California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza
May 25, 2008
What it is: Thin crust frozen pizza
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125 Comments on “California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza”
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California Pizza Kitchen Frozen pizza is one of best frozen pizza’s my family has ever had. I wish there were more coupons for this pizza.
CPK frozen pizzas are delicious we love them in our house.
California frozen pizza is sooo tasty. I recommended it to several friend and they feel the same.
we purchaced 2 pizzas and both were freezer burned
Michelle, may I suggest you call the 800 number of the package — and give them the store where you purchased it and the numbers from the package. I beleive CPK will replace those pizzas for you.
My favorite frozen pizza but I do not buy it very often. I wish there were more cupons available.
The best frozen pizzas ever!
Where can you purchase them in the Taylorsville & sandy, Utah area?
Did you ever send sharon l bossinger some coupons?? Seems like you could have a faithful customer at the expense of only a few coupons.
Barbara, I finally got the answer for you from the CPK team:
Here is the list of retail outlets where California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizza should be available in the requested towns in Utah. You can post to your biteofthebest site accordingly. Sorry for the delay.
Mary Anne
SANDY, UTAH
Wal-Mart Super Center
Albertson’s
Macy’s
Harmon’s
Ream’s
Super Target
TAYLORSVILLE, UTAH
Smith’s
Albertson’s
Harmon’s
Wal-Mart Super Center
I am sincerely confused by the positive feed back. WE bought 2 different types of pizzas one of them yours. I felt the pizza was singly the worst I have ever had. I would mever purchase again. What did I do wrong? The crust was seriously like cardboard, very small for the price and lacking in flavor.
J Davis it seems that you may have overcooked the pizza. Quite frankly the only one I dislike is the one with meat on it. Maybe you should try it one more time.
I have been buying CPK frozen margarita pizza for about 2 years now. My husband & I just loved it until recently. TWe see a big change in the crust especially. Have you changed your formula. It seems thicker and almost like a bread consistency instead of pizza. Please comment. Thank you
Dear Dorothy,
We’re sorry you were disappointed in your recent experience with CPK Margherita frozen pizza. We hear what you’re saying and we’re taking every measure possible to get our Margherita crust back to what you expect quickly. But we regret when even one consumer is not satisfied with our CPK frozen pizza. We’d like to make it up to you. If you will e-mail me at Melanie.Morland@kraft.com I’d like to send you a coupon for a free pizza. Sincerely, Melanie Morland, Kraft Foods
Best regards, Joyce
I LIVE IN PGH PA.WE HAVE BEEN EATING YOUR PIZZA FOR YEARS HOCKEY NIGHT IS ALLWAYS PIZZA NIGHT.BUT LATLEY YOUR PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN UP TO PAR .WE SHOP AT LOCAL GIANT EAGLE AND THE LAST 5 PIZZAS HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH CHEESE AND ONE PIZZA ONLY HAD 3 SLICES OF PEPORNI ON IT .AT 7.29 A PIZZA YOU EXPECT THE BEST FROM WHAT WE CONSIDER THE BEST PIZZA YOU CAN BUY.I HOPE YOU CAN RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AS I NOW YOU WILL. THANKS PAT KAY.
I live in Orlando FL and we love your pizzas. Once or twice this summer A Limited Edition Julienne Cut Ham & Swiss was available but then never saw it again. It is definitely one of your best? Why isn’t it in the stores?
Bought the Rising Crust BBQ Chicken pizza which we buy all the time but this one had no BBQ sauce. Am contacting Kraft foods about this Monday morning.
