Hell Pizza
{{Short description|New Zealand-based pizza restaurant chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Hell
|logo = Hell_logo.jpg
|image = Hell Pizza 1.jpg
|type = Limited
|company_slogan =
|foundation = {{start date and age|1996}} in Kelburn, Wellington
|location = New Zealand
|key_people =
|num_employees =
|industry = Fast food
|products = Pizza, Pasta, Salads
|revenue =
|parent =
|homepage = [https://hellpizza.nz/ hellpizza.nz]
}}
Hell Pizza is a New Zealand–based pizza chain. It was established in Wellington in 1996 and has since expanded around New Zealand.
Franchises have also operated at various times in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, South Korea, India and Queensland, Australia.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Claire |title=Hell fires its pizzas around the world |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/editors-picks/6255730/Hell-fires-its-pizzas-around-the-world |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=14 January 2012}}
History
Hell Pizza was founded by Warren Powell, Callum Davies, and Stuart McMullin in 1995 as a pizza shop in Kelburn, Wellington, next to Victoria University of Wellington.{{Cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/78790234/the-history-of-hell-pizza|title=The history of Hell Pizza|date=11 April 2016|publisher=stuff.co.nz}} Davies was inspired by the quirky imaging of The Fish, a radio station in Taupō, to give his restaurant more personality.{{r|Well061202}} The second store was opened in Hataitai, Wellington. By then, it was also one of the first fast food stores to allow online ordering.{{Cite web |title=Snackmasters NZ Season 2 Ep. 5 |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/snackmasters-nz/episodes/s2-e5 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.tvnz.co.nz}}
The founders sold the New Zealand master franchise rights to Tasman Pacific Foods (the New Zealand master franchisee for Burger King) for $15 million in 2006.{{Cite news|date=2 December 2006|first=Andrew|last=Janes|title=It's a $15m hell of a way to eat pizza|work=The Post|page=C3}} They purchased the rights back in 2009.{{cite news |title=Hell Boys back as Burger King plans for future |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0905/S00334/hell-boys-back-as-burger-king-plans-for-future.htm |agency=Tasman Pacific Foods |publisher=scoop.co.nz |date=13 May 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Slade |first1=Maria |title=Hell trio return to pizza chain |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/hell-trio-return-to-pizza-chain/MTEDD3RSLG354BYBPL7CYD6KA4/ |agency=New Zealand Herald |publisher=APN News & Media |date=13 May 2009}}
In 2009, Hell had 61 stores in New Zealand. It had six stores in Brisbane and was planning nine more around South East Queensland. It was also trialing stores in Fulham, London, and Dublin, Ireland.
In July 2010, after hackers attacked the Hell Pizza customer database, 230,000 customers were advised to change their passwords.{{cite news | work= New Zealand Herald | title = Police called over pizza hack| first = Joseph | last = Barratt | date = 25 July 2010 | access-date = 29 July 2010 | url = http://nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10661073}}
In 2012, Hell had 65 stores in New Zealand. It had three stores in South Korea and was planning seven more. It had two stores in Queensland, but eight others had closed. A pizza bar in New Delhi and its stores in London, Dublin, and Vancouver were still operating.
In 2016, Hell Pizza had 66 outlets, all in New Zealand.{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Laura |title=The evolution of New Zealand's pizza industry |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/77077227/the-evolution-of-new-zealands-pizza-industry |agency=stuff.co.nz |date=4 March 2016}}
{{As of|2022|November}}, Hell Pizza had 77 outlets across New Zealand, with 61 in the North Island (including 28 in Auckland) and 16 in the South Island.{{cite web |title=Hell Pizza |url=https://hellpizza.com |website=hellpizza.com |publisher=Hell Pizza}} The only major urban areas that do not have a Hell Pizza outlet are Nelson and Gisborne.
Marketing
The Hell theme is used in the menu. Hell Pizza offers seven standard pizzas which are named after the seven deadly sins.{{r|Well061202}} The chain also offers discounted pizzas on Friday the 13th.{{Cite web|last=Nadkarni|first=Anuja|date=2020-01-26|title=What it takes to run Hell Pizza's most successful store|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118912930/what-it-takes-to-run-hell-pizzas-most-successful-store|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Hendry-Tennent|first=Ireland|date=13 August 2021|title=Kiwis devastated as Hell Pizza increases price of iconic Friday 13th special|language=en|work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2021/08/kiwis-devastated-as-hell-pizza-increases-price-of-iconic-friday-13th-special.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813072147/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2021/08/kiwis-devastated-as-hell-pizza-increases-price-of-iconic-friday-13th-special.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-13}}
The company is known for its controversial advertising.
