Pizza Patrón
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Antonio Swad, Bernadette Fiaschetti |
| Headquarters | San Antonio , United States |
Area served | Arizona, Texas |
Key people | Charles Loflin (CEO) |
| Products | Pizza |
Pizza Patrón Inc. is a U.S.-based pizza franchise established in 1986 by Antonio Swad and Bernadette Fiaschetti, currently operating from its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. In 2016, ownership transferred to Charles Loflin, who assumed the role of CEO.
Targeting communities with significant Latino demographics, the chain manages more than 100 outlets throughout Arizona and Texas, with plans underway for an additional 40 locations.
Brand relaunch
To appeal to a younger demographic, Pizza Patrón underwent a brand overhaul in 2018, unveiling a redesigned logo alongside updated marketing campaigns.
Expansion and digital strategy
In early 2007, the company announced a 35% rise in sales compared to the previous year, largely credited to the publicity generated by its "Pizza for Pesos" initiative, which introduced the permanent acceptance of Mexican pesos as payment. In March 2020, Pizza Patrón enhanced its digital presence by launching an online ordering application aimed at improving customer convenience.
Founding
Antonio Swad, of Lebanese and Italian heritage, founded Pizza Patrón in 1986. Prior to this, he created the Wingstop brand, which he sold in 2003 to concentrate on growing Pizza Patrón. After selling Pizza Patrón, Swad has pursued other restaurant enterprises. Bernadette Fiaschetti—of Italian and Irish ancestry and also a co-founder of Wingstop—co-established Pizza Patrón as well. She has since exited the restaurant business and currently hosts the nationally syndicated One Life Radio program on iHeartMedia.
Pizza por Pesos
In January 2007, Pizza Patrón introduced a limited-time policy allowing customers to pay using Mexican pesos. Although not unprecedented among U.S. chains, this initiative took place amid intense immigration debates and resulted in both complaints and threats directed at the Dallas corporate office. The campaign attracted widespread media attention from outlets including Fox News, The Colbert Report, and MSNBC. Within one week, one franchise owner reported receiving approximately 15,000 pesos (equivalent to about US$1,400) at two Southern California stores, accounting for roughly 20% of profits.
By May 3, 2007, the company revealed a 35% increase in first-quarter sales year-over-year, attributing this growth to the "Pizza por Pesos" campaign's publicity. Initially scheduled to conclude in April, the acceptance of pesos was extended indefinitely.
Pizza por Favor
On June 6, 2012, Pizza Patrón launched the "Pizza por Favor" promotion, providing a complimentary large pepperoni pizza to customers who placed their order in Spanish by saying "Pizza Por Favor."
This campaign sparked controversy from conservative groups promoting English as the official language of the United States. Following the announcement, Pizza Patrón experienced a cyberattack on its email servers. The promotion gained global media coverage and resulted in distributing 80,000 pizzas in a single day—50,000 during the designated three-hour period and an extra 30,000 coupons handed out to customers still waiting after supplies were depleted.