Hunt Brothers Pizza
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Foodservice, Pizza chain |
| Predecessor | Pepe's Pizza (wholesale food delivery service started in 1962) |
| Founded | January 1, 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Founder | Don Hunt, Lonnie Hunt, Jim Hunt, Charlie Hunt |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Area served | United States, U.S. military installations in Germany |
| Products | Pizza |
| Owner | Hunt family (implied) |
Hunt Brothers Pizza is a U.S.-based pizza chain that was established in 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee. Most of its outlets are situated inside convenience stores.
History
Hunt Brothers Pizza, with its headquarters in Nashville, was founded in 1991 but has roots dating back to 1962. That year, four brothers from Evansville, Indiana—Don, Lonnie, Jim, and Charlie Hunt—initiated a wholesale food delivery service called Pepe's Pizza. They supplied par-baked pizza crusts and other products to restaurants and entertainment venues. By 1994, the brand had grown to encompass more than 750 locations. In 2015, the company collaborated with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to launch five outlets on U.S. military installations in Germany.
Corporate
Hunt Brothers Pizza created a business approach focused on making convenience stores into food service destinations. This model does not require franchise fees, royalties, or advertising charges. Instead, the company offers marketing assistance along with a standardized pizza product and adaptable point-of-sale materials designed to fit each store’s layout, frequently targeting rural communities.
The brand maintains official pizza partnerships with notable venues such as Eldora Speedway, Bridgestone Arena, and the Nashville Predators. Additionally, it sponsors several Minor League Baseball teams including the Nashville Sounds, Jackson Generals, Memphis Redbirds, and Lexington Legends.
NASCAR partnership
Hunt Brothers Pizza has built a strong presence within the NASCAR sphere by collaborating with prominent teams like Kevin Harvick Incorporated and Stewart-Haas Racing. The company entered NASCAR sponsorship in 2008 by supporting Haas CNC Racing, which later became Stewart-Haas Racing, and began partnering with Harvick in 2010.
In 2009, driver A. J. Allmendinger piloted the No. 44 Hunt Brothers Pizza Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports. The partnership continued into 2010 when Elliott Sadler drove the No. 19 Ford in six Sprint Cup events.
During three races in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series, Hunt Brothers Pizza was the primary sponsor for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. Harvick achieved victories at both the O'Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway and the WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway.
In July 2012, Elliott Sadler secured a win at the STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway driving the Richard Childress Racing No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza car in the Nationwide Series.
By 2014, Hunt Brothers Pizza acted as an associate sponsor for Harvick and his No. 4 SHR team while also serving as primary sponsor on Harvick’s No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevrolet during four races including those at Texas, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Bristol. The brand continued its support by following Harvick to SHR's No. 41 Xfinity Series Ford and sponsoring Elliott Sadler’s No. 1 Chevrolet at JR Motorsports in select events throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
After Kevin Harvick retired following the conclusion of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, Hunt Brothers Pizza redirected its sponsorship efforts to Team Penske. Starting with the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, they backed Joey Logano’s No. 22 car for select races while also serving as an associate sponsor for teammate Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 vehicle.
This collaboration strengthens Hunt Brothers Pizza’s influence within NASCAR’s worldwide operations by leveraging high-profile sponsorships to increase brand exposure and drive business expansion within critical markets.