{{Wikinews|Pizza 'lust' campaign attracts numerous complaints | Hell Pizza condom advertisements: complaints upheld}}
On 31 October 2006 Hell announced through a press release it would be promoting its "Lust" pizza by distributing 170,000 branded condoms.{{cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0610/S00588.htm |title=HELL distributes condoms to promote Lust |date=31 October 2006 |work=Scoop |publisher=Hell Pizza |access-date=4 March 2013}} The Family First Lobby said Hell has "crossed the line of what is decent and acceptable advertising material to be put in letterboxes of families".{{cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0611/S00023.htm |title=Hell's Pizza sinks to offensive advertising |date=2 November 2006 |work=Scoop |publisher=Family First Lobby |access-date=4 March 2013}} It was later revealed that the condoms failed to comply with New Zealand labelling and packaging requirements, and remaining stocks were destroyed.{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10741998 | title=Free condoms weren't up to scratch | work=Herald on Sunday | date=31 July 2011 | access-date=25 September 2016 | author=Hurley, Bevan}}
In November 2008, while under management from Tasman Foods, Hell Pizza New Zealand apologised for an advertisement featuring the skeletal remains of Sir Edmund Hillary, Heath Ledger, and the Queen Mother, dancing on gravestones. The apology was made to Hillary's family, which complained the ad was in "extremely poor taste". The ad was withdrawn from the company's website on 3 November.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5070771.ece|title=Pizza company apologies for an ad featuring Hillary, Ledger, and the Queen Mother|last=Tedmanson |first=Sophie |date=3 November 2008|publisher=Times Online|access-date=2008-11-03 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
In October 2021, Hell Pizza drew media attention and controversy after launching an advertisement campaign telling Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg "to go to Hell" in response to her remarks criticising New Zealand's efforts to address climate change. Hell Pizza CEO Ben Cumming confirmed he has sent a personal invitation to Thunberg to witness the company's efforts to address climate change, environmental pollution, and reduce waste. The company had attempted to secure a large billboard for the advertisement in Thunberg's hometown of Stockholm, but local authorities had deemed it offensive.{{cite news |last1=Templeton |first1=Sarah |title=Hell Pizza tells Greta Thunberg 'go to Hell' in controversial campaign |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2021/10/hell-pizza-tells-greta-thunberg-go-to-hell-in-controversial-campaign.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005083645/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2021/10/hell-pizza-tells-greta-thunberg-go-to-hell-in-controversial-campaign.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 October 2021 |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=Newshub |date=5 October 2021}}{{cite news |title=How dare they! 'Greta Thunberg can go to Hell' - Kiwi company's message to environmentalist |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/how-dare-they-greta-thunberg-can-go-to-hell-kiwi-companys-message-to-environmentalist/UBIWTFJRDYOPYYFTHYDH7YW4H4/ |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006080101/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/how-dare-they-greta-thunberg-can-go-to-hell-kiwi-companys-message-to-environmentalist/UBIWTFJRDYOPYYFTHYDH7YW4H4/ |archive-date=6 October 2021|url-status=live}}
Labelling
In June 2019, the fake meat of a burger pizza, made by Beyond Meat, met food standards but caused controversy as it was labelled as a "burger" pizza but contained vegan burger patties.{{cite news |last1=Taunton |first1=Esther |title=Hell Pizza escapes formal action over Beyond Meat stunt |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/115823429/hell-pizza-escapes-formal-action-over-beyond-meat-stunt |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=Stuff |date=17 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525064644/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/115823429/hell-pizza-escapes-formal-action-over-beyond-meat-stunt |archive-date=25 May 2021|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.hellpizza.com/ Hell Systems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208034224/http://hellpizza.com/ |date=8 February 2011 }}
{{Pizza chains}}
{{Retailers in New Zealand}}
Category:Restaurants established in 1996
Category:Fast-food chains of New Zealand