Did you know attending Pizza Expo Columbus is a tax-deductible working vacation? If you are motivated by self-improvement and a desire to be the best, you should enter our newest pizza-making competition, The Great American Pizza Challenge. The competition is just about full, so don’t delay. I like to think that healthy levels of competition can improve your self-esteem and increase enjoyment of life and work in general, not to mention the positive impact it will have on your bottom line.

We’re super excited about our new competitions that will showcase Mid-America styles. Pizza makers from around the world will have the opportunity to compete to see who has America’s Best Pepperoni Slice, along with America’s Best Gluten-Free, Traditional and Non-Traditional Thin-Crust pizzas. Throw in the nation’s first-ever Breadsticks and Garlic Knots championships, and this will be a HUGE game changer for the winning pizzerias. Better yet, we’ll have sub-division winners for Tavern, New Haven, St. Louis, New York Thin and Flatbread pizzas. You’ll have an opportunity to check out over 400 entries from some of the best pizza makers in the world.

Pizza Expo Columbus is your one-stop shop for everything you need for your pizzeria, including the newest products, equipment and technology hitting the market. Throw in top-shelf education and demonstration programs, and you have a game-changing experience. Where else this year but Pizza Expo Columbus can you find more than 150 pizza-specific exhibitors on a show floor that’s nearly as large as a football field? The short answer is nowhere.

On the show floor and in the classrooms, you’ll find real solutions and opportunities to bring home to your restaurant. This is your last opportunity this year to meet face-to-face with industry suppliers and take advantage of discount pricing and show specials.

I like to think that attending Pizza Expo Columbus will be one of the best investments of time and money that you’ll make this year. One thing is for sure: There’s always something new you can find that will improve your operation and boost your bottom line. As always, our commitment to you, our partners, is to produce the biggest and best show ever!

It’s all pizza and it’s all for YOU!

Best regards,

Bill Oakley

Show Director

The post Do You Feel the Drive to Compete? | Expo Spotlight appeared first on Pizza Today.

We’re excited to announce that Kevin King will be the keynote speaker for the inaugural Pizza Expo Columbus, which will take place Oct. 26-27 at The Greater Columbus Convention Center. Kevin has compiled a very distinguished and impressive career in the restaurant industry — one that spans over two decades, including lead franchise roles at Ohio-based Donatos, Smoothie King, Papa Murphy’s and Domino’s Pizza. Donatos is currently ranked No. 202 on the Franchise Times Top 400 and No. 12 among pizzeria franchises.

Donatos Pizza operates over 460 locations across 29 states – including 280 non-traditional locations through its partnership with Red Robin. Kevin’s focus since taking over the role of CEO has been to elevate the guest experience for drive-thru and delivery customers as well as better communications and engagement with their 45 franchisees. Specifically, he would like to see improvement in the company’s guest satisfaction scores on pickup and delivery services, which currently make up 40-45 percent of sales.

Kevin’s leadership approach has been described as pragmatic and data-driven, emphasizing the development of plans based on concrete information and a commitment to continuous learning.
Moving forward, his key business pillars are:

• Attracting and keeping passionate employees.
• Guests and franchisees.
• Innovation and expanding the Donatos brand.
• Driving growth.

Make plans now to attend Kevin’s keynote address at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27. For more information or to register, visit our website at PizzaExpoColumbus.com or call (502) 599-4650.

It’s all about Pizza, and it’s all for YOU!

Best regards,

Bill Oakley,
Show Director

Read the August 2025 Issue of Pizza Today Magazine

In this issue, we announce Pizza Today’s 2025 Pizzeria of the Year. Find out how the owners turned a failing pizzeria purchase into a fast-growing pizza business. Learn how to make a sourdough starter. It’s Green Season! Green Chile, that is. Explore menu ideas that add New Mexican flavors to your pizza. Find out which strip mall locations work best for pizzerias – and how to maximize traffic. Discover why pizzerias are going with custom mobile apps to capture sales and return visits. Tap into addictive bar menu options to increase check averages. Go to the August Issue.

The post Kevin King, President and CEO of Donatos Pizza, is Coming to Pizza Expo Columbus! appeared first on Pizza Today.

Executive Editor Denise Greer and Design Lead Katie Wilson ventured to San Antonio to sit down with Hengam and Matt to get to the bottom of what makes their company so special. They’ve got quite a story to tell, and I do not want to encroach on it here, so read Mastering Mattenga’s Playbook and enjoy.

Bar Bites

When my family goes out for pizza – or just about any meal, really – we order appetizers. For one thing, we typically show up famished. Secondly, apps are usually the favorite part of my meal for some reason (minus the main event: pizza, of course).

If I ever find myself sitting at a bar, the first question I ask is, “What bourbons do you have?” I like a good Old Fashioned. My second question is always, “What bar bites do you have?”

I don’t want a full meal at the bar, but I usually enjoy a small plate while relaxing with a cocktail.

When a bartender hands me the restaurant’s entire menu, it can feel a bit disappointing. When I am given a lineup of bar bites, however – even if it mirrors the restaurant’s appetizer list – I’m a happy camper.

