Effectively, one other yr has come and almost gone. 2009 was an attention-grabbing one, to say the least. After American voters cried for change in our nation’s management in 2008, America’s first black president took workplace this yr. Since then, we’ve been working to dial down our navy efforts in Iraq whereas nonetheless determining methods to deal with the conundrum in Afghanistan. Healthcare, very similar to 17 years in the past, is a a lot debated political matter. The financial system, badly battered through the earlier eight years, could have hit backside. Although nobody appears to know for certain the place issues are heading and the standard indicators proceed to provide conflicting indicators, there’s at the least some hope now of an financial restoration.
How does that carry over to the pizza business? Once more, indicators are combined. Similar-store gross sales will increase, at the least in a sustained style, are onerous to return by. Total gross sales progress isn’t occurring, however pizza continues to indicate its resiliency by way of unit progress. Profi ts are up in just a few operations, down in most.
One would assume such uncertainty would solid a pall over the business, nevertheless it hasn’t. Again within the spring, Worldwide Pizza Expo had a nearrecord- breaking yr and the attendees had been as severe as I’ve ever seen them. We acknowledged that and tried to match their depth with our “09.09.09” problem in September. Although it could be somewhat ahead, I’m not shy about saying that, frankly, we hit a house run and are pleased with the contribution that problem made to the business.
Then once more, that’s why we’re right here: to function a guiding mild to the business’s operators no matter what’s happening within the outdoors world. Politics change. Confl icts in overseas lands come and go. Administrations flip over. However pizza continues. It’s an American staple, in spite of everything, and that isn’t going to vary.
So don’t flip the calendar to 2010 with a pessimistic hand. The financial system could or could not have bottomed out and we’ll most likely proceed seeing combined indicators for some time but, however I’m seeing loads of positives within the pizza business. From the artisan renaissance to social networking, these attempting occasions have sparked some creativity. I’ve little doubt it is going to repay sooner or later sooner quite than later.
Greatest,
Jeremy White, editor-in-chief
jwhite@www.pizzatoday.com
