Pizza Hut and BOOK IT! Announce Big Book Giveaway Winners

Pizza Hut and the BOOK IT! Program have announced the winners of the second annual BOOK IT! Big Book Giveaway. The giveaway challenges Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide to submit creative donation ideas for a chance to distribute 500 books in their communities in celebration of National Young Readers Week from November 7-11, 2011.

“I am inspired by the enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by our restaurant team members during the BOOK IT! Big Book Giveaway,” said Shelley Morehead, BOOK IT! Program Director, “National Young Readers Week is all about bringing out the fun in reading.  Our restaurants have developed creative ways to distribute books to children in ways that will bring joy to many deserving communities across the country.”

For the BOOK IT! Big Book Giveaway, over 6,000 Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide were invited to submit ideas on how they would distribute 500 books to children in their communities. Each entry completed a form describing how the donation of books would impact the community and support literacy tied to the BOOK IT! Program. Many of the winners are hosting celebrations for the recipients and local families to award the books.

From the received submissions for the BOOK IT! Big Book Giveaway, there were twenty Pizza Hut locations selected from across the country. Highlighted below are a few of the winning Giveaway Concepts:

• Brookville, Ohio: Host a parade at Children’s Medical Center with Pizza Hut volunteers wearing book character costumes while distributing books to the hospital patients.
• Hoover, Alabama: Donate books to elementary schools in rural Tuscaloosa County, which was dramatically damaged from this season’s horrendous tornado season.
• Houston, Texas: Host a Pizza Hut celebration at Travis Elementary and honor the ” Mission: Go Travis Book Club:” a group of students committed to finding fellow students who do not have books at home and providing them opportunities to read by sharing their own books and creating a club library. Local celebrities, faculty, community members and even famous book characters will attend the event!
• Joplin, Missouri: Donate books to schools that lost many things during the tornado season.  The restaurants plan to hold a kids night Halloween function in conjunction with the book donations and give all attending children a Halloween goodie bag including a book.
• Marysville, Michigan: Donate books to an elementary school in Marysville, MI, as it is a “Gateway to Learning” for its students.  To present the books, the school staff would provide each teacher with a Pizza Hut / BOOK IT! reading tracker dry erase board and discuss the importance of reading and support the core values of the school.

Founded in 1989 by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, National Young Readers Week is an annual event that encourages young readers to get excited about reading. Events are hosted in schools across the country, where local officials, sports figures, public safety officers, parents and other “celebrities” from the community share their favorite stories with students to help reinforce the importance of reading and to encourage reading for enjoyment.

Some of the 40 million Americans currently receiving food stamps from the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may soon be able to use them at participating fast food restaurants.

Yum! Brands – the parent company of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver’s and A&W – is lobbying to have food stamps be accepted at their restaurants.

“It makes perfect sense to expand a program that’s working well in California, Arizona and Michigan, enabling the homeless, elderly and disabled to purchase prepared meals with SNAP benefits in a restaurant environment,” Yum! spokesman Jonathan Blum told USA Today.

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The final day of NRFtech 2011 kicked off with a mobile strategy presentation by Pizza Hut CIO Baron Concors.

The chain, Concors said, “has a history of taking calculated risks. We don’t mind being the first mover on something, or making an investment early. Our goal is to be where our customers are.”

Pizza Hut launched its first mobile site for ordering in 2007; it has had a presence on Facebook and Twitter since 2008, and launched its iPhone app in 2009. “Just recently,” Concors said, “we launched apps for the iPad and Android, and any day now we’ll have one for Windows Mobile 7.”

The decision to launch an iPhone app evolved from several sources. One was the company’s awareness of the ubiquity of mobile communications; another was the rapid adoption of smartphones by the general public. In corporate America, Concors pointed out, people have been carrying these hybrid telephone/Internet devices around for years. “Now it’s not just the corporate sector,” he said, “it’s everybody. People want access to web pages, they want video and they want apps.”

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McDonald’s has brought back their Monopoly game to over 14,000 national restaurants. Players have a one in four chance of winning with prizes ranging from free food to $1 million dollar. Resort vacations, Redbox rentals, and motorcycles are also included. Menu items featuring game pieces include the Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish and many others.

