Pizzerias are gearing up to celebrate one of the biggest pizza days of the year, Pi Day, with loads of creative marketing strategies—assisted by a generous helping of free press. In recent days, publications from The New York Times to NBC Los Angeles have been sharing Pi Day’s origins and pizza deals with their audiences. Are you joining in the celebration, or missing out on sales?
In case it bears explaining, Pi Day, March 14, was named for 3.14, the abbreviation of the mathematical number “pi,” which describes the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Fittingly, the day has become a celebration of pizza—the original perfect circle. But the only math pizzeria owners need to know this holiday is how to create specials that will get customers in the door and score more attention, without breaking the bank. Here are a few ways pizzerias from around North America are doing it.
Pizza Nova, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Pizza Nova is offering a delivery special—a small cheese pizza for only $3.14 with orders of a large, two-topping pizza—as well as a walk-in special: a slice of pizza for $3.14. Founded in 1963, Pizza Nova is a family-operated business that has grown to more than 150 stores and concession locations in Southern Ontario. The company is known for high-quality ingredients, Italian menu items, and a line of the founding family’s Primucci-branded products, including Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Hot Peppers, Spicy Green Olives and Sundried Black Olives. This is Pizza Nova’s sixth year offering specials for Pi Day.
Pieology, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Pieology is doubling the fun for all Pie Life Rewards members, as well as Pies and Perks members. Pies and Perks members will receive two free Perks with their order of a Craft Your Own (CYO) Pizza or Calzone purchase. Customers can mix and match their perks, choosing options like a cookie and a drink, two cookies, a salad and a cookie, or any other combination. The offer is available both in-store and online, through the Pie Life Rewards app or on the website. Non-members can register for Pie Life Rewards, purchase any Craft Your Own Pizza or Craft Your Own Calzone, and receive Free Double Perks on Pi Day. And, by unlocking a Pies and Perks membership, they continue to receive one free perk every day with a CYO purchase through the end of 2024.
Pantry Pizza, Dorchester, MA
Pantry Pizza is offering a $3.14 small cheese pizza using the code PIDAY24. Customers are allowed to order one pizza per code, and toppings are extra. Pi Day orders are accepted online or by phone. Serving the Dorchester community for over 15 years, Pantry Pizza is a family-owned neighborhood pizzeria offering an array of thin-crust pizzas with housemade sauces, plus calzones, subs, wraps, paninis, salads, and its recently launched Pantry Pizza Bowls.
Round Table Pizza, a franchise owned by FAT Brands, is offering its Royal Rewards members (who must sign up before March 14) a Personal Cheese Pizza for $3.14 with the purchase of any Large or XL pizza, all day long at participating locations. Round Table has been slinging pizza since its founding in 1959 and is known for toppings layered to the edge of the crust. “Each Pi Day, we love celebrating what makes Round Table so special—our pies,” says Jillian Bowman, marketing manager at Round Table Pizza. “Our topped-to-the-edge, handmade pizzas are what keep guests coming back to ‘share a little pizza with someone you love,’ just like our founder envisioned.”
