Fugate Enterprises Inc., one of the top 10 franchisees of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, has found a way to involve its future customers in the opening of its next store. The franchisee is letting the students Western Kentucky University choose whether a Taco Bell or Pizza Hut will be built on the campus.
Fugate has launched a mobile voting promotion in which WKU students will be able to cast their votes by text. Voting began April 1 and continues through April 17.
"We have been operating 270 Pizza Huts and Taco Bells for over 30 years. This time, we wanted to let the community we will be serving choose which particular one they want," Larry Fugate, CEO of Fugate Enterprises, said in a news release. "This will be a fun, unique way for us to promote our new location, as well as give the students the opportunity to voice what they prefer via the medium that would allow the best direct interaction — mobile."
Fugate will be promoting the campaign to WKU students through marketing initiatives provided by United Marketing Communications (UMC), a leading provider of marketing services specializing in the restaurant and food services industry. Banners announcing the voting campaign will be displayed at two upcoming WKU baseball games. Radio spots and giveaways that feature printed information about the promotion also will help notify the students about their chance to vote.
Moblico Solutions, a provider of integrated mobile offerings that support and extend customer relationships, is managing the voting process for the Fugate WKU competition. WKU students can vote through April 17. Once a vote is cast, a confirmation message is sent back indicating that a vote of "PH" or "TB" was recorded.
Founded in 1974, Wichita, Kan.-based Fugate Enterprises operates more than 200 Pizza Hut locations, nearly 70 Taco Bells and 40 Blockbuster Video stores. The company is based in and is one of the top 10 franchisees in the Pizza Hut, Blockbuster and Taco Bell chain system.