While independent restaurants don’t get the group branding advantage of chains, they do have consumers looking for them specifically. New research from Mintel shows that nearly 50% of consumers report seeking out independently owned restaurants for dining. Half of them are doing so to offer support to local business owners.

U.S. Foodservice is undergoing a re-branding campaign and have changed their name to US Foods. The company provides supplies and pre-cooked foods to a variety of campuses, restaurants and other kitchens. Improved quality of their food offerings is also part of the re-branding plan, along with updated packaging.

Denny’s Corporation has begun a partnership with the Casanova Pendrill firm to broaden their appeal to Spanish-speaking diners. Casanova Pendrill will be the company’s Spanish agency of record beginning in October. This will help Denny’s develop new marketing and promotional campaigns to target Hispanic customers more effectively.

Unilever Food Solutions has announced the winner of their online “Inspired Restaurant Makeover” contest for small, independent restaurants. The Coach Sports Grille near Detroit will receive a total makeover package that comes with a value of $100,000. Consultation from restaurant coaches and training through the Culinary Institute of America is also included.

Church’s Chicken is investing in their executive team by hiring a new Chief Executive Officer. Jim Hyatt comes to the fried chicken chain after serving as the President and CEO for Cosi Inc. He’s worked in the restaurant industry for over 35 years, including 16 as a store owner and executive with Burger King.

Don Shula may be the winningest coach in the history of the National Football League, but he also knows about quality burgers. He plans to open his first Shula Burger location in Islamorada, Florida by the end of 2011. Expansion into a small chain is planned for the rest of 2012. The chain will serve gourmet burgers, quality sides and a wide wine selection.

Smashburger first introduced the Windy City Burger in Chicago, the town that inspired it. Now its growing popularity has brought it to the rest of the country. The burger, which features a pretzel roll and haystack onions, will be available nationally until October 30^th. The 100% Angus Beef patty is included on this Smashburger as well.

Pizza Hut is using the over 7,000 locations across the country to help end hunger across the world. The “Share a Slice of Hope” campaign will raise money during the 2011 World Hunger Relief program. Pizza Hut is teaming up with game developer Zynga to solicit donations through online and in-store drives.

While the big players in the burger industry, like McDonald’s and Burger King, are struggling to grow, small fast-casual chains are seeing improving numbers. Chains like Smashburger and the Counter are bringing in consumers despite the recession by offering higher quality food than fast food chains. Big burger chains are also focusing on breakfast and other menu items and not burgers.

Pizza Hut announced today a movement across its more than 7,200 U.S. restaurants that positions America’s largest pizza chain as a leader in the fight against the global hunger epidemic. Pizza Hut is challenging America to “Share a Slice of Hope” during the 2011 World Hunger Relief campaign via multiple donation channels, including an exclusive integration with social game developer Zynga via online contributions at zynga.com/pizzahut through Oct. 31, 2011. More information about 2011 World Hunger Relief efforts at Pizza Hut and the Share a Slice of Hope initiative are available at pizzahut.com/slicesofhope.

“Global hunger statistics are astounding, with nearly one billion people going days or weeks without a substantial meal,” said Scott Bergren, Pizza Hut CEO. “We want to make a difference and we’re asking our customers and employees to ‘Share a Slice of Hope’ with those in need.  Just $1 donated to the World Hunger Relief campaign feeds four children in need.”

Zynga players looking to join the Share a Slice of Hope movement will get their chance to contribute within their favorite games. Pizza Hut has partnered with the world’s leading social game developer to deliver the first ever offline to online contribution experience through Zynga.org for players in FarmVille, CityVille, Empires & Allies and The Pioneer Trail. Players will receive a choice of one exclusive, limited edition item for each contribution of $5 or more made through zynga.com/pizzahut, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the World Food Programme.

“We’re thrilled to join the World Food Programme and Pizza Hut in their battle against world hunger and to heighten awareness of the campaign among our players,” added Laura Pincus Hartman, Director of External Partnerships for Zynga.org.

In addition to contributing through social gaming, online donations can be made to World Hunger Relief when completing an order at pizzahut.com. Customers can then share their donation with friends and followers on social media for the ultimate Share a Slice of Hope experience.

Pizza Hut is also encouraging customers to donate in-store when they visit their neighborhood restaurants. Customers who make a donation in-store may add a personalized pepperoni to a pizza-shaped sharing board displayed in each participating restaurant.

