Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Delaware Coast Press!

Two Philly favorites come together

Pretzel factory brings a new taste to Delaware shore

REHOBOTH BEACH -- It's warm, buttery and salty and Paul Sarnak hopes it becomes just as popular in Delaware as it is in his home state of Pennsylvania.

What's he talking about? The Philadelphia-style pretzel.

"They are almost as big as the cheesesteaks up there," said Sarnak, who recently purchased the Philly Pretzel Factory, located on Route 1 near Lewes. "It's a unique product that people can enjoy for a low cost."

Sarnak reopened the franchise March 17, and is excited about his new venture.

"I'm a real estate agent by trade, but I've always been interested in this franchise," he said. "I just jumped at the opportunity."

Along with classic flavors such as plain, salted, poppy, sesame, garlic and everything, Sarnak will introduce a new item, the cheesesteak pretzel, on May 17. (Read More)

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in The News of Cumberland County!

Upper Deerfield Philly Pretzel Factory franchise does it the old-fashioned way

By Joe Green
April 23, 2010, 5:58PM

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. — April 26 is one of those days FM radio DJs like to mention for a bit of trivial morning fun - National (fill in the blank) Day.

In particular, it’s National Pretzel Day. And to celebrate, Philly Pretzel Factory franchises are giving out a free pretzel to visitors then, no purchase necessary.

For local Factory franchisee Bill Hirst, the day highlights a twist that has brought him full circle.

Hirst and his wife Donna own the franchise on Route 77, next to the McDonald’s just outside Bridgeton.

When he was 10, Bill said, he sold pretzels on the streets of his native Kensington, two for a nickel. Little did he know he’d someday be doing the same in South Jersey.

June 12 will mark two years the Hirsts have run the Route 77 store, where they hand-twist and bake their product. They employ four full time workers, who help see the process through from dough to rack after rack of soft Philly delicacy. (Read More)

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Community News!

Philly Pretzel Factory in Clifton Park to give away free pretzels on April 26

Published: Thursday, April 22, 2010

By GLENN GRIFFITH, Community News

CLIFTON  PARK — A locally-owned pretzel shop will join with others across the country next week and celebrate the industry’s “national holiday.” The owners of the Philly Pretzel Factory of Clifton Park , 7 Southside Drive, will give back to the community on April 26 and offer every person who comes to the store a free pretzel. The promotion is part of national pretzel day celebration that began in Philadelphia in 1983.

The event honors one of that city’s most popular fast foods, the fresh baked soft pretzel. Clifton Park residents Ray and Shannon Melleady have owned the local franchise since 2008 and the operation is filled with family.

Shannon Melleady works at developing customer relationships for the business and three of the five Melleady children work behind the counter baking pretzels and serving customers.

“The kids have a lot of fun twisting and baking the pretzels,” Ray Melleady said. “And they get to see how a business operates up close. It’s a good educational experience for them.” (Read More)

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Cape Gazette!

Philly Pretzel Factory to give away pretzels on National Pretzel Day April 26

In celebration of National Pretzel Day Monday, April 26, Philly Pretzel Factory of Rehoboth Beach is giving each guest a free pretzel.

In previous years of this celebration, some locations have given out more than 20,000 pretzels, the equivalent to about 25 Eiffel Towers in length.

In addition to receiving a free pretzel, should guests fan Philly Pretzel Factory’s Facebook page and tag a photo, they will receive an additional pretzel.

Not only is Philly Pretzel Factory giving out free pretzels to all of its customers, but the brand is looking to expand further statewide.

The store has plans to open its next location within the next year, and multiple locations across Delaware throughout the next couple of years.

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in The Mercury!

Philly Pretzel Factory to give away free pretzels

POTTSTOWN — On Monday, April 26, in celebration of National Pretzel Day, area Philly Pretzel Factory franchises, including those in Pottstown, Phoenixville, West Chester, Gilbertsville, Collegeville and Douglassville, will be giving each guest a free pretzel. In previous years, some locations have given out more than 20,000 pretzels, the company reported

In addition to receiving a free pretzel, should guests fan Philly Pretzel Factory's Facebook page and tag a photo, they will receive an additional pretzel.

