Alimo’s Pizzeria named Pizzeria of the Year!

Simcoe, Ont. – Alimo’s Pizzeria of Slave Lake, Alta., is Canada’s Pizzeria of the Year, as named by Canadian Pizza magazine.

Starting late in 2020, Canadian Pizza and sponsor Ardent Mills asked pizzerias across Canada to share their stories about what they do, how they innovate and, most of all, how they are involved in their community.

Alimo’s Pizzeria stood out among nearly 30 truly impressive, inspiring entries. Judges considered marketing skills, creativity, growth and most of all the story of their community involvement: How is your pizzeria making a difference?

Alimo’s exemplifies the values and characteristics that make Canadian pizzerias special. Among their many activities are #RandomActsOfPizza, an initiative we wrote about in 2019 that motivated people to pay-it-forward by surprising deserving community members with free pizza and other acts of kindness. The social media campaign began after a nearby Alberta fire department accidentally ordered pizza from Alamo Pizza in San Antonio, Texas. It gained international attention and trended on social media.

During the pandemic, they’ve run #FrontlineFridays working with local business sponsors to provide free lunches to frontline workers. And a “Pizza is for everyone,” campaign encouraged inclusivity and with the help of community sponsors provided meals for those in need. For this campaign, a wall in their pizzeria featuring photos and messages from customers with diverse backgrounds as well as pizza spelled in various languages.

Most touchingly, starting in October 2020 the pizzeria rallied their community to raise nearly $10,000 to help a 13-year-old Moe Salloum who had been diagnosed with leukemia. Key to this effort was a “Moevember” fundraising drive.

Alimo’s Pizzeria will be featured in a cover story in the next issue of Canadian Pizza and receive a trip for two to the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

In the May/June issue of Canadian Pizza, you can read much more about Alimo’s Pizzeria, meet runner-up Joe’s Family Pizzeria in Pembroke, Ont., and learn about inspiring ways pizzerias are making a difference in their community!

Watch this video announcement where brothers and co-owners Ali and Moe Mouallem accept their award from Elaine O’Doherty of contest sponsor Ardent Mills.