Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pita Pit featured in Florida Times Union

Pita Pit was featured in an article in the Florida Times Union, entitled “Pita Pit Opens Thursday in Jacksonville Beach.” The article was composed from an in-person interview with Christy Whitkop, who at just the age of 28 is opening the restaurant in Jacksonville Beach. The article discusses Christy’s entrepreneur story, her expansion plans, the Pita Pit’s menu options and how she will connect with the local community, including delivery and social media. Click here to view the full article!

Pita Pit opens Thursday in Jacksonville Beach
by Gary Mills

It didn't take long for Christy Whitkop to realize one restaurant's closure was her opening to get into the restaurant business.

Days after Lubi's Hot Subs closed at 500 Third St. N. in Jacksonville Beach in March, construction crews were busy demolishing the interior of the restaurant, making way for Thursday's opening of The Pita Pit.

(Read More)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Pita Pit featured on FastCasual.com

Pita Pit was recently featured in FastCasual.com in an article entitled, “Pita Pit to Give Customers Ultimate Choice.” The article delves into the creative way that Pita Pit turned to its loyal customers to help decide what flavors they want to see spicing up menus across the nation with its newest program, Ultimate Choice, which rolled out on May 2nd. Pita Pit surveyed its 72,000 eClub members and thousands of guests visiting individual restaurants to collect consumer preferences and tastes. After tallying up the results, the program will introduce nine new sauces, four new spreads, five new cheeses and 11 new toppings. Which new ingredients will appear at each location was determined by customer surveys. This program is just one more way for Pita Pit to engage customers in the product development process and continually satisfy their taste buds. Click here to view the full article!

Pita Pit to give customers Ultimate Choice

Pita Pit turned has turned to its loyal customers to help decide what flavors they want to see spicing up menus across the nation with its newest program, Ultimate Choice, which rolled out May 2.

Pita Pit surveyed its 72,000 eClub members and thousands of guests visiting individual restaurants to collect consumer preferences and tastes. After tallying up the results, the program will introduce nine new sauces, four new spreads, five new cheeses and 11 new toppings. Which new ingredients will appear at each location was determined by customer surveys.

(Read More)

Monday, May 2, 2011

Pita Pit Mixes It Up with Customer-Chosen Menu Options

New Ultimate Choice Program Gives Customers More Control over the Menu at Healthy Alternative QSR Chain

They say variety is the spice of life. Maybe that’s why Pita Pit turned to its loyal customers to decide what flavors they want to see spicing up menus across the nation with its newest program, Ultimate Choice, rolling out May 2.

In a recent nationwide survey, 65 percent of adults said their favorite restaurant foods provide flavor and taste sensations they can’t easily duplicate in their own kitchens. To help meet demand for new and exciting flavor combinations, the 300-plus-unit healthy pita concept introduced the Ultimate Choice Program to allow its customers to have a voice in selecting the brand’s newest menu items and facilitate pita customization.

Pita Pit surveyed its 72,000 eClub members and thousands of guests visiting individual restaurants across the U.S. to collect consumer preferences and tastes. After tallying up the results, the program will introduce nine new sauces, four new spreads, five new cheeses and 11 new toppings. Which new ingredients will appear at each location was determined by customer surveys.

“We have a tremendous base of supporters whose opinions we hold in high regard,” said Peter Riggs, Pita Pit’s vice president of corporate business unit. “When they said they wanted variety, we gave them a voice so we’d know exactly what to provide.”

New toppings include Artichoke Hearts and Shredded Carrots, while spread updates include Pesto and Pico de Gallo. Provolone, introduced during the Prime Rib and Provolone limited time offer promotion, will return to the menu as a core item and will be joined by Blue Cheese Crumbles and Gorgonzola, among others. Of the nine sauce updates, Chipotle BBQ and JalapeƱo Ranch were in the highest demand. The new menu options also allow individual restaurants across the country to take advantage of seasonal products and events, adding to the already extensive menu.

“Our devoted customers expect new and innovative flavors. It’s one of the reasons they choose us over our competitors,” Riggs said. “This initiative is designed to bring exotic tastes to our customers to keep the pita experience fresh. It also allows our franchisees to customize menu items to their individual markets and provide their customers with the ultimate selection of options.”

The introduction of Ultimate Choice comes on the heels of Pita Pit’s “Name That Pita” Facebook contest, in which Pita Pit’s Facebook fans were given the chance to name the Prime Rib and Provolone pita, should it return to the menu in the future. Fifteen finalists were selected from nearly 400 entries, with fans voting to select the best moniker.

“When you have customers as passionate and dedicated as ours, you can’t help but want to get them involved in decisions,” said Tracy Carbonneau, Pita Pit’s marketing director. “Why should we hog all the fun when they love the brand as much as we do?”