With a robust 2011 World Hunger Relief effort, Pizza Hut looks to surpass its record donation total from last year of nearly $2 million. To help meet this target, local Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide have set their own donation goals and will host events and fundraisers within their communities throughout the month-long campaign. All donations made during the 2011 World Hunger Relief campaign will benefit the World Food Programme’s hunger relief efforts.

Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company and parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, announced today the launch of its annual World Hunger Relief effort featuring multi-Grammy Award winner and international superstar Christina Aguilera in a new public service announcement. According to the United Nations, there are nearly 1 billion people around the world who are hungry today.

World Hunger Relief is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort, spanning 110 countries, 38,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants and more than 1 million employees and franchise associates. The campaign raises awareness, volunteerism and funds for WFP and other hunger relief agencies.

The new PSA captures Aguilera standing on a dark stage that is artistically illuminated by sparkling lights held by children. As Aguilera sings a soulful a capella rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, graphics illustrate how millions of children go to bed hungry. She urges people to join her in turning hunger into hope.

The PSA will start airing in mid-October. Aguilera will also appear in World Hunger Relief restaurant posters with the quote “Together, we have the power to save lives and go from hunger to hope” and online efforts, including the campaign’s website, FromHungertoHope.com.

Aguilera has served as global spokesperson for World Hunger Relief since 2009. She also serves as an “Ambassador Against Hunger” for WFP where she has traveled on relief trips with the organization to Haiti and Guatemala.

“As a mother, I can’t accept that children around the globe are going hungry and that’s why I’m so passionate about this issue,” said Aguilera. “My new PSA for World Hunger Relief is a twist on a classic lullaby but also a reminder that every night, millions of children go to sleep hungry. It gives those children a voice and shows how together, we can give every child a chance to dream,” added Aguilera.

“With nearly 1 billion people going hungry around the world, as well as the desperate situation in the Horn of Africa, we all need to help find a solution to this critical issue,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “We are thankful for Christina’s efforts to help us build awareness, inspire volunteerism and raise money to fight hunger. As a company with a huge heart, we believe it is our privilege and responsibility to do everything we can to make a difference and save lives.”

Hunger and malnutrition are the number one risk to health worldwide – greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Among the key causes of hunger are natural disasters, conflict, poverty, poor agricultural infrastructure and over-exploitation of the environment.

Recently, financial and economic crises, coupled with drought, high food prices and conflict affecting more than 13 million in the Horn of Africa, have pushed more people into hunger. Yum! is directing the first $1 million from its World Hunger Relief effort this year to help WFP provide food to families affected by hunger and suffering the effects of drought in the Horn of Africa. Novak and other senior executives and franchise leaders from KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Yum! Restaurants International also traveled to Honduras last month to help WFP’s relief efforts in the country.

“The world hunger relief campaign provides life-saving food and nutrition to millions of children, transforming desperation to hope,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP. “This support enables school meal programs in the world’s most food-insecure areas, helping ensure children are not only being nourished, but can attend school, helping break the cycle of hunger and poverty.”

Consumers can visit FromHungertoHope.com or donate in the restaurants (no purchase necessary – see calendar below for dates that each brand’s participating restaurants begin their in–store campaign). Every U.S. dollar raised will go directly towards WFP’s operations to fight hunger around the world. One U.S. dollar provides four meals for hungry children at school.

Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through a PSA, advertising, public relations, web–based communications and in–restaurant posters. The Company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens and launching fundraisers.

Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than one million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 21 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised nearly $85 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide more than 350 million meals and save the lives of millions of people in remote corners of the world.

Yum! is also addressing hunger across the U.S. through its Harvest program. Since its launch over two decades ago, Harvest has become the largest prepared-food donation program in the world. Through Harvest, Yum! has donated over 125 million pounds of food, with a value of over $500 million, to those at risk of hunger in the U.S. The Company also has been the primary sponsor of the Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville for nine years, and has donated nearly $9 million to this local agency.

Campaign Calendar: World Hunger Relief kicks off its fall campaign in the U.S. with Pizza Hut on September 25, Taco Bell on October 6 and KFC on October 17.

