Donatos

Whats New at the Shoe? Donatos Pizza!

Donatos, an Official Partner of The Ohio State University Athletics, announces it will sell its Edge-to-Edge pizza at Ohio Stadium

---

8/26/2008 (Columbus, OH) --

Beginning this fall, Ohio State football fans can enjoy Donatos Pizza's (www.donatos.com) signature Edge-to-Edge® pizza while cheering on the Buckeyes at the Shoe.

Donatos, an Official Sponsor of The Ohio State University Athletics, announces it has expanded its sponsorship with the University to include vending rights at Ohio Stadium. Starting with the first home game on August 30th, Columbus-based Donatos will sell individual cheese and pepperoni pizzas on its signature thin crust during every game played on Ohio State's turf.

"As a long-time supporter of Ohio State Athletics, we're proud to serve our pizza at Ohio Stadium," said Jane Grote Abell, Donatos president and COO. "Ohio State football has a rich culture of excellence. At Donatos, we've been dedicated to serving the best pizza since our founding in 1963. The strengthened partnership brings together two great Columbus traditions that share the same unrelenting passion for quality."

Creating the same high-quality experience at the Shoe

Donatos has signed a seven-year agreement with Ohio State to sell pizza at seven locations within the stadium three on C-deck and four on A-deck. The C-deck locations will sell pizza and other light stadium staples, such as popcorn and sodas, while the A-deck locations will offer Donatos pizza along with existing food, such as hotdogs.

Donatos will cook all the pizzas on-site with the same ovens used in each store. The company sought to replicate the cooking process in its stores at the stadium to ensure customers get a hot, great-tasting pie every time.

"We wanted to ensure that customers who enjoyed Donatos pizza at the Shoe had the same experience they would find at any of our 60-plus Columbus-area locations," said Abell.

Because of its commitment to providing consistent, quality products at every location from which it serves, Donatos took extra care to create mini-Donatos stores in each vending space at the Shoe. To do this, Donatos had to re-engineer the vending spaces to meet the requirements to produce the high-quality pizza and bold flavors for which the company is known. Its C-deck locations underwent major renovations because these vending spaces previously sold non-food items, such as merchandise. Donatos also created custom boxes for the individual pizzas sold at the Shoe featuring the slogan: "Taste.Tradition."

From an OSU sophomore to selling pizza in the Shoe

Donatos has had strong ties with the Buckeyes since the family-owned and operated company's inception forty-five years ago. Donatos Founder Jim Grote opened his first store on Thurman Ave. on the south side of Columbus while he was a sophomore at the University. Donatos also maintains a unique store on OSU's campus, which features Ohio State memorabilia.

"It took me 45 years to go from a sophomore at the University to selling pizza at the Shoe," Grote said fondly. "We couldn't be more excited to be a part of such an important aspect of Ohio State football's culture and tradition."

Donatos has been a sponsor of Ohio State Athletics for more than a decade. Donatos offers the only officially licensed Ohio State pizza, the Block O pizza, in its Ohio stores. The Block O pizza is a 12" cheese pie that replicates Ohio State's famous "Block O," with Donatos' signature pepperoni forming an "O" and green peppers and black olives as the buckeyes and leaves. Additionally, Donatos is a sponsor of the Block O student group at Ohio State.

Ohio Stadium marks Donatos' 18th sports and entertainment venue at which the company sells pizza. Other Ohio venues where Donatos is proudly served include the Jerome Schottenstein Center (Columbus), Nationwide Arena (Columbus), Columbus Crew Stadium, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati) and US Bank Arena (Cincinnati), among others.

"We are pleased to welcome Donatos to Ohio Stadium," said Andrew Kossoff, Assistant Athletics Director for Business Development. "Donatos has a strong commitment to quality and the Columbus community that spans more than four decades. They are a natural sponsor for us. Offering their customer-favored pizza is sure to enhance Buckeye fans' game-day experience."

In addition to enjoying Donatos Pizza at the Shoe, Buckeye fans can order anything from Donatos menu, including the Block O pizza, for dine-in, carry-out, curbside pick-up or delivery at any area store. Donatos' also offers a catering menu for large-group orders. Visit www.donatos.com to check out a menu or locate a store.

