PITTSBURGH Vocelli Pizza, a 131-unit delivery specialist, has added a pasta line and for eight weeks is giving away a free serving of one of the six new dishes to customers who order a large two-topping pie at menu price.
Vocelli’s addition of Marinara Traditionale, Pasta Diablo, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Parmesan, Basil Pesto Pasta and Ravioli Formaggio follows the successful addition last year of pasta products for delivery by Dallas-based Pizza Hut, which has about 6,200 U.S. locations.
Vocelli is selling its pasta in 16-ounce “entree” portions that come with the chain’s ciabatta garlic bread. Operators in different markets reported selling prices of from $6.99 to $7.99. Pizza Hut sells 48-ounce trays of four pasta dishes with five bread sticks for prices recently ranging from about $12.99 to $14.99.
“By developing quality, pasta entrees, we feel we can satisfy a unique niche in the home delivery segment,” said Jim Powers, Vocelli’s vice president of marketing.
The 21-year-old chain operates or franchises stores in Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, with additional units under development in South Carolina.
Contact Alan J. Liddle at [email protected].