by ParkStRanger@aol.com
Last Wednesday, we asked our readers to go to a Pizza
Hut feedback webpage, and email their desire for a vegan pizza. Before
my article was printed, there was a simple click box at that feedback
page that allowed general comments to be emailed to them.
The day after the article appeared, the website had been
rewritten (too many vegan requests from us?) and they had removed the
general comments link, and left only the links to comments about
specific regional locations of Pizza Hut, along with a statement that
said in effect that they didn't want to hear any suggestions about how
to make pizzas..."We at Pizza Hut wish to thank you for your interest in
our company. We have, however, adopted a general policy of not accepting
unsolicited ideas and suggestions. Blah, blah, blah."
We at Animal Rights Online were saddened by their
reaction, and we apologize to those of our readers who went to the
feedback form after it had changed. Perhaps Pizza Hut felt under attack
by a horde of hungry and hard to satisfy vegans. Perhaps all restaurant
chains are feeling defensive after PETA's recent campaigns against
McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.
Our campaign also resulted in a number of letters to ARO
suggesting that we shouldn't have aligned ourselves with Pizza Hut
because 1) they had once served a Veggie Lovers Pizza that contained a
hidden meat sauce, 2) they are owned by Pepsi which, until recently,
advertised and supported bullfights in Mexico, 3) they wouldn't know how
to make a nutritional vegan pizza.
Bear in mind that our intention was not really to draw
more people into Pizza Huts nor to have them provide us with a healthy
dietary staple. Our intention is to focus attention on Veganism and help
move it into the mainstream. Our intention is to wake people up to the
fact that there is something wrong with cheese. ( to find out exactly
what, go here
The Dairy Education Board
http://notmilk.com/deb/071199.html )
Pizza Hut missed out on an opportunity to be an industry
leader, they missed the chance to capture a whole new market. Oh well,
should we see if we can get served somewhere else? Should we try
Domino's? You decide. The important thing is, whether on the web or in
the real world, we must keep going into restaurants and saying "Hi, I'm
a vegan. What can you fix me?"
Here is a Domino's feedback form, it does require you to
give your name, address and email, and It Does allow you to make general
suggestions. It looks friendly now and begins "Domino's is always
interested in what our customers have to say"
Domino's/ Contact Us
http://www.dominos.com/Contact/Index.cfm
In the Email Category box, don't chose Complaint. Chose
Questions, and ask in your own words if they would consider test
marketing a vegan pizza made with vegan cheese. (Don't everyone use the
phrase "test market") Make any vegan suggestions you wish.
Here is something else all our readers should know about
and use. PlanetFeedback, a free web service, allows you to send
feedback, suggestions and questions to any company, they even help write
the letter and send it by email or snail mail. Tell any company what you
think about their use of animal products, their exploitation of other
species, their menu items or whatever your concern.
Check it out.
PlanetFeedback Welcomes You!
http://www.planetfeedback.com/
And always, keep asking for Cruelty Free.
Go on to Afghan
Animals Get Badly Needed Boost
Return to 2 December 2001 Issue
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