Local pizza eyes Guinness record

CEBU, Philippines – Despite the presence of established pizza brands in the Philippines, Bacolod City-grown Mamma Maria’s Pizzeria is optimistic to make its name in the Philippine market, especially that it is determined to outsize the record 60-inch pizza in the United States by making its own 63-inch pizza next month.

“Our pizzas may be bigger in size, but the prices are relatively cheaper,” said Toots Jimenez, the company’s public relations consultant.

Recently, the company opened two outlets in Cebu, one in Mactan Island and one in Gorordo Avenue this City. Jimenez said when it comes to food choices there is always a market for it.

Bidding to be the “Home of the Biggest Pizza” at least in the Philippines, Jimenez said Mamma Maria’s Pizzeria, will bank on this branding scheme, as it is also making a 63-inch pizza, which comes with four different flavors and will soon be “the biggest in the world.”

Mamma Maria’s Pizzeria Inc. owner Jhay Montelibano said the entire pizza is good for 25 to 30 people and that the company will reconfigure its oven for the gigantic pizza.

The pizza chain was able to create a 52-inch pizza in Bacolod City, but Montelibano said it will push for a pizza that is 11 inches bigger.

“It’s our way of saying that a locally grown pizza can make it big worldwide,” Montelibano said.

Aside from strengthening its brand recall through its pizza sizes and competitive pricing Jimenez said the brand will complement with other pizza brands, providing unique mixture of ingredients, such as its signature “kinilaw” Pizza.

As of this moment, the company is also looking at partners in Iloilo, General Santos City for its nationwide expansion plan, Jimenez said.

There are six outlets of Mamma Maria Pizzeria located both in Bacolod and Cebu.

The chain offers 27 different pizza flavors, including a bizarre crocodile meat pizza. Sizes for their pizza range from eight inches to as big as 32 inches.

Jimenez said a 32-inch pizza for instance, costs between P700 and P1,730 depending on the flavor.

With its bid to beat the biggest pizza in the “Guinness World Book of Records” in the next few months, Mamma Maria’s Pizzeria, is not only aiming to make its name in the Philippine market, but also in the world.