Advertising pizza is nothing new. Creating a pizza that advertises,
however, is a different story. A pair of products that promise to do
just that debut at the Northeast Pizza Expo in Atlantic City on October
2 and 3, 2002 booth #225 during "National Pizza Month.
"New
York-based Gourmet Impression has developed two new hand-held tools
that allow restaurants, caterers, and other food businesses to turn
pizzas, calzones, and other food items into edible experiences and
advertisements.
Using modular devices called the "Roller" and
the "Stamper," companies can emboss their logo or advertising messages
on food. Initial prototypes are designed for pizzas, calzones, bread
sticks, cheeses, melons, white bread, pita breads, brownies, pies, and
butter sticks, as well as baked potatoes.
The Stamper tool works
like a rubber stamp. It is roughly 4" tall, with modules of varying
lengths and widths. By pressing, it easily and quickly embosses a text
message or an image into a food item. Everything from personalized
"Happy Birthday" messages to advertisements and company logos can be
embossed within seconds.
A unique feature of the Stamper is that
it can be adjusted for the depth of the food being embossed; a deeper
setting can be used for bread dough, for example, while a shallower
setting can be used for cheese. The tool can cut out food at the same
time it is embossing.
The Roller device features a wheel that is
6" in diameter and 3/4" wide, with a fender for gripping. Rolling the
tool across many foods, including a pizza or around its crust imprints
a customized message. The embossment depth can be altered to fit the
food.
Using the Roller, Gourmet Impression envisions the
creation of varying shaped crackers and breadsticks they call "Pizzals"
(pronounced Peet-suls). The "Pizzals" would carry messages or
advertisements and could be dipped in marinara, tomato sauces, or
salsas, by customers.
Gourmet Impression’s brand of food
embossing products are simple to use and durable. Their ergonomically
modular design will make them popular with chefs. They are easily
disassembled for cleaning and can withstand the high heat of commercial
dishwashers.
The products are a great way for a company to add
value to their food product -- they can reinforce a restaurant’s brand
or advertise additional products and services in an attention grabbing
way. In addition, new movie releases can now pay to advertise on food
products (e.g. "Jurassic Park Pizza from Pizza House," etc.).
The
company is interested in licensing these tools for use in fast-food
chains, restaurants, catering operations, home usages, and children’s
baking toys. Product design and development is by exo Design, an
award-winning firm located in Pleasanton, CA.
The company will
be exhibiting at the International Restaurant and Food Service Show of
New York, (Booth 3628) January 19-21, 2003. For more information and
product images visit the website at http://www.gourmetimpression.com/
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