We really love your Thin Crust Sicilian pizza, but out of the last 5 pizza’s we have bought, 2 of them had very little if any sauce at all. It made for a very dry pizza. We really do enjoy your product, but if we keep buying it and not getting pizza sauce on our pizza, then we will no longer purchase your product. 2 out or 5 is not a good ratio. Please look in to this and correct the problem, as I am sure that we are not the only ones who have ran into this issue…….Thank you… E.Slowik
I completely agree with Dorothy Lawrence’s post above. My husband and I also purchase the CPK frozen margarita pizzas on a weekly basis. The last three times we’ve noticed a major difference in the crust, it’s thicker and completely falls apart in the oven! We also noticed that the amount of sauce, cheese and tomatoes was drastically reduced. We are very disappointed and have decided to purchase a local grocery store version of the same pizza. To our delight, the grocery store brand is very similar to the original CPK version that we had loved. Can you tell me if the recipe has changed?
Sheila…I’ve asked the makers of CPK to respond to the query about whether or not they’ve changed the recipe. I’m still waiting for a response. I will try to email them again!
Thank you Bonnie, how kind of you to respond so quickly. I look forward to the CPK makers’ reply to my question.
I am certain the recipe has changed recently. We just opened two Sicilian thin crusts last night, and there was virtually NO red sauce on it. It was so bad, I took photos! What I was hoping was an error on the production line looks like it may be their new recipe. This pizza is way too expensive for them to get stingy with their ingredients. Wish I could post my photo of this sauce-less crust so you could see that I’m really not exaggerating.
I’m happy to find this website and info on the CPK thin crust pizza. I buy 4-5 of these when they go on sale. And I have to agree with the other posters. Recently the crust HAS changed.. Not light like before. The edges look like dense cardboard sort of and too brown when cooked. Also the amount of sauce has gone down. KRAFT! you’ve taken a perfect product and destroyed it. Good grief.. Corporate fools.. Dump the Exec in charge of this latest screw-up and bring back the original product. Roger R
CPK Thin Crust pizza has definitely changed for the worse. The crust is horrible, dense and heavy whereas before it was a nice light almost flakey . Also the topping has changed with less sauce.
Too bad, i used to have a frozen pizza i could enjoy. No more. CPK if you go back to the original recipe, let me know so i can buy your product again.
It sounds like CPK has not done a thing about the recent change to their thin crust pizzas, nor have they responded to my question posted November 18th! My husband and I used to enjoy the frozen margarita pizzas, especially on evenings when we were too tired to cook after a long day at work. I will not purchase another one of these pizzas until I know for a fact CPK has addressed this issue and changes the recipe BACK to the original. I know I am speaking not only for myself, but several others on this forum as well.
CPK frozen pizzas are now a KRAFT product. I sent a complaint via the website, and heard back from KRAFT people. This is just not the same pizza it used to be. Has anyone tried the Paul Newman thin-crust pizzas? They are good. I am on the hunt for a new favorite brand.
Barbara, If you find another brand, please share that information with those of us who are lamenting the changes in CPK
All we can do it keep posting and complaining. I recently complained by calling the 800 number. I asked for a refund for a few pizzas I bought. They send coupons for new pizzas. I won’t replace with the thin crust that is for sure. What fools kraft people are. Destroying a great product. Amazing.
“All we can do it keep posting and complaining.”
you know Rodger i don’t think that will help. When a big company like Kraft takes over a product they cheapen the product for mass production and ride out the reputation of the name. I doubt they ever plan to go back. Remember what happen to Famous Amos CCC’s when he got bought out. They turned into Chips Ahoy style junk.
I don’t think they think in terms of quality, believing most Americans won’t know good food anyway (think Kraft cheese and and how popular Domino’s (although not a Kraft company) pizza is.
I think all you can do is move on… look another brand.
Which is better in oven or microwave? My local store was giving out samples microwaved.
The local grocery store in Lincoln Park, Mi Meijer’s sell them.
What Happened to CA. barbeque pizza. I can’t find the thin crust anymore, and the new rising crust is awful!!! Doughy, thick, flavor gonnnnne, and the sauce is not the same. Why change it? I won’t be buying it anymore, pls. change back, it was my guilty pleasure!
I just baked one of your Crispy Thin Crust Sicilian Pizzas and someone failed to put any sauce on it. It was so dry it was unedible. We have been buying your pizzas for years ans this was our first bad experience!
