Monday, October 27, 2014

Thinking Outside The Pizza Box

By Elba Fenwick


Employee training and teambuilding events are much more successful when you lure your staff in with some great food. Pizza has always been a favorite simply because it's popular, tasty and versatile.

But even a tried-and-true favorite can become a bit dull, and sometimes those pizza boxes just make people want to groan.

Imagine for a moment, however, that the pizza box wasn't filled with the same old everyday pizza. What if the boxes were opened and there was something surprising in there? The impact of a unique treat cannot be underestimated, as it sets the tone for your training sessions.

If you are searching for that special wow factor, serving up a box of lukewarm pizza really isn't going to be a source of inspiration. The savvy manager understands that in order to motivate and elevate the mood of your participants, you need to offer up something that gets people excited, happy and ready to learn. A unique food choice can set just the right tone at your meeting. But what should this culinary wonder be?

Two words: Chocolate Pizza.

Chocolate is a world-wide favorite, and when we talk about chocolate pizza we are not talking about a hunk of dough with some chocolate sauce draped over it. This is truly sophisticated, gourmet chocolate experience that will enthuse even the most jaded employees and have them looking forward to discover what else you have in store.

What is chocolate pizza? Chocolate Pizza Company Inc. in Marcellus, NY, has been making this specialty for more than a generation. Featured on Food Network and ABC News, Chocolate Pizza Company creates tens of thousands of its signature namesake confections for individuals and businesses across the country. In 2012, the company transformed nearly 100,000 pounds of chocolate into an array of sweet selections that it shipped to all 50 states and 20 countries.

"We take homemade English toffee and blend it with gourmet milk or dark chocolate," explains owner Ryan Novak. "We pour that into rounds; top it with pecans, almonds, walnuts, and a white chocolate drizzle; seal it; and serve it in a genuine pizza box. The presentation surprises everyone."

In addition to the aforementioned variety, there are a dozen other styles of gourmet chocolate pizza to consider. Serving up chocolate pizza for a change can actually inspire your team and deliver the all-important message that changes can be a positive experience, just like swapping out a regular pizza for a deluxe chocolate pizza!

A large chocolate pizza runs 25 ounces and serves about 10 people, and while you can use a pizza cutter, the best way to share it is just have everyone break off pieces. It's fun. It's social. It keeps the group gathered during break. Plus, unlike traditional pizza that makes you lethargic after eating, chocolate pizza gives participants a little sugar boost. Choose a dark chocolate pizza, and there is even a nice health component to the snack since studies confirm the beneficial effects of dark chocolate on your heart, blood pressure and immune system.

In today's training environment, no detail is too small to ignore. Looking to add that little something extra to your session? Announce you are serving chocolate pizza at your next training event. Participants will cheer the originality of your choice, and you can take a bow for building teamwork, one sweet success at a time.




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