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 …