Sausage. Pepperoni. Extra cheese. And a Kansas Jayhawks logo? Yep, the people at Pizza Prints have taken toppings to a whole new level. Now you can root on your alma mater during March Madness with more than a giant foam finger and faded sweatshirt.
Pizza Prints are the latest creation from the people who invented Edible Image decorations for cakes. They’ve taken the technology for putting pictures on party confections and applied it to a different type of pie.
“Once people see that the big brother is Edible Images on birthday cakes, they get it,” says Andy Sachs, national account manager for Pizza Prints. “This is for parties and football games. It’s to celebrate your college on game day.”
The designs are made of starches and edible food colors. The ultra-thin images are peeled from their backings and laid on top of an already cooked and sliced pizza. In about 30 to 45 seconds, the image melds with the melted cheese. The company says Pizza Prints toppings won’t affect the flavor of the food (unless, of course, the team is losing).
“One of the most important things we realized is that if you ruin the integrity of a pizzeria’s pizza, you will never earn their trust,” Sachs says.
Currently, Pizza Prints are available in several hundred restaurants across the U.S., but Sachs hopes to work with major chains including Papa John’s -- the official pizza sponsor of March Madness -- Domino's and Pizza Hut
Pizza Prints will be available online and at party supply stores in the near future as well. The company has licensed the logos for all 30 NBA teams, WWE images, and characters from the Nickelodeon family, including Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Pizza Prints has logos for about 100 colleges, but March Madness fans shouldn’t worry too much if their school isn’t available just yet. Sachs, a graduate of Ithaca College, feels your pain.
“I don’t think the Bombers will be at the top of our list," he says, "but we’re absolutely expanding.”
