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Peek into Blaze Pizza’s marketing strategy as the chain develops its own appPeek into Blaze Pizza’s marketing strategy as the chain develops its own app

The company’s chief marketing officer Vince Szwajkowski explains the latest digital innovations from the brand in the crowded pizza market

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

August 30, 2021

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza was one of the fastest-growing chains for years, but the pandemic slowed things down for everyone – Blaze included. Now 10 years in, Blaze is ready to pump up the growth once again with the help of its new chief marketing officer, Vince Szwajkowski, and the introduction of its own app.

Szwajkowski stepped into the role in October 2020 after spending years in the hotel and movie-theater industries. This is his first foray into the restaurant environment, and he thinks that mid-pandemic was the perfect time to be thrown into the fire.

“I think when you come into a business that is constantly being challenged every day in every state, it really allowed me a great opportunity to learn about the business and about our guest…and how our value proposition has remained true,” Szwajkowski told NRN.

Part of Szwajkowski’s strategy in the increasingly crowded digital marketing world is to hyper-focus in specific segments rather than one large national ad campaign.

The biggest thing the brand has done over the past eight months is develop its own app.

Not yet released, the app will give customers the chance to interact with the growing brand even more than before, and give the fast-casual chain increased access to customers daily.

Related:Blaze Pizza names new CMO and chief restaurant officer

Blaze hopes to someday nab a SuperBowl commercial slot, but for now, the chain is releasing its first video advertisement in combination with digital marketing. Szwajkowski talked to NRN about all of that and more.

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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