Gourmet Provisions Intl Corp (GMPR)

[meidiot]

If a person want's to promote UPZS at least do some DD and get the facts right.
Tampa , Florida does NOT have any PIZZA FUSION locations.

Tampa's two Pizza Fusion franchises are in a bit of limbo.

The owners — Dave Burton in downtown's Skypoint building and Ralph Santell in Westchase — have joined forces and are in the process of buying themselves out of their franchise agreement with the Deerfield Beach-based chain.

They're preparing to roll out their own homegrown brand in early January: Tampa Pizza Co.

It will hew to Pizza Fusion's emphasis on healthy eats and eco-friendliness. "The food will be comparable," Burton said, "with an organic bent, and local ingredients, and things like gluten-free offerings. But we'll have more flexibility in introducing menu items."

So why leave the chain after nearly four years? Burton said he and Santell, who started their Fusion franchises at the same time, were not dissatisfied with Pizza Fusion, but it "did put us in handcuffs to an extent."

In most franchise agreements, the local operator has to follow corporate directives; that way customers get a consistent experience wherever they go.

Extricating from Pizza Fusion "has not been easy," Burton said with a chuckle, but the process is well under way and he expects it to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Until about Jan. 1, the restaurants will continue to serve the Pizza Fusion menu, even as the temporary sign outside the downtown location reads "Tampa Pizza Co."