Bank of America Corp. (BAC), the lender divesting assets to raise capital, is in exclusive talks to sell its stake in the biggest U.S. Pizza Hut franchisee for more than $800 million, said two people with knowledge of the discussions.

Two private-equity firms teamed up to bid for NPC International Inc., which operates 1,140 Pizza Hut restaurants, said the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are confidential. One hurdle in closing the transaction is arranging debt financing for Overland Park, Kansas-based NPC as credit markets for buyouts tighten, the people said.

“They’ve got to do two things — reduce riskier assets and continue to reallocate capital to other businesses,” said Jonathan Finger, whose family-owned investment company, Finger Interests Ltd., owns 1.1 million Bank of America shares. “These asset sales achieve both those goals, it’s a step in the right direction to slim the company down.”

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Yum! Brands has signed definitive agreements to sell Long John Silver’s, Inc. and A&W Restaurants, Inc. to two separate buyers led by key franchisee leaders. Both sales are subject to customary closing conditions.

“We are pleased to announce that we have identified strategic buyers who are passionate about these two great restaurant brands and committed to their growth potential,” said David C. Novak, Yum! Brands, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As we continue to sharpen our long-term growth focus on international expansion and improving our US brand positions in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W no longer fit our long-term growth strategy.”

The Company does not expect the sales to have a material impact to its ongoing earnings or cash flow. Both transactions are expected to close in the fourth quarter. Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Yum! Brands on the transactions.

Long John Silver’s will be acquired by LJS Partners LLC, led by a consortium of prominent franchisee leaders and other investors.

A&W will be acquired by A Great American Brand LLC, led by a franchisee leader with substantial interests in international A&W restaurants and the National A&W Franchisees Association representing U.S. A&W restaurant operators.

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with approximately 38,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #214 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues of more than $11 billion in 2010. Four of the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and Taco Bell – are the global leaders of the chicken, quick-service seafood, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. A&W Restaurants is the longest running quick-service franchise chain in America. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened approximately four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development. The company has consistently been recognized for its reward and recognition culture, diversity leadership, community giving, and consistent shareholder returns.

Wendy’s was winning with some of its other innovative menu items, but their classic hamburger was in need of a makeover. The chain has released the results of their burger renovation today. The Dave’s Hot N’ Juicy features a buttered, toasted bun over two fresh beef patties. Crinkle cut pickles were added while mustard was removed.

On The Border is expanding their Club Cantina loyalty rewards program. The casual service Mexican chain added the Key Ring Rewards Card to their program for 150 locations. Developing their smart phone engagement with Key Ring helped the chain capture over 40,000 new members to the loyalty program.

Burger King added new soft serve dessert items to its national menu recently. Vanilla soft serve cones and cups come plain for only 89 cents, and adding toppings like granola, fresh fruit and M&M’s costs an extra dollar. The soft serve will also serve as the basis for higher quality milkshakes and sundaes topped with chocolate or caramel.

CiCi’s Pizza is staying on top through variety and dedication to keeping prices low, but the brand is enlisting the help of two industry insiders to continue to growth. Their new growth initiative began last year and aims to add another 500 stores to the pizza buffet chain within a decade. Clif Geisler was hired as the Director of Operational Systems and Rebecca Stone is the new Senior Director of Food and Beverage.

Pizza Inn plans to expand their innovative fast service brand Pie Five Pizza Co. The company hopes to add 8 new restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Within the next two years expansion could bring as many as 15 more stores as well. Franchising for the fast food pizza brand will begin this October in select markets.

TCBy is gearing up to celebrate their 30^th anniversary. The celebration begins on September 30^th when all customers can get a small cup of frozen yogurt for just $.30 at self-serve locations and $1.30 in traditional ones. The official TCBY Facebook page will also feature give aways for free frozen yogurt and valuable coupons.

Reggie Bush is Pizza Hut’s newest commercial star. The running back is traded for a Pizza Hut $10 deal in the chain’s television ad. The promotional campaign is designed to share the $10 Any Pizza Deal that allows customers to pick any combination of toppings, crust and size options for a flat rate of $10.

Buttermilk Falls Inn + Spa has added the new Henry’s Farm to Table restaurant to turn their bed and breakfast into a full featured resort. The restaurant features a menu based solely around the fresh produce and herbs that the kitchen staff can gather each morning. The menu changes seasonally and is supported by the local farms and food artisans.

