Allison+Partners has been named public relations agency of record (AOR) for California Pizza Kitchen, the national restaurant brand and creator of California-style pizza. The scope of work includes driving momentum around product launches and new store openings globally through media relations and event support to communicate the diversity and innovation of California Pizza Kitchen’s menu offerings.
“California Pizza Kitchen is an exciting, innovative brand that brings the taste of California to all of its restaurants across the globe, and we are so proud to welcome it to our Allison+Partners family,” said Emily Wilson-Sawyer, executive vice president, Consumer Brands at Allison+Partners. “Our travel and hospitality specialty group, which includes restaurants, has experienced a new wave of growth since the start of 2021. Our talented team represents the best in consumer PR who will be tasked with bringing creativity to the forefront for the 36-year-old brand.”
Allison+Partners will also support California Pizza Kitchen’s franchising initiatives, including spotlights of current franchisees. Lastly, the agency will aid the brand in tapping into real-time trends to position California Pizza Kitchen at the intersection of culture and commerce, raise awareness among consumers and drive brand love.
The team has already taken the reins in launching California Pizza Kitchen’s new Chickpea Crust Pizza, spring menu and a new Hong Kong restaurant, and it is preparing to execute several new campaigns through the remainder of the year. Allison+Partners will service the account out of its Los Angeles office.
On the heels of California Pizza Kitchen’s emergence from the pandemic, the company sought a strategic brand partner to drive continued recovery and momentum, support expansion plans, and provide invaluable communications leadership. California Pizza Kitchen ultimately selected Allison+Partners for its creativity and proven track record of media relations success on behalf of some of the world’s biggest brands.
“We are thrilled to work with Allison+Partners and its world-class communications team,” said Scott Hargrove, chief marketing officer at California Pizza Kitchen. “Since we kicked off a couple of months ago, the Allison+Partners team has pushed us consistently with bold and creative ideas that reflect our innovation DNA. The team’s creativity, deep understanding of the culinary space and broad global footprint make them a perfect partner for California Pizza Kitchen and our growth plans. We look forward to accelerating our post-pandemic lockdown momentum with its support.”
About Allison+Partners
Allison+Partners is a global marketing and communications agency driven by a collaborative approach to innovation and creativity. The firm was named by PRovoke Media as one of its Global Agencies of the Decade, 2020 North American Agencies of the Year and Best Agencies to Work For. The agency was also named by PRWeek as a Best Places to Work for the fourth consecutive year and recognized as one of UK’s Fastest Growing Agencies in 2020. Allison+Partners operates in 32 markets worldwide and is organized around four practices: Consumer Brands, Corporate + Public Affairs, Healthcare and Technology. The agency’s Marketing Innovation Team, which combines integrated marketing, creative, research and measurement expertise into one offering, works across these practices to deliver integrated storytelling for clients. Allison+Partners also has a network and deep affiliations with firms worldwide through MDC Partners (NASDAQ: MDCA), a progressive marketing and communications network, championing the most innovative entrepreneurial talent.
About California Pizza Kitchen
In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. With a passion for combining fresh, seasonal ingredients with flavor inspirations from around the world, today CPK is a global brand serving creative California cuisine in over 200 restaurants in 8 countries and U.S. territories. From signature, hand-tossed pizzas and high-quality main plates to inventive better-for-you options, Lunch Duos, premium wines, and handcrafted beverages, CPK adds an imaginative twist to create a memorable dining experience. For more information, visit cpk.com. Chat with us on Twitter at @calpizzakitchen, Instagram at @cpk, and Facebook at facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen. Download the CPK Rewards® app for iOS and Android to earn & redeem delicious rewards, order online, and enjoy exclusive pizza perks all year long.
