KO Coca Cola Company

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza today announced it has teamed up with (RED) during the month of June to support the fight against AIDS.  For the second year in a row, the company will participate in the month-long EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES campaign, rebranding its signature Red Vine pizza as the ‘(RED) Vine’ in each of the company’s more than 260 restaurants throughout North America.  Blaze, in collaboration with Coca-Cola, will donate $1 each time a guest enjoys a signature (RED) Vine pizza and Coke, contributing up to $50,000 to (RED)’s fight against AIDS.

Blaze Pizza and (RED)

“We’re proud to partner with (RED) and like-minded brands to support this critical fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Elise Wetzel, co-founder. “Our goal is not only to donate to (RED), but also to empower our guests to join the fight. Working together, AIDS could be over in less than 15 years from now.”

This year, a social media layer has also been added to foster guest engagement and drive more support for the cause. In an effort to #86AIDS, Blaze will encourage guests to post a picture of their pizza and cold drink using the hashtag #CokeRedSweepstakes and tagging @BlazePizza on Instagram or Twitter. This initiative will donate $1 for each post, an amount equivalent to five days of life-saving treatment, and hopes to raise an additional $10,000 for the campaign. By posting, guests are also entered to win some epic prizes, like a pair of red LeBron 14s from his personal collection, tickets to a (WANDERLUST)RED 108 event, (LOKAI) RED bracelets and FREE Blaze Pizza. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to New York City, including airfare, hotel and tickets to rock out at a concert of their choice.

Combined, Blaze pledges to donate up to $60,000 to the Global Fund. Through generous matching from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative plans to generate at least $120,000 during June – enough to provide 600,000 days of life-saving HIV/AIDS medication.  Every June, (RED) teams up with the culinary world for EAT (RED) SAVE LIVES. The campaign began in 2014 and has enlisted leading (RED) chef ambassadors, restaurants and culinary brands to create food, drink and social experiences that raise money and awareness to fight AIDS.

“We believe in changing the game – not only by making high-quality food accessible, but also in doing our part to make an impact outside of the restaurant walls,” said Executive Chef Bradford Kent.  “We’re committed to enriching the communities around us and are proud to align with a partner like (RED), who clearly shares our philosophy of creating positive change.”    

About Blaze Pizza

The first Blaze Pizza® restaurant opened on Aug. 6, 2012, in Irvine, Calif., and quickly gained attention for its chef-driven recipes, thoughtful interior design, and a service culture that celebrates individuality. Recently named ‘#1 Brand of the Year’ in the 2017 Fast Casual Top 100, the fast-growing chain currently operates over 260 restaurants in 40 states, Canada and Kuwait, including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Las Vegas, Boston, and Toronto.  Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel (co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels), the concept is backed by private equity firm Brentwood Associates and founding investors that include LeBron James, Maria Shriver, movie producer John Davis and Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner.  For more information, visit www.blazepizza.com or www.facebook.com/blazepizza or click here to view a company video.

About (RED)®

(RED) was founded in 2006 to engage businesses and people in the fight against AIDS. (RED) partners with the world’s most iconic brands that contribute proceeds from (RED)-branded goods and services to the Global Fund. (RED) Proud Partners include: Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, Beats by Dr. Dre, Belvedere, Claro, The Coca-Cola Company, MCM, Salesforce, SAP, Starbucks and Telcel. (RED) Special Edition partners include: aden+anais, Alessi, ALEX AND ANI, Andaz, Baxter of California, Bombas, Fatboy USA, Fully, Girl Skateboards, Le Creuset, Nickelodeon, Mophie, S’well, Wanderlust and Vespa.

To date, (RED) has generated more than $500 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to support HIV/AIDS grants in Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia. 100 percent of that money goes to work on the ground – no overhead is taken. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 110 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is the world’s largest total beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- and no-sugar options to help people everywhere more easily control added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our household names around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we’re serious about making positive contributions to our world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and bringing new and different drinks to people everywhere. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates, and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. In fact, together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world. For more information, visit our digital magazine Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow The Coca-Cola Company on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:Blaze Pizza, LLCJosh Levitt, 949-981-0757josh.levitt@blazepizza.com

Blaze Pizza®, fast-fire'd®, the horizontal logo design, the proprietary name "pizzasmith" and related trademarks are the property of Blaze Pizza LLC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ecde7bc9-86f4-4c2c-bdb9-289bb8e1a9df