Beginning this fall, Ohio State football fans can enjoy Donatos Pizza's (www.donatos.com) signature Edge-to-Edge® pizza while cheering on the Buckeyes at the Shoe.

Donatos, an Official Sponsor of The Ohio State University Athletics, announces it has expanded its sponsorship with the University to include vending rights at Ohio Stadium. Starting with the first home game on August 30th, Columbus-based Donatos will sell individual cheese and pepperoni pizzas on its signature thin crust during every game played on Ohio State's turf.

"As a long-time supporter of Ohio State Athletics, we're proud to serve our pizza at Ohio Stadium," said Jane Grote Abell, Donatos president and COO. "Ohio State football has a rich culture of excellence. At Donatos, we've been dedicated to serving the best pizza since our founding in 1963. The strengthened partnership brings together two great Columbus traditions that share the same unrelenting passion for quality."

Creating the same high-quality experience at the Shoe

Donatos has signed a seven-year agreement with Ohio State to sell pizza at seven locations within the stadium three on C-deck and four on A-deck. The C-deck locations will sell pizza and other light stadium staples, such as popcorn and sodas, while the A-deck locations will offer Donatos pizza along with existing food, such as hotdogs.

Donatos will cook all the pizzas on-site with the same ovens used in each store. The company sought to replicate the cooking process in its stores at the stadium to ensure customers get a hot, great-tasting pie every time.

"We wanted to ensure that customers who enjoyed Donatos pizza at the Shoe had the same experience they would find at any of our 60-plus Columbus-area locations," said Abell.

Because of its commitment to providing consistent, quality products at every location from which it serves, Donatos took extra care to create mini-Donatos stores in each vending space at the Shoe. To do this, Donatos had to re-engineer the vending spaces to meet the requirements to produce the high-quality pizza and bold flavors for which the company is known. Its C-deck locations underwent major renovations because these vending spaces previously sold non-food items, such as merchandise. Donatos also created custom boxes for the individual pizzas sold at the Shoe featuring the slogan: "Taste.Tradition."

From an OSU sophomore to selling pizza in the Shoe

Donatos has had strong ties with the Buckeyes since the family-owned and operated company's inception forty-five years ago. Donatos Founder Jim Grote opened his first store on Thurman Ave. on the south side of Columbus while he was a sophomore at the University. Donatos also maintains a unique store on OSU's campus, which features Ohio State memorabilia.

"It took me 45 years to go from a sophomore at the University to selling pizza at the Shoe," Grote said fondly. "We couldn't be more excited to be a part of such an important aspect of Ohio State football's culture and tradition."

Donatos has been a sponsor of Ohio State Athletics for more than a decade. Donatos offers the only officially licensed Ohio State pizza, the Block O pizza, in its Ohio stores. The Block O pizza is a 12" cheese pie that replicates Ohio State's famous "Block O," with Donatos' signature pepperoni forming an "O" and green peppers and black olives as the buckeyes and leaves. Additionally, Donatos is a sponsor of the Block O student group at Ohio State.

Ohio Stadium marks Donatos' 18th sports and entertainment venue at which the company sells pizza. Other Ohio venues where Donatos is proudly served include the Jerome Schottenstein Center (Columbus), Nationwide Arena (Columbus), Columbus Crew Stadium, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati) and US Bank Arena (Cincinnati), among others.

"We are pleased to welcome Donatos to Ohio Stadium," said Andrew Kossoff, Assistant Athletics Director for Business Development. "Donatos has a strong commitment to quality and the Columbus community that spans more than four decades. They are a natural sponsor for us. Offering their customer-favored pizza is sure to enhance Buckeye fans' game-day experience."

In addition to enjoying Donatos Pizza at the Shoe, Buckeye fans can order anything from Donatos menu, including the Block O pizza, for dine-in, carry-out, curbside pick-up or delivery at any area store. Donatos' also offers a catering menu for large-group orders. Visit www.donatos.com to check out a menu or locate a store.

Media contact:
Tom Santor
(614) 416-7700
tsantor@donatos.com