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Pita Pit featured in Greenville News

Pita Pit was recently featured in the Greenville News in an article entitled, “Pita Restaurant Concept in Works for Greenville.” After opening a Pita Pit restaurant last year after graduating from Clemson University in 2009, Justin Kopelman is now planning to open his second location in Greenville. The article also discusses the success of Pita Pit’s most recent social media contest, ‘Name That Pita,’ where fans were allowed to be a part of the naming process of the newly introduced, Prime Rib and Provolone Pita. Kopelman discusses the ability to connect personally with fans through social media and get them involved in the creative process. Additionally, Peter Riggs, VP of Corporate Business Unit, discussed the importance of taking customers’ opinions into account and giving them the ultimate say in naming a new menu item. Click here for the full article!

Pita restaurant concept in works for Greenville
BY ANGELIA DAVIS

The owner of the Upstate's first Pita Pit restaurant franchise is working on a plan to open a second one in Greenville. Justin Kopelman, a 2009 Clemson University graduate who opened his first Pita Pit last year on College Avenue in Clemson.

(Read More)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Pita Pit featured in QSRWeb

Recently, Pita Pit was featured in QSRWeb in an article entitled, “Pita Pit Mines Social Media for New Item Name.” The article delves into the details about the brand’s newest social media contest called, “Name That Pita.” Pita Pit has introduced its newest pita, the provolone and prime rib pita, and is asking its social media fans to join in the creative process and help with the naming of the newest menu item. This entire week, Pita Pit’s Facebook Fans are submitting their most creative names for the new pita and once the names are submitted, the network will then be asked to vote for their favorite name. The contest winner will be announced on the page and will receive one free pita every week for a year. The grand prize winner also will see their suggested name featured on selected marketing materials when the pita makes its return as either a full-time menu item or again as a future LTO. Click here to view the full article!

Pita Pit mines social media for new item name

Pita Pit’s
new limited-time offering features prime rib and provolone, but it hasn’t officially been named yet. The 300-unit, Idaho-based chain is depending on fans to help with that part.

Pita Pit’s “Name That Pita” contest is asking fans to come up with their most creative names for the pita after trying it. Once the names are submitted on Pita Pit’s Facebook page, fans will be able to vote on the best name.

(Read More)

Monday, March 14, 2011

Pita Pit featured in Jacksonville Business Journal

Recently, Pita Pit was featured in the Jacksonville Business Journal discussing the brand’s social media contest, “Name That Pita,” in an article entitled, “Name This Pita, Get 52 Free.” The article discusses the details of the contest and the ability for Pita Pit’s fans to win a free pita a week for a year if their name is selected as the winner. The name he or she created will be used in all the marketing materials for the prime rib and provolone pita. The sandwich is a limited-time-only item for now, but may return on a limited or full menu item basis. To further engage with fans, Pita Pit is hosting a Facebook contest to name its latest menu item. The “Name that Pita” contest, which runs from March 21 to 27, will ask fans to name the chain’s newest pita creation, which contains prime rib meat and provolone cheese. Click here to view the entire article!

Name this pita, get 52 free
Christian Conte

If you’ve ever had a hankering to name a menu item, or win free pitas for a year, this may be your chance.

Pita Pit is hosting a Facebook contest to name its latest menu item. The “Name that Pita” contest, which runs from March 21 to 27, will ask fans to name the chain’s newest pita creation, which contains prime rib meat and provolone cheese. The contest will be at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pitapitrocks.

(Read More)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Pita Pit featured in QSR Magazine

Pita Pit was recently featured in QSR Magazine in an article entitled “Want to Name a Fast Food Menu Item? You’re In Luck,” which delves into the brand’s newest social media contest called, “Name That Pita.” The contest, which will be held from March 21 to March 27, will ask fans to come up with a name for the new, limited-time Prime Rib and Provolone Pita and then vote on their favorite submission. Peter Riggs, Pita Pit’s Vice President of Corporate Business Unit, discussed some of the reasons behind the contest and how important it is to have your fans involved in the creative process. Riggs discussed the fact that Pita Pit is very much customer-oriented and always looking for feedback from customers on how they feel about product offerings, operations, etc. and if there are things that they can see that the brand can be doing better, it is taken under serious consideration. Click here to view the article in its entirety!

Want to Name a Fast Food Menu Item? You're In Luck
By Sam Oches

In an effort to engage its fans on Facebook, Pita Pit will hold a contest on the popular social network that will let the public name the concept’s newest pita.

The “Name That Pita” contest, which will be held from March 21 to March 27, will ask fans to come up with a name for the new, limited-time Prime Rib and Provolone Pita and then vote on their favorite submission.

(Read More)