Pizza Patrón Inc. is an American

pizza Pizza is an Italian cuisine, Italian, specifically Neapolitan cuisine, Neapolitan, dish typically consisting of a flat base of Leavening agent, leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, baked at a high t ...

chain formerly headquartered in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, now headquartered in

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. It was founded in 1986 by Antonio Swad and Bernadette Fiaschetti. In 2016, Swad sold Pizza Patrón to Charles Loflin, the new CEO. The chain primarily opened locations in neighbourhoods with a high proportion of Latino residents. Now it operates in

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

and

. In addition to the franchise's 100 locations across the

southwest United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that includes Arizona and New Mexico, along with adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...

, 40 more are currently under development.

Brand relaunch

In 2018, Pizza Patron went through a brand relaunch to appeal to a younger consumer base. The transition included several different segments including a logo change.

Expansion, new menu items

On May 3, 2007, the company reported that sales in the first three months of 2007 were up 35% compared to sales during the first three months of 2006. The company attributed the strong growth in sales to publicity generated by news reports about the "Pizza for Pesos" campaign and said that its policy of accepting pesos, originally scheduled to last only until the end of April, was being made permanent. Pizza Patrón decided to expand its online horizons by further touching base with its online presence. With the company’s online ordering becoming more prevalent, an interlacing app was released at the end of March 2020.

Founding

Pizza Patrón was founded in 1986 by Antonio Swad, of Lebanese and

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

descent. Swad is also known for founding the

Wingstop Wingstop Inc. is an American international chain of restaurants that primarily sells buffalo wings. Wingstop locations are decorated with a 1930s and 1940s pre-jet aviation theme. The restaurant chain was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, a ...

brand, which was sold in 2003 to focus on growing the Pizza Patrón brand. The brand has since been sold, and Swad is now working on other restaurant ventures. Pizza Patron was also founded by Bernadette Fiaschetti, who is of

and Irish descent. Fiaschetti is also known for founding

. She has since moved on from restaurants, and now hosts a nationally syndicated radio show on

iHeartMedia iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...

called One Life Radio.

Promotions

Pizza por Pesos

In January 2007, Pizza Patrón announced a new "Pizza por Pesos" policy, allowing customers to pay for pizzas in

Mexican pesos The Mexican peso (Currency symbol, symbol: $; ISO 4217, currency code: MXN; also abbreviated Mex$ to distinguish it from peso, other peso-denominated currencies; referred to as the peso, Mexican peso, or colloquially varo) is the official curre ...

for a short period. Though the company was not the first to impose such a policy in the United States, the move occurred during an increasingly heated debate about illegal immigration, prompting complaints and death threats at the chain's Dallas headquarters. It also garnered popularity for the chain, with coverage from

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The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...

, and many other sites. After the first week of the offer, one owner stated that customers had paid with approximately 15,000 Mexican pesos, or about US$1,400, at his two southern California shops, accounting for roughly 20% of his profits. On May 3, 2007, the company reported that sales in the first three months of 2007 were up 35% compared to sales during the first three months of 2006. The company attributed the strong growth in sales to publicity generated by news reports about the "Pizza for Pesos" campaign and said that its policy of accepting pesos, originally scheduled to last only until the end of April, was being made permanent.Despite Death Threats and National Debate Pizza Patron(R) Will Continue to Accept 'Pesos for Pizza'
. ''Hispanic Business''. March 5, 2007.

Pizza por Favor

On June 6, 2012, Pizza Patrón launched its "Pizza por Favor" promotion offering a free large pepperoni pizza to any customer who ordered in Spanish, by simply saying "Pizza Por Favor". The event sparked controversy and criticism from conservative groups.

The Conservative Caucus The Conservative Caucus, or TCC, is an American public policy organization and lobbying group emphasizing grassroots citizen activism and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1974 by Howard Phillip ...

, an organization that advocates for English as the official national language of the United States, criticized “Pizza Por Favor,” and on the day in May when the promotion was announced, Pizza Patrón's email servers were maliciously hacked into. The company received international news coverage and gave away 80,000 pizzas during the one-day promotion, including 50,000 during the three-hour window it advertised plus another 30,000 in coupons for free pizzas that were given to people still waiting in line after supplies ran out and business hours had ended.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pizza Patron food and drink companies based in Dallas food and drink companies based in San Antonio Economy of the Southeastern United States Economy of the Southwestern United States Regional restaurant chains in the United States Pizza chains of the United States 1986 establishments in Texas Restaurants established in 1986 American companies established in 1986