THE AMERICAN PIZZA COMMUNITY SERVED A SLICE OF SMALL BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE TO POLICYMAKERS AT ANNUAL FLY-IN

Coalition Members Discussed Industry Priorities with Legislators in Washington

Washington, D.C., April 26, 2016 – Members of The American Pizza Community (APC) were on Capitol Hill on April 13th and 14th talking to legislators about policies that affect pizza stores, owners and employees.  The fly-in marked the fifth time small business franchise owners representing Domino’s, Godfather’s, Hungry Howie’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, as well as representatives from supplier partner Tomato Paradise Kitchen, came to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and their staff – in total, more than 130 congressional offices.

Pizza franchise owners discussed the economic impact of the pizza industry, including the fact that pizza is a $38 billion industry in the U.S. that creates jobs for more than a million people.

Jordan Dorsch, a Papa John’s franchisee with 23 stores in Florida, participated in his first fly-in and met with 8 Members of Congress and discussed a range of issues.  “For pizza store owners, there are a number of initiatives that would severely inhibit the ability of small businesses to grow and create jobs for people in our community,” said Dorsch. “With our meetings last week, I saw first-hand why it’s important for Congress to hear directly from constituents about the impact legislation will have on us.”

Current legislation directly affecting the pizza industry includes:
• The need to conduct a comprehensive economic study on the impact of mandatory overtime expansion before recent rule changes proposed by the Department of Labor take effect. The APC supports the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (S. 2707 / H.R. 4773).
• Addressing the National Labor Relation Board’s harmful joint employer rule that will destroy the relationship between independent franchisees and franchisors. The APC supports the Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act (S. 2015 / H.R. 3459).
• Reforming the “one size fits all” menu labeling regulation imposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which calls for in-store nutrition labeling boards by allowing sensible, cost‐effective solutions for nutrition disclosure by requiring that pizza stores make the information available online.  Ninety percent of most major pizza chains take pizza orders remotely. The APC supports the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (S. 2217) that was passed in the US House last fall (H.R. 2017).
• Repealing the mandated Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as diverting more crop land for corn’s ethanol use has led to unprecedented high food cost for consumers.  The RFS has led directly to margin squeezes for pizza operators costing $18,000/quick service restaurant annually.  The APC supports the RFS Repeal Act (H.R. 703) or a limit to the corn ethanol mandate in the RFS Reform Act (H.R. 704) and the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act (S. 577).

“It was a terrific experience to represent my fellow franchisees, our brand and our industry in Washington D.C.,” said Chris Reisch, Domino’s franchisee based in Lexington, Kentucky. “The opportunity for face time with members and staffers to discuss topics that are critical to our industry, and us as small business owners within our communities, was invaluable.”