Much Ado About Pizza in Pleasanton, California, has won the $15,000 grand prize in Hillshire Farm's fifth annual Great Pizza Give Back contest, a recognition program for independent pizzerias demonstrating measurable community impact. Owners Kira and Mark Zabrowski, both former educators, have built the restaurant—which opened in 2022—around support for local hunger-relief work. The pizzeria raises roughly $2,000 annually through two Shakespeare Shares fundraisers and donates approximately 50 pizzas each year to organizations including CityServe of the Tri-Valley, Goodness Village, and Open Heart Kitchen. The restaurant also backs local school theater and music programs through donations and discounts. "As former teachers, we know how much food insecurity can affect children and families," Kira Zabrowski said. "That experience has shaped the organizations we choose to support. For us, giving back means helping make sure people in our community have access to the food and support they need." The restaurant operates a Shakespeare-inspired carry-out model centered on naturally fermented sourdough pizzas. It was named to Yelp's Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S., and Zabrowski is a member of the U.S. Pizza Team. "Much Ado About Pizza is a great example of the impact independent pizzerias can have in their communities," said Bruce Engelmann, Director of Foodservice for Hillshire Farm. "The same commitment to serving others that shaped Kira and Mark's careers as teachers is evident in the way they run their business and support organizations addressing hunger." Ten additional winners each received $2,000 prizes. Hillshire Farm will open registration for the 2027 contest on its Great Pizza Give Back website.

Why It Matters

For independent operators, the contest underscores growing consumer and brand attention to community engagement and social-impact storytelling—particularly around food security. Pizzerias and small restaurants using their platforms to address hunger demonstrate both operational resilience and local market differentiation.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors