1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kaitlin Zurkammer, Communications Director
309-310-7616
kmz7zc@mail.missouri.edu
World-Renowned Chef Mario Batali Chooses Locally Owned Pizza Restaurant
in Central Missouri to Help Launch his Own Frozen Pizza Brand
NEW YORK (March 10, 2016)— Mario Batali, the city’s most widely recognized chef,
will launch his own frozen pizza brand, which he plans to sell nationwide. Batali has
partnered with Pizza Tree, a locally owned pizza restaurant located in Columbia,
Missouri, to make it all possible.
Batali is an American chef, writer and media personality. Along with his partner Joe
Bastianich, he has created a restaurant and culinary empire that spans New York,
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Singapore and Hong Kong. Although he has never been in
the frozen food business, he has high hopes for this new venture.
“Did you know that 41 percent of consumers indicate that frozen pizza with no
artificial ingredients is important to them?” asked Batali. “My cooking philosophy
has always been to use the best local ingredients as simply as possible and serve
them with flourish and joy. I truly believe I will be able uphold this philosophy and
please consumers to the best of my ability by partnering with Pizza Tree to launch
my frozen pizza brand. I first experienced the taste of Pizza Tree when I visited
Columbia for their popular True/False Film Festival last year. The moment I put the
slice in my mouth, my taste buds were begging for more. Pizza Tree’s food is local
and delicious, and I believe people deserve to have that option not only when
shopping for fresh foods, but when shopping for frozen foods as well.”
Pizza Tree owner, John Gilbreth, has high hopes for the new frozen pizza brand as
well. “I think many people are wondering why Batali would choose a small pizza
restaurant in the middle of Missouri to partner with for his new frozen pizza brand.
Don’t get me wrong, I was surprised too, but the more I thought about it, the more I
knew we were perfect for the job. We use the best ingredients we can find, and
make as many things as we can in house, and I think that’s what made Batali choose
us.”
Tracy McMillan, a regular at Batali’s restaurant in Manhattan, Babbo’s Ristorante,
was certainly surprised when she heard Batali decided to partner with a Central
Missouri restaurant for his pizza. “I was very surprised when I heard Batali decided
to partner with a pizza restaurant in Central Missouri. I mean, there’s just so much
good pizza here! New York is known for its pizza! But, if Batali chose this place, then
that has to mean it’s top notch. Everything Batali does is top notch. He would never
settle for anything less.”

2. The new brand, “Pizza Tree by Batali,” will be launched on Batali’s 56th birthday,
Sept. 19, 2016, in select high-end supermarkets nationwide including Trader Joe’s
and Whole Foods. For more information and pricing details visit
www.pizzatreebybatali.com.
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Pizza Tree is a locally owned pizza restaurant in Columbia, Mo., that offers dine in,
take out, delivery and pizza by the slice all day long. Whether you’re ordering a
classic pie or something more adventurous, Pizza Tree will deliver on quality, taste
and fun. For more information visit http://www.pizzatreepizza.com/story/.

3. Works cited
Roberts, W. Pizza-US-October 2015 (2015, Oct.). Retrieved from
http://academic.mintel.com/trends/#/trend/379051?application=h:8,m:741353&t
o=applications
The Top Five High-End Supermarkets of the Year (2011, Dec. 23). Retrieved from
http://satedepicure.com/2011/12/the-top-five-high-end-supermarkets-of-the-
year/
Operation CMYK. Mario Batali. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.mariobatali.com/about/
Operation CMYK. Ristorante Babbo. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.babbonyc.com/
Buford, B. The Secret of Excess (2002, August 19). Retrieved from
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/08/19/the-secret-of-excess
Pizza Tree-Our Story. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.pizzatreepizza.com/story/