Louisville, Kentucky is the latest city to play home to the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit chain. Joe Roberts signed a franchise agreement with the company to develop his first location, which will also be a first for the city. There is one other Dickey’s Pit Barbeque location in Kentucky.

A blockbuster trade was made official Monday when star running back Reggie Bush was traded for a $10 pizza in a new ad from Pizza Hut. The new spot heralds the return of the $10 Any pizza deal from Pizza Hut — any size, any crust, any toppings for just $10.

“With taste and value that crush the competition, Pizza Hut is the only pizza worthy of being traded for a star like Reggie Bush,” said Kurt Kane, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut. “Consumers are becoming increasingly value-conscious and we’re satisfying their craving for a hot deal by bringing back $10 Any. It’s game time at Pizza Hut: our $10 Any pizza deal redefines value in the industry by combining the best tasting pizza with an unbelievable price.”

In the new ad developed by The Martin Agency, Reggie Bush joins two fantasy football owners on a couch only to discover one owner has traded him in exchange for a $10 Supreme pizza from Pizza Hut. In the end — after tasting the goodness of the $10 Supreme pizza loaded with pepperoni, sausage, beef, mushrooms, red onions and green peppers — Reggie gives props to the fantasy owner on his smart trade.  Reggie is the first pro football player to star in a Pizza Hut commercial in more than a decade.

For ten bucks, pizza fans will be able to pick any size pizza they want, select from more than a dozen topping options, and choose from the Pizza Hut signature crusts — including Pan Pizza, Hand-Tossed Style Pizza, and Thin ‘N Crispy Pizza. For an additional charge, customers can enjoy Pizza Hut’s signature crust, Stuffed Crust Pizza. Pizza Hut’s $10 offer will be available for a limited time and no coupon is required. This marks the first time in more than a year that the $10 Any deal has been available nationally.

The number of businesses approved to accept food stamps grew by a third from 2005 to 2010, U.S. Department of Agriculture records show, as vendors from convenience and dollar discount stores to gas stations and pharmacies increasingly joined the growing entitlement program.

Now, restaurants, which typically have not participated in the program, are lobbying for a piece of the action.

Louisville-based Yum! Brands, whose restaurants include Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver’s and Pizza Hut, is trying to get restaurants more involved, federal lobbying records show.

That’s a prospect that anti-hunger advocates welcome, but one that worries some current food stamp vendors and public health advocates.

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The main goal of the nation’s food stamp program has been to supplement the buying power of low-income residents when they shop for unprepared foods at grocery stores.

But a major restaurant company is lobbying the federal government on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, federal lobbying records show. Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands has allies among advocates for the hungry who hope to give restaurants a greater role in SNAP.

Yum! Brand restaurants include KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

A little-used provision dating to the 1970s allows states to OK restaurants for SNAP benefits. The provision allows the elderly, disabled or homeless – populations that might not be able to cook unprepared foods – the option of exchanging their SNAP benefits at participating restaurants, but only a few states have opted into the program. South Dakota is not one of them.

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Who would have thought ten years ago that you’d be able to order a pizza over the phone…without talking to anybody.

That was the goal of Pizza Hut executives – which have “a history of taking calculated risks” – said company Chief Information and Digital Officer Baron Concors at a session at the National Retail Federation’s NRFtech: The IT Leadership Summit.

At a meeting of the senior team in early 2009, Concors said someone pointed out that every executive – ranging in age from 40-65 – had an iPhone. With the insight that smartphone adoption would begin to soar, the company decided they needed to be ahead of the curve in mobile retailing to remain competitive in the cutthroat pizza space. Originally, the company thought their app would target young people (specifically, young males who didn’t want to cook) but quickly realized the iPhone was being adopted quickly among consumers in older age groups.

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Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company and parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, announced today that it is directing the first $1 million from its World Hunger Relief global effort to provide food to families affected by hunger and suffering the effects of drought in the Horn of Africa. The funds will help the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) feed those in urgent need of food assistance.

Drought coupled with high food prices and conflict in the Horn of Africa is affecting more than 13 million people. WFP is rapidly moving life-saving food and nutritional products by sea, air and road to hungry populations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, and Somalia to address their needs. In Somalia alone, WFP is feeding 1.5 million people in the northern and central parts of the country and in Mogadishu which continues to fill up with those fleeing the famine zone.

