STRAW HAT PIZZA URGES ITS GUESTS TO VOTE

By: Straw Hat Pizza | 0 Shares 91 Reads

San Ramon, California, September 1, 2004– The Straw Hat Pizza Cooperative announced today that it was implementing a voter registration program to encourage it's many younger guests to participate in this year's presidential election.

Straw Hat spokesperson, Kevyn Johnston, said Straw Hat has long supported "getting out the vote" when, in the 70's, the company offered discounts to those patrons showing they had voted. "We reworked the idea this year because there is so much interest in getting out the vote," said Johnston, "and Straw Hat is a favorite place for young people. We want to encourage them to vote; many for the first time."

Participating Straw Hat locations are displaying voter registration messages and supplying voter registration forms to anyone who hasn't yet registered. The company is also encouraging voter registration through their website, StrawHatPizza.com. Additionally, locations have temporarily renamed the brand's signature "King Size" pizza and are offering $4 off any "Presidents'" size pizza on election night, November 2nd.

"I think any time the message gets out about how important it is to vote is a great thing." said Joshua Richman, president of Straw Hat, "We view this effort as a natural continuation of our other community based programs, something Straw Hat has long been proud of." "Whatever the outcome of the election, our democracy is strengthened when more Americans vote" said Richman.

Straw Hat plans to emphasize the program by decorating their locations in election paraphernalia and several locations plan election night parties, including big screen election news coverage in the dining rooms.

[SHCC licenses nearly 50 Straw Hat Pizza locations in California & Nevada. The "Cooperative" is solely directed by its membership and has been called "the un-franchise, franchise." It provides the benefits of a franchise system, however, its individual owners enjoy greater control, and corporate overhead is kept to a minimum, (about 1/3rd of the average franchise fee.) For more information contact Joshua Richman at the Cooperative headquarters.]

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