Donatos

Donatos Introduces New Hand Tossed Pizza

Hand Tossed crust joins Donatos signature thin crust to meet consumers varying tastes

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8/24/2009 (Columbus, Ohio) --

Donatos Pizza is rolling out the dough and "tossing" a new pizza onto its menu that's sure to please pizza lovers everywhere. The pizza company, known for its famous thin crust, is introducing Hand Tossed Pizza, featuring the tender, chewy crust many consumers crave.

The Hand Tossed Pizza offers Donatos' high quality ingredients abundantly piled on the popular style crust, but with a few fresh twists. The pizza features a traditional pie cut and new flavors to enhance the taste of the fresh-baked crust — creamy whole milk mozzarella cheese, loads of a new zesty pepperoni and a sweet Italian sauce made with fresh tomatoes and herbs. Customers can also select the dipping sauce of their choice to accompany the pizza — sweet Italian marinara or buttery garlic.

"Our research shows that hand tossed crust is preferred by as many as 50 percent of consumers, so we devoted ourselves to developing a hand tossed recipe that gives our customers the high quality and consistent taste they expect from Donatos," said Michael Galperin, director of customer insights at Donatos. "During blind consumer taste trials, we tested our Hand Tossed Pizza along with other national leading brands, and found that consumers consistently favored the taste of our new Hand Tossed Pizza. We also found that consumers really loved the flavor combination of the new zesty pepperoni and the sweeter sauce."

Donatos Hand Tossed Pizza will join the company's signature Edge-to-Edge® thin and thicker crusts. Customers can get any of their favorite signature topping combinations, such as Founder's Favorite® or The Works®, on the new hand-crafted crust. The addition will make ordering pizza easier for those families divided on crust — with some family members devoted to thin crust and others fanatical for Hand Tossed.

"Now, families can order whichever style pizza best meets their tastes — Donatos' famous thin crust or new hand tossed... or both," said Jane Grote Abell, president and COO for Donatos Pizza. "Donatos is famous for quality ingredients and great taste which is why we're so excited for consumers to experience the great taste of our new hand tossed pizza."

For a limited time, Donatos is offering a special introductory price of just $10.99 for a large one-topping Hand Tossed Pizza at all Donatos locations.

Donatos' Hand Tossed Pizza is available for dine-in, carry-out or delivery for a limited time at all participating locations. In addition to its signature Edge-to-Edge® pizzas, Donatos offers Big & Meaty Buffalo Wings, Oven Baked Subs, Chicken Breast Strips and Garden Fresh Salads. To learn more about Donatos' quality products, locate the nearest store or place an order, visit www.Donatos.com.

About Donatos Pizza

Donatos Pizza, founded in 1963 by Jim Grote, is family-owned and operated, and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The creator of Edge-to-Edge® pizza, Donatos Pizza is recognized as the gold standard in pizza, using only the freshest ingredients and highest food and safety standards to create delicious, quality products that are all trans-fat free. Donatos and its franchise partners operate more than 175 stores in six states. Additionally, Donatos has extended its Take & Bake product line to more than 350 locations nationally and offers products atmore than 20 entertainment and sports venues. For more information on Donatos Pizza, visit www.donatos.com.

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