“The situation throughout the Horn of Africa is desperate and we all need to help,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “As a company with a huge heart, we believe it is critical to immediately commit the first $1 million from our World Hunger Relief effort to aid the people throughout the Horn of Africa.”

Novak and other senior executives and franchise leaders from KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Yum! Restaurants International traveled to Honduras earlier this week to help WFP’s relief efforts in the country. As the second poorest country in Central America, Honduras is one of the many recipients of funds raised through World Hunger Relief.

There are nearly 1 billion hungry people around the world today. Hunger and malnutrition are the number one risk to health worldwide – greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Yum! Brands’ annual fall World Hunger Relief effort is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief initiative, spanning 110 countries, 38,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants and over one million employees, to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for WFP and other hunger relief agencies. Multi-Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera, the effort’s global spokesperson, will appear in a new public service announcement this fall as well as advertising, online efforts and posters in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants. Consumers can visit www.fromhungertohope.com or donate in the restaurants this fall. Every U.S. dollar raised will go directly towards WFP’s operations to fight hunger around the world.

Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than one million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 21 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised nearly $85 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide over 350 million meals and save the lives of millions of people in remote corners of the world.

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with approximately 38,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #214 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues of more than $11 billion in 2010. Four of the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and Taco Bell – are the global leaders of the chicken, quick-service seafood, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. A&W Restaurants is the longest running quick-service franchise chain in America. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened approximately four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development. The Company has consistently been recognized for its reward and recognition culture, diversity leadership, community giving, and consistent shareholder returns.

WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.wfp.org.

Pizza Hut this week is making an online offer that could elevate its already popular $5 P’Zone to celebrity status. Through Saturday, August 13, fans who “like” Pizza Hut on Facebook at facebook.com/pizzahut or join the Hut Lovers email program at pizzahut.com/deal will receive a free P’Zone with any online pizza purchase(i).  More than 50,000 fans of America’s most popular pizza brand on Facebook took advantage of the unbelievable offer the first day. The hunger-crushing P’Zone, the Pizza Hut take on a delicious, cheese and topping-filled calzone, is available for only $5 at participating Pizza Hut restaurants and free for a limited time.

“When it comes to unmatched taste at a great price, it doesn’t get any better than the $5 P’Zone at Pizza Hut – unless we just give it away,” said Kurt Kane, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing. We know that our customers continue to face tough spending decisions in an uncertain economy, so we’ve decided to reward those who ‘like’ us on Facebook or sign up for our email program with a delicious free P’Zone when they order a pizza online. We’re inviting everyone in America to take advantage of this free offer and taste the phenomenon that is the mighty Pizza Hut P’Zone.”

How to Score a Free P’Zone

There are two ways to score the ultimate summer reward from Pizza Hut before the offer ends on Saturday, August 13. Facebook users can visit facebook.com/pizzahut, “like” the Pizza Hut page, and then place an online order to get the deal. Users who are already part of the nearly 4 million loyal Pizza Hut brand fans on Facebook can also claim their P’Zone prize by clicking on the “Get Your P’Zone” tab on the Pizza Hut Facebook page.

Hungry customers not on Facebook but still craving a free Pizza Hut P’Zone are also in luck. They can simply visit pizzahut.com/deal and join Hut Lovers email to get their hands on a free P’Zone. Joining Hut Lovers also gives customers access to Pizza Hut coupons, specials, promotions, announcements and event information via an email or text message. The free P’Zone is redeemable with any online pizza purchase.

Party for One

Pizza Hut is taking meal time to a whole new level by folding cheesy, meaty and supremey goodness into a calzone for one. The P’Zone is not meant to be shared, but rather enjoyed as the perfect solution to hunger cravings any time of day.

The P’Zone comes partnered with marinara dipping sauce and is available in the following recipes:

• Meaty – A total meathead: Stuffed with all your favorites – pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, pork, beef and cheese.
• Pepperoni – For the pepperoni enthusiast: lots and lots of pepperoni and cheese.
• Supremo – Savory Italian sausage mixed with fresh green peppers and red onions in this meat-and-veggie combo.