Check out the article on page 30 to read what’s hot with bar bites.

O-HI-O

Lastly, registration for Pizza Expo Columbus is open, and we are looking forward to a fun and exciting event in the Buckeye state. The show will take place Oct. 26-27 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. We have a fantastic lineup of speakers you won’t want to miss. Head over to PizzaExpoColumbus.com to get registered today. We look forward to seeing you there!

Best,

Jeremy White
Editor In Chief

Read the August 2025 Issue of Pizza Today Magazine

In this issue, we announce Pizza Today’s 2025 Pizzeria of the Year. Find out the owners turned a failing pizzeria purchase into a fast growing pizza business. Learn how it make a sourdough starter.It’s Green Season! Green Chile, that is. Explore menu ideas that add New Mexican flavors to your pizza. Find out which strip mall locations work best for pizzerias – and how to maximize traffic. Discover why pizzerias are going with custom mobile apps to capture sales and return visits. Tap into addictive bar menu options to increase check averages.

Check out the full Digital Edition — Pizza Today August 2025.

Read the August 2025 Issue of Pizza Today Magazine

In this issue, we announce Pizza Today’s 2025 Pizzeria of the Year. Find out how the owners turned a failing pizzeria purchase into a fast-growing pizza business. Learn how to make a sourdough starter. It’s Green Season! Green Chile, that is. Explore menu ideas that add New Mexican flavors to your pizza. Find out which strip mall locations work best for pizzerias – and how to maximize traffic. Discover why pizzerias are going with custom mobile apps to capture sales and return visits. Tap into addictive bar menu options to increase check averages. Go to the August Issue.

The post Pizzeria of the Year | Mattenga’s Pizzeria! | Commentary appeared first on Pizza Today.

Pizza Expo Columbus is a tax-deductible working vacation, and it will make its debut Oct. 26, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Developed specifically for owners and operators of pizzerias and Italian restaurants, there’s something for everyone at Pizza Expo Columbus. For two jam-packed days, you’ll have access to more than 250 booths of product and service providers as well as a free, top-shelf conference program that includes food demonstrations, seminars and special events.

Whether you’re an industry veteran or just thinking about opening your first unit, Pizza Expo Columbus is a must-attend event! It’s your one-stop shop for everything you need to run a successful and profitable restaurant.

You’ll be able to see, touch, taste and explore thousands of products, as well as negotiate great deals right on the show floor. Better yet, get the most out of your show experience by signing up for one of our fee-based workshops specifically designed for operators who are looking to take their operation to the next level.

What You Need to Know BEFORE Opening Your First Pizzeria WITH Nick Bogacz

Nick Bogacz once opened two new locations in four months. But the time spent between getting the keys and opening the doors was far shorter – 15 days for the first and 30 days for the second. Thirty days, in fact, is the longest it’s ever taken him to open a store – and that was only because the building itself had been unoccupied for three years and needed several repairs.

Someone asked him why he decided to open his new stores so quickly, and he said he really didn’t know there was another option. He always thought it was normal to open a store in a week or two, so he has a proven process and a system to successfully do just that – and you can too!

Sourdough Pizza Dough WITH Will Grant

Will Grant burst on the culinary scene about a decade ago, when he won several international competitions using his family’s 129-year-old sourdough starter. He began his career at the ripe age of eight, working in the kitchen of his family’s restaurant, That’s A Some Pizza, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. By age 10, he was apprenticing under several different chefs and, into his late teens, he had helped to open five restaurants.

As a young man, he decided to strike out on his own, leaving the family business for the East Coast to gain experience running kitchens at major chains such as Red Robin and Bertucci’s while learning alongside some of the world’s best chefs, including Wolfgang Puck.

Eventually, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and That’s A Some Pizza – but this time as owner and head chef. In 2020, Grant opened Sourdough Willy’s Slice House in Kingston, Washington, which offers six styles of sourdough pizza; in 2021, he opened Sourdough Willy’s Dining Room.

Carryout & Delivery Done Right WITH Michael Androw

Michael Androw is an award winning pizzaiolo and member of the World Pizza Champions. The grandson of Italian bakery owners, Androw began his pizza-making career in 1986. Currently, his E&D Pizza Co. concept is one of Connecticut’s most decorated and popular destinations for thin-crust, Italian style pizza.

Whether you operate a unit that is strictly DELCO or have a full-service dining component, focusing on maximizing carryout and delivery capabilities can yield huge results. With the right systems, packaging, marketing and operational savvy in place, your business can soar to new heights.

Remember, when deciding which tradeshow to attend, general food-service shows are precisely that – even if they claim to have an Italian pavilion and a few pizza and pasta exhibitors. To succeed in today’s fiercely competitive restaurant marketplace, you need access to all the latest strategies and product innovations. Pizza Expo Columbus is your one-stop solution.

For more details or to register, visit PizzaExpoColumbus.pizzatoday.com or call me at (502) 599-4650.