Philly Pretzel Factory is looking to expand, and plans to open multiple locations across the state over the next couple of years. (Read More)

Taste Stimulus, Philly-Style: Philly Pretzel Factory Feeds Fanatics

Taste Stimulus, Philly-Style: Philly Pretzel Factory Feeds Fanatics
To Celebrate National Pretzel Day, April 26, 100-Plus-Unit Booming Franchise to Give Every Guest Free Pretzel

PHILADELPHIA– Whoever said there is “no such thing as a free lunch” will eat their words on April 26 when Philly Pretzel Factory gives away a free pretzel to every single guest who enters the store, all in celebration of National Pretzel Day.

“We have an incredible fanatical following. This day is about us having a little fun, giving back, and feeding our guest’s need for great taste,” said Dan DiZio, President and co-founder of Philly Pretzel Factory, a 100-plus-unit chain born and raised in Philadelphia.

The anticipation has already heated up, as the brand’s fanatical following has posted dozens of excited messages on the official Facebook Fan Page, just another way the brand connects, interacts and builds a bond with its fans.

“Our fans have always been loud and proud of our food, but now we see it left and right through the power of Social Media,” said DiZio, noting he expects smiling fans to tag photos of themselves eating the free pretzel. “It is amazing how our relationships with our customers can extend into their personal worlds through this powerful form of technology.”

Founded in 1983, National Pretzel Day was created when Rep. Robert S. Walker declared his favorite food was deserving of a holiday. In April of 2003, Pennsylvania’s Governor Ed Rendell joined the bandwagon by re-declaring the unofficial national holiday.

Right around the first declaration and long before Philly Pretzel Factory was built, DiZio had already seen his vision. At the tender age of 11, DiZio would ride his bike to the corner of Southampton and the Boulevard to sell his own pretzel concoction in Philly. The young entrepreneur would sell 1,000 pretzels a day at five for $1. After giving a cut to the supplier, DiZio would pocket $100.

Those days are long behind him, as DiZio teamed up with college buddy Len Lehman in 1998 to create the first blueprint of the Philly Pretzel Factory. Today, the brand has grown from a single location in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia to a 100-plus-unit franchise with its eyes set on adding 10 more locations in 2010.

With its menu strategically priced for any economy, the brand continued to thrive in 2009 and onward through the beginning of 2010, never wavering from its commitment to its customers.

“Our founder’s principal of giving our customers great Philly-based tasting treats has caught on nationally. With an incredible following, we are positioned for steady growth throughout this year,” said Marty Ferrill, VP of Operations.

As the world’s largest Philly-style bakery, Philly Pretzel bakes fresh, delicious soft pretzels delivered to customers “Hot Outta The Oven.” Each pretzel, made from a mix of only the finest pretzel ingredients, is hand twisted to ensure quality and freshness.

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Milton Herald!

Celebrate pretzel day in Milton
by Jonathan Copsey

April 19, 2010

Milton - For those who did not know, April 26 is National Pretzel Day. What's that? You didn't know there was a holiday dedicated to the pretzel? They're practically a national dish, along with the likes of hot dogs and pizza. Of course there'd be a holiday. And luckily, Milton's own Philly Pretzel Factory is celebrating it.

As the only PPF franchise in Georgia, owners Steven and Jill Erhardt don't take the responsibility of honoring the bread concoction lightly. For starters, they're giving away one free pretzel to everyone who comes into their store on Pretzel Day (you can also get another free one by Friending them on Facebook).

"I live here but I'm originally from Philly," said Steven Erhardt, explaining why he opened the business. "Everyone likes pretzels. So this was a good idea." To help get Georgians accustomed to the ancient Germanic snack food, the Erhardts have been shopping their pretzels throughout the metro area. Georgia Tech has been receiving "GT"-shaped pretzels for all their sports games. The Vortex bars downtown have also been equipped with spiral-shaped pretzels. Other universities are soon to be added to the list as well. (Read More)