Italian Calzones More Popular Than Ever

Shakopee, MN, May 17, 2007 - Ever since its birth in a Naples pizzeria, the calzone has been served and savored by Italians and Americans alike. Now Lettieri's is putting a new twist on this Sicilian standard with its line of on-the-go calzones for convenience stores. Made with hearty breads, savory Italian herbs and piping hot fillings, Lettieri's calzones are available in four flavors: Pepperoni, Sausage & Pepperoni, Five Cheese and Chicken Caesar. Tino Lettieri developed these calzones in 1994 when the company was founded. Lettieri used his father's authentic recipe taken from his native Sicily to give the calzone its home-baked taste while keeping the needs of convenience store operators in mind.

"Our calzones have that authentic Italian flavor that sets them apart from other convenience foods, but still require minimal preparation and no added labor," says David Poplau, Lettieri's Director of Marketing. "In addition, our calzones are available to the retailer either fully baked, bagged and merchandise ready for "grab-n-go" or par-baked, bulk, for those stores that have the heating equipment to finish off at store level for that "just out of the oven" baking experience."

Poplau observed that most brands create their products in laboratories or development centers, but Lettieri's calzones were created from years-old family recipes. Furthermore, Poplau noted that the calzone's taste combined with its convenience makes it an exciting alternative to conventional convenience food.

Served hot, Lettieri's calzones are made with a 50/50 filling-to-dough ratio and make satisfying meals any time of day. Lettieri's calzones are merchandised in colorful, attractive window packaging that protects freshness and can be placed in either the microwave or oven for warming. National advertising campaigns and a full line of complimentary POP support this merchandising and drive in-store purchases.

Lettieri's is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hot Stuff Foods®, which franchises and/or licenses its branded food concepts(Hot Stuff Food On the Go®, SmashHits Deli™, C-Street Bakery®, StoneWilly PIZZAHOUSE™, Hot Stuff Grill™) in over 1600 locations throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Hot Stuff Foods® also offers Lettieri's Food To Go™ through distributors across the United States. For more information on any of the Hot Stuff Foods brands, go to these websites - www.hotstufffoods.com or www.lettieris.com or call 877-841-1431 (Hot Stuff Foods), or 800-332-3533 (Lettieri's).