As the originator of Flavored Crust pizza, the 542-location Hungry Howie’s, based in Madison Heights, Michigan, launched National Flavored Crust Day on August 14. The inaugural holiday is designed to celebrate 40 years of its signature brand differentiator—and to drive customer engagement heading into the year’s fourth quarter.
To mark the 40-year milestone, Hungry Howie’s debuted a limited-time Sweet Heat Bacon Flavored Crust, available nationwide through December (or while supplies last). According to the brand, the new crust “delivers the perfect balance of sweet heat and smoky bacon for a bold, savory bite. It pairs perfectly with any pizza, especially the ’73 Classic, a longtime fan favorite.”
The inaugural National Flavored Crust Day festivities also included fan-driven activations and loyalty plays, including:
- Free pizza tattoos and on-site giveaways: For the ultimate super fans, Hungry Howie’s teamed up with Signature Tattoo in Ferndale, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, on August 14 to give away free custom pizza-themed tattoos from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with no appointment needed. All attendees were entered into an on-site raffle, and 50 lucky winners scored both a free tattoo and free Hungry Howie’s pizza for a year. There were additional giveaways and surprises throughout the event, all served up alongside an in-shop pizza party for attendees.
- Hungry Howie’s Secret Crust Society: Fans were invited to join Hungry Howie’s Instagram Broadcast Channel, the Secret Crust Society, to access exclusive deals, behind-the-scenes content and surprise giveaways, including a limited number of free pizzas available on National Flavored Crust Day.
- “My Hungry Howie’s Order” Spotify Playlist: To set the mood for National Flavored Crust Day, the brand dropped a curated “My Hungry Howie’s Order” Spotify playlist inspired by its famous crust flavors.
According to Jeff Rinke, Hungry Howie’s VP of marketing and product development, National Flavored Crust Day is designed to “celebrate a core brand differentiator while creating a new annual marketing tentpole that invites tradition, storytelling and social engagement.
“Flavored Crust is what makes Hungry Howie’s truly unique,” Rinke adds. “National Flavored Crust Day is our way of celebrating 40 years of innovation and starting a flavorful new tradition our fans can enjoy year after year.”
Hungry Howie’s has been in business for more than 50 years and was inducted into PMQ’s Pizza Hall of Fame in August 2023. It has a presence in 21 states across the U.S. Its menu offers original round, deep-dish, thin-crust and gluten-free options, paired with an array of crust flavors: Butter, Asiago Cheese, Cajun, Butter Cheese, Sesame, Garlic Herb, Ranch and Italian Herb.
The company is also widely known for its annual Love Hope & Pizza campaign, giving back to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for the past 15 years. The campaign marks its commitment to give back to local communities by educating about breast cancer awareness.