In addition to the free offer on the Pizza Hut Facebook page and pizzahut.com/deal, customers can get their hands on the mouth-watering P’Zone today for only $5 at their nearest Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut, America’s Favorite Pizza, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2009 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, and today operates nearly 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM).

Legend has it that Genghis Khan’s cooks tossed mutton, mushrooms and vegetables together to serve his soldiers quickly before battle. Eight centuries later, the same “hot pot” cuisine is now a contender as Yum! Brands’ next big restaurant chain, alongside fast-food outlets KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

The pending $860 million acquisition of Little Sheep, with 700 locations in China and a handful elsewhere, including San Diego, could satisfy Yum’s search to fill the Chinese cuisine niche. Louisville-based Yum already touts itself as the world’s largest restaurant company, with 38,000 outlets.

Since announcing its purchase in April, company executives have spoken openly about the possibility of building the Little Sheep hot-pot concept into a global brand like KFC. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators are reviewing the purchase.

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David Novak, the chairman-CEO of Yum Brands, is on a mission to lift sales at the restaurant company — the parent of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut — and is challenging his ad agencies to do their part.

According to multiple people familiar with the matter, Mr. Novak has circulated a memo to the company’s lead creative agencies, calling for a “brainstorming session” that will involve its three main ad partners: WPP’s Ogilvy & Mather and Interpublic Group of Cos. siblings DraftFCB and the Martin Agency.

People familiar with the memo said Mr. Novak expressed discontent with the company’s U.S. business results compared with its international growth, and asked for agencies to assess the causes and come up with solutions. Solutions may include anything from untapped consumer trends to operations suggestions to innovations in the fast-food category. Mr. Novak is also understood to have inquired about what could be done on Yum’s part to help improve the creative work.

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McDonald’s popular slogan may be “lovin’ it” but consumers beg to differ, the fast food icon was joined by Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell among the lower ranked chains in Consumer Reports first ever major fast food ratings.

The survey, based on responses from 36,733 subscribers who made more than 98,000 visits to 53 fast-food chains revealed that readers found them to offer uninspiring food, only so-so service. Other major chains with relatively low scores: sandwich shops Arby’s and Quiznos and pizza joints Domino’s and Pizza Hut.

“Chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don’t necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck,” said Tod Marks, Senior Projects Editor, Consumer Reports. “Fifty four percent of our subscribers cited low prices as a reason for picking a particular fast-food restaurant.”

By contrast, CR’s survey revealed good deals and even better meals at dozens of ever-present fast-food restaurants. Consumer Reports readers gave 21 of the 53 chains high marks for food.  Among the winners:

• For burger fans, In-N-Out Burger rated highest of all 53 chains rated in Consumer Reports Survey with high scores for food, service, value and speed.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill was among the best of 8 leading Mexican food chains, and earned high scores for food, politeness of staff and speed of service.
• One chicken chain topped the rest hands down: Chick-fil-A. With outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service, respondents rated it higher than seven other leading poultry stops.
• If you’re craving a top-notch wedge, hero, hoagie, or sub served quickly with a smile on the side try Jason’s Deli or Firehouse Subs. Readers gave them the highest marks for food and favorable scores for politeness of staff and speed of services among 11 sandwich and sub chains.  
• The single standout for pizza: Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, which has an unconventional concept where the patrons order a pizza to bake at home. It earned the highest marks for food, and exceptional scores for value, staff politeness and speed of service among the pizza chains.

Other Key Findings:

Diners want better food. Many restaurants scored higher for service—specifically, speed and politeness—than for food. At chains with the highest scores for food, 42 to 54 percent of patrons called the fare excellent, but at Burger King, KFC, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell, no more than 11 percent of patrons did. In fact, 15 to 19 percent of respondents who ate at one of those chains thought the food was fair, poor, or very poor. At Sbarro, an Italian chain, 27 percent of patrons judged the food fair, poor, or very poor.

Diners want a better experience. Whether they ordered cafeteria-style, at a counter, or at a drive-thru, or had food delivered, readers were much less pleased overall with fast-food restaurants than with casual full-service eateries like Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. Sixty percent of respondents said they were completely or very satisfied with their fast-food dining experiences vs. 68 percent of casual-restaurant patrons.

