Demand high for free pizza after scare
September 22, 2006
The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN)
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/15579143.htm
A local Pizza Hut gave away “thousands” of pizzas in a promotional deal to remedy slumping sales in the aftermath of a hepatitis A diagnosis involving a server at the restaurant last month.
Coventry Pizza Hut, near Interstate 69 and U.S. 24, had a line extending into its parking lot and a parking lot overflowing with cars Thursday, said Dave Bobilya, chief financial officer for Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne Inc. That was the last day customers could use a coupon included with a letter of community appreciation that ran in a full-page ad in the Sept. 10 editions of The Journal Gazette.
“There’s just been so much demand,” said Bobilya, who declined to give specific sales figures. A medium one-topping pizza typically costs
The Coventry Pizza Hut passed an inspection immediately after the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health learned of the employee’s hepatitis A diagnosis Aug. 24 and has remained open for business. No related cases of hepatitis A cases have been reported and the restaurant was not found to be liable in any way.
The server who contracted hepatitis A recently returned to the restaurant after receiving a clean bill of health from her doctor, Bobilya said. He projects business will return to its earlier levels.
