Pizza Pizza Celebrates Halifax Expansion with City-Wide Pizza Party

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 30, 2012) -

Editors Note: A photo associated with this press release is available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwire.

Pizza Pizza Limited, the Canadian-based and homegrown leader in the pizza sector since 1967, held a city-wide pizza party this weekend in Halifax to celebrate the continued growth of its presence in the port city - an expansion that has seen four locations, which are owned and operated by the Halifax-based Grafton Connor Group, and one non-traditional counter open up in the past two years. The newest location, 4 Forest Hills Parkway, opened on June 26^th.

"We're going into year three of our partnership with the Grafton Connor Group, and it has already resulted in four solidly-performing locations," said Pat Finelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Pizza Pizza. "In the Grafton Connor Group, we've found a professional and motivated partner that lives by our core values of innovation, customer service, quality and community. That means the world to us and suggests a very promising future for Pizza Pizza in the region. We are thrilled with our relationship to date."

In 2010, Pizza Pizza announced a deal that gave Grafton Connor Group the rights to expansion in the region.

"We were looking for a pizza partner that had a strong history, solid track record and a commitment to the region," said Gary Muise, Vice President of Operations at the Grafton Connor Group. "We placed our trust in Pizza Pizza and did so in the confidence that a continued expansion will offer tangible benefits to customers, the local economy and broader community."

Since embarking on a national expansion plan in 2009, Pizza Pizza has succeeded in establishing a growing presence across the country. In just three years, the company has added 18 locations, primarily in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The company's growth plans always include local sponsorships, seasonal community fundraisers and strong promotions with schools, local businesses and other catering customers.

Pizza Pizza's Halifax offering is similar to its menu in other provinces, with slight nuances. In addition to chicken bites, wings, salads, pasta, panzerottis and classic, signature and create-your-own pizzas, the Halifax locations also feature donairs, a favorite local specialty. Donair options include a pita format with diced onions, tomatoes, donair sauce and seasoned beef on a warm pita, or in pizza format with sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red onions, donair sauce and the same seasoned beef, but on a classic dough recipe.

For more information on franchising opportunities at Pizza Pizza, visit www.pizzapizza.ca.

About Pizza Pizza Limited

Founded in 1967, Pizza Pizza Limited is Canada's pizza pioneer and one of the country's most successful quick service restaurant chains. With its Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 banners, the company offers a broad range of menu items that include hot and fresh pizza, gluten-free pizza, chicken wings, chicken bites, family-sized pasta, shrimp and salads. The company is guided by a mission to provide the "best food, made especially for you" with a focus on quality ingredients, customer service, continual innovation and local partnerships - its core values. Visit www.pizzapizza.ca and www.pizza73.com for more information.

About Grafton Connor Group

The Halifax-based Grafton Connor Group is a 35 year old, locally owed Food & Beverage company that owns and operates numerous restaurants and popular venues in the Halifax area including The Fishermen Restaurant & Grill, The Grafton Street Dinner Theatre, Cheers, The Esquire, Sunnyside and several other bars and restaurants throughout Nova Scotia.