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The pizza chain built around connection and togetherness created a divide in DC with a recent marketing blunder.
WASHINGTON — Local restaurant chain &pizza, which launched on H Street in Washington, D.C. in 2012 with a mission of unity and inclusivity, has recently found itself in hot water. The culprit? A marketing campaign that missed the mark and sent a collective gasp across the District.
The company that was built around the "&" symbol is supposed to represent connection and togetherness. But through this menu item, the company created a divide within the very community they built their brand.
After issuing an initial apology and pulling the controversial "Marion Berry Knots" from their menu, &pizza faced legal action from Mrs. Cora Masters Barry’s legal team, who sent a cease-and-desist letter to CEO Mike Burns. Mrs. Barry, a social justice advocate and the founder of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, demanded accountability, leading &pizza to issue yet another, more formal apology, this time including her in it.
According to the company's most recent social post, the &pizza leadership team met with the "Knot in DC Coalition" to hash out how they could recover from the marketing blunder.
Together, they brainstormed ways to show that &pizza cares about the communities they serve.
Here’s what they’ve promised:
- Support for minority-owned businesses: Partnerships across D.C. to provide essential resources aiding growth.
- Internship program: Opportunities for high school and HBCU students in D.C., focused on career exposure and development.
- Mentorship and job training: Programs aimed at supporting and investing in underserved communities.
- Diversity and cultural awareness training: Ongoing internal training for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.
- Contributions to racial justice: Support for D.C.-based racial justice organizations dedicated to addressing systemic inequality.
The pizza chain's ultimate goal, they said, is to show the world that they are genuinely committed to making amends and rebuilding trust with the D.C. community. The company said this isn’t about saving face, but about stepping up and genuinely prioritizing humanity and social justice.
In the words of the late Mayor Marion Barry, "When you know more, you can do more."
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