Napoletana division, marketing panellists announced for Canadian Pizza Show

Mississauga, Ont. – The Canadian Pizza Show has tweaked its format to add sizzle to its competitions, help independent pizzerias stretch their marketing dollars, and offer prizes and product talks on the trade show floor.

The fifth annual show is set for Monday, Oct. 17, at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

New this year: Competitors in Canadian Pizza magazine’s Chef of the Year competition may now vie for top honours through one of two divisions. The competition, sponsored by Saputo Foodservice and Moretti Forni, now features two divisions: Pizza Napoletana and Open. Competitors may sign up for either category, with 12 spots available in each for a total of 24. Division winners will go head to head in a final showdown to determine who will be named Chef of the Year. The winner and runner-up of the finale will both win trips to Las Vegas and spots to compete in the International Pizza Challenge.

All chefs, including past and present champions, may compete if they meet eligibility requirements. Competition registration opens Monday, June 13, and is on a first come, first served basis.

Junior Chef of the Year Division for chefs 14 to 17 years of age has eight spots available, and the Great Pizza Box Fold-Off, for pizzeria staff 14 years and up, has 10 spots available.

We are honoured to welcome to our judging panel Ettore Pugliese, co-owner of Vesuvio Pizzeria and Spaghetti House in Toronto, and two-time Chef of the Year Diana Cline, partner in Diana’s Cucina and Lounge in Winnipeg. We will announce additions to the judging lineup at www.canadianpizzamag.com/pizzashow as they are confirmed.

An all-star marketing panel of experts will take centre stage during a break in the competition action to tackle the question of “How to get more bang for your budget.” Joining us for this fun session will be:

• Diana Cline, partner in Diana’s Cucina and Lounge, Winnipeg
• Hilary Drago, marketing co-ordinator for Pizzeria Libretto, Toronto
• Tony Sabherwal, owner of Magic Oven, Toronto
• Lesley Greenberg, vice-president of CCS Creative, Toronto
• Sandy Stoyan, owner of Mickey’s Pizza, Mississauga

The panel, moderated by Canadian Pizza, will provide advice from independent pizzeria marketers and sales professionals on how to build pizza sales through smart strategies and tools that can work for any budget.

All attendees are eligible to win prizes and encouraged to take in product talks on the trade show floor, which will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Canadian Pizza Show is sponsored by Saputo Foodservice, PizzaMaster distributed by Alfa Food Service and Stanislaus Food Products.

For more details and competition rules and a photo gallery, visit www.canadianpizzamag.com/pizzashow.

Register now for the show!