As one of the year's highest-demand periods for pizza delivery approaches, Giordano's, the iconic Chicago deep-dish pizza brand, is implementing Cartwheel's delivery management platform to give store teams enhanced control over delivery operations while maintaining the guest experience that has defined the brand for over 50 years.

Under CEO Nick Scarpino's leadership, Giordano's has focused on digital modernization initiatives that protect what makes the brand iconic. The Cartwheel implementation reflects this approach, providing operational flexibility without compromising the branded guest experience – particularly critical as Super Bowl weekend and National Pizza Day converge to create exceptional delivery volume.

“Chicago's love for pizza and football runs deep, and peak demand periods like Super Bowl weekend put real pressure on our operations,” said Nick Scarpino, CEO of Giordano's. “Cartwheel gives our store teams the control they need to make smart delivery decisions in real time while ensuring that every delivery feels like Giordano's, not a generic transaction. This is about protecting our brand while giving our teams the tools to succeed during our busiest moments.”

The Cartwheel platform provides Giordano's locations with store-level flexibility to route orders between in-house drivers and third-party delivery service providers based on real-time conditions. Time-based forwarding helps protect pickup timing and customer expectations during high-volume periods, while the ability to dynamically switch between multiple providers improves reliability when capacity shifts.

The platform has helped improve delivery speed and reduce operational complexity during peak demand periods while maintaining decision-making authority at the store level. Critically, Cartwheel's branded tracking experience keeps customers in the Giordano's digital environment throughout the entire delivery journey, ensuring consistent guest experience whether orders are delivered by Giordano's drivers or through third-party coverage when in-house capacity is at full utilization.

“We're seeing enterprise pizza chains make strategic investments in delivery technology that gives them more control, not less,” said Alex Vasilkin, co-founder and CEO of Cartwheel. “Giordano's is an iconic brand that understands operational excellence starts with giving your teams the right tools. We're proud to support their commitment to protecting the guest experience while expanding operational flexibility.”

The delivery platform implementation comes as Giordano's leans into the convergence of football and pizza season. The brand recently launched “Da Pizza” in collaboration with Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1985 championship team. The limited-edition pizza is available through February 9.

Scarpino's connection to Cartwheel technology extends to his previous role at Portillo's, another iconic Chicago brand that became Cartwheel’s first minority stakeholder investor in 2021. Cartwheel's implementation represents Giordano's measured approach to operational modernization as the brand pursues growth initiatives including expanded franchise development and the recent launch of tavern-style pizza alongside its signature stuffed deep dish. The platform is now available at participating Giordano's corporate and franchise locations.