Pizza Marketplace - Winter 2007 - (Page 8) Getting the inside scoop NAPICS 2008 gives pizza, ice cream operators real-life tips for their businesses By Michelle Avery it’s really nice because you’re all in the same boat.” These relationships are exactly why the show was created, said Ann Reichle, who has been chairwoman of NAPICS since its inception five years ago and also led its predecessor, the Mid-America Restaurant, Soft-Serve & Pizza Show. “It’s been designed to develop a support network on a friendship basis,” she said, pointing out that many pizza and ice cream operators generally are not bolstered by the same support that large restaurants have. “It’s a friendly voice on the other end of the phone. It’s a friendly e-mail in the morning. It’s just somebody to pick you up when you fall down that understands what you’re going through.” And that network has grown to be quite extensive. More than 5,000 attendees and 220 exhibitors are expected to visit NAPICS 2008, set for Feb. 17-18 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Equipment suppliers Attendees at the 2007 NAPICS try a few of the show samples. When Debbie Taranto Antoun, owner of Taranto’s Pizzeria in Lewis Center, Ohio, attended the 2007 North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show (NAPICS), she discovered a cool idea: putting a walk-in cooler outside. Since then, her storage capacity has increased “phenomenally.” And she’s benefited from other ideas at previous shows, as well, including e-mail marketing and online ordering. But one of the greatest benefits has been meeting independent pizzeria operators just like her. “You can help each other out, ask each other questions, get advice from other operators,” Antoun said. “Since so many independents go, 8 WINTER 2007/SPRING 2008 | PIZZ A MARKETPLACE REPORT
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