trevor Griner from Louisville, KY had his Thank You Card opened to reveal the third place prize of $25,000.

Williams learned she won the grand prize of $100,000 after using the Thank You Card while vacationing in Las Vegas, NV.

“I’ve been consistently going to CPK for over 20 years and have participated in the Thank You Card program before,” said Susan Williams. “I went to the CPK in Las Vegas knowing I can get a good meal and won. It’s a blessing as I have three boys who are all in college and the money will definitely help.”

The $50,000 Thank You Card was opened for the Thomas family at their local Houston CPK, where they are frequent guests. “I was in shock and my family and I couldn’t believe it,” said Karl Thomas. “It’s really generous of CPK. We love to go there and it was a really wonderful surprise.”

The third place winner had his Thank You Card opened at the CPK restaurant not five miles from his home in Louisville. “Not only was winning the Thank You Card program exciting but it was emotional as it couldn’t have come at a better time for me,” said Trevor Griner. “I’m so thankful and I plan to use the $25,000 for college tuition.”

In April, CPK gave out 2.9 million Thank You Cards to customers dining at their full service restaurants across the nation. Each party received a sealed envelope with a check containing a guaranteed prize, ranging from 10 percent off a meal to $100,000. This year, CPK also embraced the popularity of social media, giving guests using Facebook and Foursquare two additional ways to play and win prizes online. CPK “Thanked” its biggest Facebook Fan with its #1 CPK Fanatic title, where the person with the most votes won a trip for two to any CPK in the world, plus $10,000. Other Thank You Card program prizes ranged from CPK Frozen Pizza for a Year and $1,000 Neiman Marcus shopping sprees to four-night stays at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills.

“We are thrilled to be giving out prizes as a way to say thank you to our loyal customers,” said Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, co-founders and co-CEOs of California Pizza Kitchen. “Our Thank You Card program is exciting for our guests and our way of showing our appreciation for years of support.”

For complete program details and official contest rules, please visit www.cpk.com .

About CPK

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain featuring an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts. CPK premium pizzas are also available to sports and entertainment fans at three Southern California venues including Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and STAPLES Center. Also included in the Company’s portfolio of concepts is LA Food Show Grill & Bar, which is located in Manhattan Beach, California. The Company also has a licensing arrangement with Nestle USA to manufacture and distribute a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen products. For more details, visit www.cpk.com .

SOURCE: California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.