Trends for Sept. 30, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 | 8:42 a.m.

Slice of heaven

Ah, it's finally fall: the changing of the leaves; the crispness of the air at least in some parts of the country, if not Las Vegas.

Just the thought of the new season makes you feel all warm and toasty, doesn't it? Wouldn't a piping-hot piece of pizza hit the spot right now?

Umm ...

The folks who make the pies sure hope so, seeing that October is National Pizza Month. Count the restaurant chain Chicago Style Pizza Inc. among those waiting in the wings to serve up slices to the masses this month. The Sheridan, Ill., company, with eateries throughout the country (though none in Southern Nevada), on its website chicagostylepizzainc.com has compiled a list of tasty factoids about its bread and butter, so to speak:

Domino's effect

Speaking of waiting in the wings, it's chicken, not pizza, that's the focus in October at Domino's Pizza.

The perennial pizza favorite is clucking about its recently introduced Buff- alo Chicken Kickers (its version of spicy chicken wings, made of breast fillets).

In honor of the Kickers' kickoff, Domino's sponsored a telephone survey of more than 1,000 Americans about, well, all things poultry. Surprise the findings bode well for Kickers' sales:

Good thing Domino's delivers, eh?

Speaking of delivery, the company didn't entirely abandon its roots: Eighteen percent of those polled want "spicy" celeb (and "Mystic Pizza" co-star) Julia Roberts to deliver their next pie, while 17 percent hope Brad Pitt shows up at their front door.

Pie in the sky dreams?

Will pizza surveys never cease? Let's hope so.

Here's one more: Frozen-pizza maker Tombstone queried the teenage pizza-eating public in honor of its "Win Whatever You Want" promotion that continues throughout October. The grand prize is $100,000.

On what would wacky adolescents waste 100 grand? Here's a no-brainer: 67 percent would purchase a car, while 63 percent would take a trip. Fifty-nine percent would buy gifts for others, and 55 percent would finally save some cash for college.

Now here is a shocker sure to surprise the parents of teenage boys everywhere: 49 percent of guys polled said they were likely to invest their financial windfall, compared to only 20 percent of their female counterparts. The girls at least 52 percent of them would rather save the cash, while only 28 percent of boys would do the same.

No word, however, on how many would spend their dough on pizza.