EVERETT, WA (MAY 2008) – Pizza and parties go hand in hand. Whether marking birthday milestones, celebrating a sporting team or academic occasion, or simply to enjoy the company of friends, pizza is a top choice to bring people together for any occasion. It is because of Americans’ love for pizza that rapidly growing national pizza franchise, Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza was chosen to sponsor May 16, 2008 as National Pizza Party Day through Chase’s Calendar of Events, the most comprehensive and authoritative reference available on special events and worldwide holidays. Now, recognized by Chase’s Calendar of Events as the only franchise offering a “National Pizza Party Day”, Garlic Jim’s is celebrating!

Garlic Jim’s will host a contest at www.pizzaweek.com from April 30- May 14, 2008 for customers nationwide to sign up on-line to win one of three pizza party prizes. The grand prize winner will win a party to serve approximately 25, first runner up will be awarded a party to serve approximately 16, and the second runner up will be given a party to serve approximately eight of their friends or family.

Winners will be chosen at random and must live within the trade area of a Garlic Jim’s store. The contest will close May 14, with winners being notified on May 15 and pizza parties awarded on National Pizza Party Day, May 16. Additionally, many locations will be offering special National Pizza Party Day deals to schools and other organizations on May 16.

“We’re honored to have been chosen by Chase’s Calendar of Events as the pizza franchise to celebrate ‘National Pizza Party Day’ in 2006 and beyond,” says Dwayne Northrop, president and CEO, Garlic Jim’s.  “2006 was our kick-off year and we hope it continues to grow in appeal!”

Commencing yearly on the third Friday of May, this day marks the end of many sport seasons and the school year, and signifies the beginning days of summer.  As the school year winds down, students and parents should celebrate with pizza parties! Pizza is the perfect alternative during National Pizza Party Day and all yearlong!

ABOUT GARLIC JIM’S

In the $33 billion dollar-a-year, highly competitive U.S. pizza industry, Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza is proud to be the first pizza franchise to focus on quick delivery pizza made fresh with gourmet toppings.  Garlic Jim’s in-store system and team member training allows them to make pizza in 15 minutes or less “from order to out the door,” thus pioneering the concept “Gourmet, Right Away.”

At Garlic Jim’s the term ‘gourmet’ signifies more than just the finished pizza – it refers to the finest ingredients: fresh packed sauces, fresh whole-milk mozzarella and fresh dough made daily, where the customer can certainly taste the difference. Garlic Jim’s offers customers two crust choices; hand-thrown thick, made with parmesan cheese and buttermilk, or garlic thin; four cheese options: whole-milk mozzarella, cheddar, feta and grated parmesan; seven sauces: classic red, garlic basil, basil pesto, zesty chipotle pesto, creamy ranch, smokin’ sweet BBQ or garlic-infused olive oil, and a variety of meats, vegetables and gourmet toppings such as roasted garlic, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted corn and sun-dried tomatoes.

With gourmet pizzas such as Nutty Chipotle™, zesty chipotle pesto topped with spicy sausage, pepperoni, red onions, tomatoes and cashews, Jim’s Gourmet Garlic™, basil pesto sauce, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese, and Chicken Bacon Ranch, grilled chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, red onions and creamy ranch sauce, Garlic Jim’s is putting a new spin on pizza.  “We’ve gone out of our way to source the best ingredients available to create our specialty pizzas and as a result we also have the best tasting pepperoni pizza you will ever find,” says Northrop.

Garlic Jim’s has grown from two open stores in 2004 to 50 open stores and a total of 111 franchises sold as of April 2008.  Garlic Jim’s currently has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon, Florida, Texas, Tennessee and Washington State. With projections of doubling in size in 2008, Garlic Jim’s is sure to become the fastest growing gourmet pizza franchise in the country. In the September 2007 issue of Pizza Today Magazine, Garlic Jim’s is named 96 on their Top 100 Companies list, an amazing number for the up and coming franchise. For more information on Garlic Jim’s pizza and franchising, visit their Web site at www.garlicjims.com, or call 866-918-jims (5467).