For the complete ratings of 53 popular fast-food quick-service chains, to find out which chains offer the best food according to Consumer Reports readers, or to learn more about survey results, visit www.ConsumerReports.org starting June 30th, or pick up a copy of August issue of Consumer Reports  wherever magazines are sold.

Websites offering a one-day-only deep discount on local dining are actually helping restaurants attract new customers. Research by Technomic shows that a majority of diners who used discount sites returned later and paid full price. They also were likely to recommend the restaurant to family members or write a review on a social media website.

Whataburger has put together a beautiful and informative book detailing the history of the company just in time for Father’s Day. The Whataburger Story is a hardback photo book perfect for keeping on the coffee table. It features exclusive interviews, photographs and stories from the people who were most involved in the founding of the iconic hamburger chain.

The new Fastest Growing Restaurant Operators Report from Chain Store Guide has been released for 2011. This report focuses on the fastest growing larger chains that currently have at least 50 locations. Growth was measured over a three year span to prevent fast but unstable growth from skewing the results. Affordable luxury dining topped the list.

Domino’s, a pizza chain that managed to resurrect itself after a slow decline, hopes that by the fall of this year international store sales will be higher than U.S. based sales. The chain has almost the same amount of locations both inside and outside the country. However, some countries like China are still presenting difficulties for the brand.

Saladworks, America’s fastest growing fresh salad chain, announced the signing of a new agreement to develop three new locations in the Boston area. The new restaurants will open over the next three years. Tien Tien Lai will be the franchisee for all three. The Saladworks chain currently operates 100 locations with plans for many more to open over the next year.

Burger King and Pizza Hut may not directly compete in the same part of the restaurant industry, but they’ve committed to a new competition. The basketball finals have found Miami and Dallas facing off. BK is based in Miami, and Pizza Hut in Dallas. The CEO of the losing company will spend a day working at a restaurant from the opposing chain.

T.G.I.Friday’s wants you to visit and enjoy their new craft beer menu this summer. To encourage beer lovers the restaurant chain has created the Buy Your Friend a Beer application for Facebook. Users over 21 can buying up to 5 beers for any friend at $5 a piece, regardless of location. The coupons are delivered through Facebook to the recipient.

Baskin-Robbins may be well known for delicious ice cream in the United States, but they just opened their first Singapore location. This marks the 4,000^th location outside the country for the chain. Singapore is the 48^th country to host a Baskin-Robbins store. Executives from the country celebrated the milestone at the grand opening of the store.

A new pizza restaurant is coming to Rogers, Arkansas. Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers will be opening their newest location on June 13^th. The restaurant will be open 7 days a week and offers a beer list with 70 different options, including 30 beers on draft. Mellow Mushroom’s menu features a broad variety of pizzas, salads and sandwiches.

Benihana Inc. has released the fiscal reports for the last quarter of the 2011 fiscal year. The chain saw great improvement in comparable restaurant sales with a rise of 5.6%. Total revenue rose to $81.8 million for the entire fiscal year. Net income was slightly lower than last year, with $0.5 million during 2011 compared to $1.7 million last year.

As the competition heats up on the court, two legends in gastronomy collide off the court – the creators of the Whopper Sandwich and Stuffed Crust Pizza. With Miami and Dallas even following game four, the stakes have never been higher and executives from Miami-based Burger King Corp. and DFW-based Pizza Hut are entering a competition of culinary confidence to show home team support. Brian Niccol, General Manager of Pizza Hut U.S., and Steve Wiborg, President of Burger King Corp., North America, today announced that the executive from the losing city will work a day in the competition’s restaurant. 

“From our pizza to our prices, Pizza Hut is known for being unmatched,” said Brian Niccol, Pizza Hut General Manager. “That’s why we decided to make an unmatched wager with our friends at Burger King Corp. We’re glad to hear they’ve accepted. Mr. Wiborg better get ready for the heat of the Pizza Hut ovens.  We are sizing up his apron now.”

“We’re confident Miami will flame-broil Dallas in the finals and bring home a ‘Whopper’ of a victory,” said Steve Wiborg, president, Burger King Corp., North America. “Mr. Niccol’s Burger King crew gear is already washed and pressed and our teams here can’t wait to help him sharpen his grilling skills by making ‘America’s Favorite Burger’. See you in Miami.”