This was a promotion that went a bit awry.  On Oct. 1, 2012, tying in to the ongoing election campaign, Pizza Hut launched a "PIzza Party."  On Oct. 9 it announced that it would reward free pizza for life to anyone who asked the "pepperoni or sausage" question at the Oct. 16 town hall presidential debate.  Many media picked up the story, but it was seen as trivializing the election and produced some unfavorable publicity causing Pizza Hut to back away from the scheme.


Pepperoni or Sausage? Pizza Hut to Reward Free Pizza for Life to Anyone Who Asks This Question During Oct. 16 Town Hall Debate

Common question debated in millions of American households every night has opportunity to be addressed, courtesy of The Pizza Party

DALLAS, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Pizza Party may not have been invited to participate in the political debates thus far, but that doesn't mean the tastiest party in the race will be kept quiet come Oct. 16.

To assure America that the real issues being debated in households across the country every night aren't sidestepped by the candidates any longer, The Pizza Party is offering free pizza for life* to an official attendee who asks either of the participants the age-old burning question – Sausage or Pepperoni? – during the live telecast town hall format presidential debate on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University.

Pizza Hut, which last week announced the long overdue formation of The Pizza Party and introduced its crowd-pleasing Big Dinner Box as the Party's candidate, will reward the free pizza should the question get asked. Fans of The Pizza Party, and frankly, who isn't, are encouraged to register and show their support at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty. Visitors receive free Stuffed Pizza Rollers with their next online order just for signing up. Fans are also encouraged to use the hashtag #ThePizzaParty on debate night in order to further push for this question to get asked of either of the candidates.

"We recognize there are a lot of serious issues to be debated, but we also know a lot less serious – but no less important – ones are being discussed every night inside houses across the country," said Kurt Kane, CMO, Pizza Hut. "So for the candidates to be able to show that they're in tune with all the issues, we felt a pizza-related question on behalf of The Pizza Party was very appropriate for a town hall debate."

Along with empowering America through the debate, The Pizza Party is also asking for America's help in selecting the running mate for the Big Dinner Box. Ballots will open at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty this Thursday, Oct. 11, the same day the vice presidential candidates take the stage for their own debate. Those who have signed up on the website to be a member of The Pizza Party can choose between wings, pasta or Stuffed Pizza Rollers as the VP.

More information about the debate reward, the VP candidates and the mission of The Pizza Party is available at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty.

*Reward recipient must be an official attendee and ask either candidate during the live telecast "sausage or pepperoni" or "pepperoni or sausage." Complete reward details are available at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty. 

About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, America's Favorite Pizza, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2012 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, and today operates nearly 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). To check out what's new at Pizza Hut visit PizzaHut.com, or keep up with the brand via its social media channels at social.PizzaHut.com.

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PIZZA HUT MOVES TOPPINGS QUESTION ONLINE AND AWAY FROM DEBATE SO ANYONE IN AMERICA HAS A CHANCE TO WIN FREE PIZZA FOR LIFE

Sausage or Pepperoni? The question that has captured America’s attention will now be debated at The Pizza Party’s online hub: PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty

DALLAS (Oct. 11, 2012) – Pizza Hut and The Pizza Party announced today that the age-old toppings question – Sausage or Pepperoni? – originally intended for the candidates during the Oct. 16 town hall presidential debate will now instead be open to the public and asked online at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty. Posing the question to consumers online gives millions of Americans a chance to win free Pizza Hut pizza for life.*

The question will be posed online Tuesday, Oct. 16, the same day as the Presidential debate. The Pizza Party will then randomly choose one voter and reward them with free pizza for life.

“The anticipation and buzz around this question proves that this debate should be taken to the people,” said Kurt Kane, Pizza Hut CMO. “We’re no longer asking a few hundred attendees at the town hall presidential debate on Oct. 16 to pose the question, rather we’re bringing the question – Sausage or Pepperoni? – to millions of Americans.”

Consumers can let their voices be heard by signing up to join The Pizza Party at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty. Visitors receive free Stuffed Pizza Rollers with their next online order just for joining the debate.*

*Complete sweepstakes details and information about the toppings debate will be available on Oct. 16 at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty.

About Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut, America’s Favorite Pizza, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2012 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, and today operates nearly 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). To check out what's new at Pizza Hut visit PizzaHut.com, or keep up with the brand via its social media channels at social.PizzaHut.com.


CAST YOUR “VOTE” FOR THE GREATEST PARTY EVER – THE PIZZA PARTY! PIZZA HUT ENTERS ELECTION WITH CANDIDATE THAT HAS IT ALL

The Pizza Party and candidate the Big Dinner Box offering free Stuffed Pizza Rollers and more to all members that join the movement at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty

DALLAS (Oct. 1, 2012) – The term “Party” is defined as “a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking and entertainment.”

Pizza Hut couldn’t agree more. So while other Parties this time of year are talking about policies and deficits, Pizza Hut today, the first day of National Pizza Month, formally announced the banding together of “The Pizza Party,” the only Party that promises to be all about “fun.”

To kick things off, The Pizza Party is offering all fans that enroll as members of The Pizza Party at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty a free order of stuffed pizza rollers with their next online order. This might be the first time a Party has offered its supporters something for free just for showing them a little love. Then, through the election on Nov. 6, The Pizza Party will offer its delegates other firsts, other freebies and plenty of “fun” as the Party that’s definitely for the People.

 

“We recognize that The Pizza Party has been celebrated inside households around the country for years, so we felt an obligation as the pizza company that promises to make it great to make it official,” said Kurt Kane, CMO, Pizza Hut.

And no party is complete without a candidate, and The Pizza Party has the perfect one. One full of choices, one built on value and one that encompasses all that turns a good Party into a Great Party – the Pizza Hut Big Dinner Box.

“The Big Dinner Box represents the greatest tasting economic stimulus package in American history,” said Kane. “This candidate truly has it all. Two pan pizzas, breadsticks and a choice of one of three incredible sides for only $19.99. No other candidate can offer that kind of value.”

With Election Day five weeks away, it’s no wonder the Big Dinner Box is centering its campaign on the most important issue facing America today: the economy. The Pizza Party has taken a closer look at this epic value and determined that consumers save $6 when purchasing the Big Dinner Box over buying these items separately. If everyone in America purchases a Big Dinner Box by Election Day, that’s a total savings of $1.8 billion*.

The Pizza Party Promise

For as long as America has enjoyed pizza, The Pizza Party has worked to bring friends and family together to celebrate great times. And never has a candidate shown the ability and determination to answer that call more than Big Dinner Box. With the help of Pizza Hut and The Pizza Party, the Big Dinner Box pledges to visit more households now through Election Day than the other candidates combined. More than 3 million, in fact.

When it comes to running mates, when is the last time America was called on to choose a Vice President? The answer is never, but that changes with The Pizza Party. For the first time ever, a VP candidate will be chosen by the people when The Pizza Party opens voting at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty Oct. 8, just before the VP debate on Oct. 11.

In a spirited scene this morning at Pizza Hut headquarters in Plano, Texas, delegates of The Pizza Party gathered by the hundreds to take part in the first-ever Pizza Party Convention. Comedian and Big Dinner Box campaign manager Scott Morehead took the stage to announce the formalization of The Pizza Party and introduce Big Dinner Box as the candidate to make it great for America.

More information about The Pizza Party and Big Dinner Box can be found on the Pizza Hut official Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as at the online hub for the campaign, PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty.

Editor’s Note: b-roll from The Pizza Party Convention will be available via satellite Oct. 1 from 4:15-4:30 EDT and Oct. 2 from 2-2:15 EDT at the coordinates below.

Galaxy 17 KU-digital Transponder 13 Ch. D D/L: 11973.5 H?FEC: 3/4

Symbol Rate: 6.1113 Data rate: 8.448

*Up to a $26 value is based on average menu prices for listed products in the U.S. as of 7/13/2012.

About Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut, America’s Favorite Pizza, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2012 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, and today operates nearly 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). To check out what's new at Pizza Hut visit PizzaHut.com, or keep up with the brand via its social media channels at social.PizzaHut.com.