Bill Oakley,
Show Director

Go to the Pizza Expo Columbus 2025 NEWS CENTER: Latest News from the Midwest’s Premier Pizza Show

Read the July 2025 Issue of Pizza Today Magazine

Who are this year’s Rising Stars in the Pizza Industry? We profile six up-and-comers who are making their mark on pizza. Discover why the Grandma style pizza is spreading across the country. See why your pizza could benefit from whole-grain flour. Brush up on inventory management best practices. Learn how to take your products to the retail market. Go to the July Issue.

The post School’s in Session at Pizza Expo Columbus! appeared first on Pizza Today.

To keep everyone up to date on all the news and conversations surrounding Pizza Expo Columbus, staging at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, on October 26-27, 2025, we’ve created this news center. Leading up to our inaugural Columbus event, we’ll share the latest news, videos, features and previews to get you ready.

Bookmark this page to stay connected with all the updates, happenings and competition information on Pizza Expo Columbus 2025.

Get the Advanced Rate for Pizza Expo Columbus

The early bird rate for Pizza Expo Columbus has expired. But, you can still get in on the savings with $20 off the general registration fee. Make plans now to attend the can’t-miss pizza event.

REGISTER NOW!

Are Your Breadsticks and Garlic Knots the Best in the Land?

Photo by: Foma/adobestock.com

Do your buttery breadsticks bring grown men to tears? Are your garlic knots enough to lure Dracula out of his clove-free cave? Well, stop hogging the greatness all for yourself! America’s Best Breadsticks/Garlic Knots is just one of the categories at The Great American Pizza Challenge, taking place Oct. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio.

Brush up on tips the pros use to create bready snacks that bring the boys to the yard, and start practicing the smile you’ll flash when you are crowned the Baron of Breadsticks or the Knot of Nobility.

SIGN UP TODAY!

Early Bird Rates Expire July 15

Join us for this exciting new national event in Columbus, Ohio. Learn from industry pros, connect with fellow pizzeria owners, and explore new vendors. Save $40 with early bird rates available through July 15.

Early bird rates are just $40 for a two-day pass or an early bird combo pass with two-day access and one advance workshop for $275.

REGISTER NOW!

Extensive workshops to be offered at Pizza Expo Columbus

The team at Pizza Expo and Pizza Today created fee-based workshops specifically designed for operators who are looking to take their operation to the next level, including:

• What You Need to Know BEFORE Opening Your First Pizzeria WITH Nick Bogacz

• Sourdough Pizza Dough WITH Will Grant

• Carryout & Delivery Done Right WITH Michael Androw

Learn more about these workshops in Expo Spotlight.

The Great American Pizza Challenge Call for Judges

Applications are now open for judges to serve in 2025 Pizza Expo Columbus competitions. Applications will be reviewed by GAPC judging staff, who will reach out regarding next steps by September 1. GAPC will accept 15+ new judges this year, who will be invited to register for a required orientation meeting. Interested in judging?

Complete the Great American Pizza Challenge (GAPC) Volunteer Judging Application 2025.

Registration is LIVE!

Registration is now open! Take advantage of early bird rates of just $40 for a two-day pass or an early bird combo pass with two-day access and one advance workshop for $275. Early bird rates available until July 15.

REGISTER NOW!

The post Pizza Expo Columbus 2025: Latest News from the Midwest’s Premier Pizza Show appeared first on Pizza Today.

Registration now open for the inaugural Pizza Expo Columbus staging at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, on October 26-27, 2025. Be part of the Midwest’s booming pizza scene, connect with top suppliers, and get inspired by two days of nonstop pizza action. Early bird rates available until July 15—don’t wait!

Expect a bustling and vibrant exhibit hall, an industry-leading education program, engaging networking events and prestigious pizza-making competitions from the team that brings you International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Take advantage of early bird rates of just $40 for a two-day pass or an early bird combo pass with two-day access and one advance workshop for $275.

Attention Competitive Pizza Makers!

Photo by Josh Keown / Emerald

Register now before competition spots fill up. The Great American Pizza Challenge will debut at Pizza Expo Columbus. Pizza makers will vie for best in 7 categories — Dessert Pizza, Traditional Thin Pizza, Gluten-Free, Pepperoni Slice, Non-Traditional Thin-Crust, Breadsticks/Garlic Knots and Young Pizza Maker of the Year (Non-Traditional).

Traditional and Non-Traditional Thin categories will also place highest score in Tavern Style, Columbus Style, New Haven Style, St. Louis Style, NY Thin and Flat Bread. America’s Best Pepperoni Slice will place highest scores by regions, including Mid-America, Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, Canadian and International.

Competitors must complete their Pizza Expo Columbus registration to sign up for competitions.

Join the pizza community as we convene on the Columbus Convention Center on October 26-27. Learn more about Pizza Expo Columbus. Look for in depth coverage leading up to the show at pizzatoday.com.

Go to the Pizza Expo Columbus 2025 NEWS CENTER: Latest News from the Midwest’s Premier Pizza Show

The post Pizza Expo Columbus Registration is Now OPEN! appeared first on Pizza Today.