ON SUNDAY DEC. 27 I BOUGHT A FROZEN THIN CRUST SICILIAN PIZZA. MY WIFE AND I WERE DISSAPOINTED WITH IT. THIS PIZZA WAS PRACTICALLY TASTELESS AND DRY. WE HAVE BOUGHT THIS PIZZA(FOUR TIMES) AND ENJOYED THEM.
THANK YOU,
ROBERT THOMPSON
at least I know I’m not crazy now. I had the same problem with the crust on both the margarita and spinach cheese. the crust is terrible. thought it was just a bad batch when I bought a few of them a couple of months ago. Thought I’d give ‘em one more chance last week, no improvement whatsoever! I’m surprised CPK still put their name on the box—not good. Will NOT be throwing my money away on that brand again.
CPK corp doesn’t seem to care. I contacted them and they say to contact Kraft for frozen pizzas. Amazing really that CPK would let Kraft ruin their brand. CPK stock has never been a good performer.. Now I know why. Bad management. CPK also has very low insider stock ownership. That is an indication of management that doesn’t really care.
I ate the white frozen pizza almost every night for two years. Suddenly the crust was changed and it now tastes like a wet cracker. I used to love the entire pizza, including the crust, but now I find it to be inedible. I cannot get a response regarding the change but assume it’s cheaper and they are making more money. I noticed that the calorie count went up slightly also.
If you ask Kraft directly if the recipe has changed, they will not answer you. They did send me a letter and coupons for free pizzas, but they simply ignored the question. So California Pizza Kitchen made a ton of money when they sold their frozen division to Kraft, but consumers lose out. I have stopped buying KPK — even when they go on sale for $4.99. It’s really a shame.
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH KRAFT FOODS TO TRANSITION TO NESTLE
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100105006031&newsLang=en
Today I wrote an email to a Wall Street Journal Writer. She had written an article about CPK and it’s founders Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield. I detailed some of the frustrations we as consumers are having. I also asked her to forward it to either of the CPK founders. They are both back at CPK and currently Co-CEOs and directors. I wonder if Nestle knows of the recent damage Kraft has done to the CPK brand. It’s really very interesting. I can’t imagine how Nestle won’t be burned on this one.
I wrote something on the California Pizza Kitchen Facebook page. Maybe enough bad publicity will do something. I am furious about the change and about buying several pizzas before I realized how terrible they are now. It would be helpful (maybe) if people join me on the Facebook page. Of course, maybe they don’t care about their reputation.
I just got a CPK Facebook response saying that the frozen pizzas will be changed to the previous crust so be on the lookout to see if this is true. In the meantime online support wrote that no change had ever been made, which obviously is a contradiction that leads one to wonder.
Do you people ever check your product or do you just release it for sale?
Tried my first “For One”, Margherita Crispy Thin Crust tonight. It failed, for the following reasons:
1 The “EASY OPEN CLEAR PLASTIC BAG” from step 1 of your directions is pathetic. I don’t have large fingers yet I could not grasp the corner to pull the bag open because the area was so tiny and would not seperate. Tried to use my very sharp kitchen scissors on the bag. They could hardly cut it, it was a struggle to get to the pizza.
2 The pizza tasted good except I had to throw out over 1/4 of it because you forgot to put cheese on that part.
Sorry, but I wrote the truth here.
“I just got a CPK Facebook response saying that the frozen pizzas will be changed to the previous crust.”
The response i got from Kraft was that it was probably a temporary problem in the production line. But i think i was being fed a line, judging from all the responses here from 2 months.
Would be curious if they really do change it back. I’ll wait and see. In the meantime i’m looking at other brands. Funny enough, while in the frozn ailse today a friend recommended Freschetta Pizza. So i’ll give it a try and report back.
Interesting news Susan. I just added a comment to yours on the CPK Facebook page. Yesterday I posted on the Nestle Facebook page. A Kraft sales rep responded that there has never been a change. He said we were “misinformed”. I mentioned our eye and taste provided the info we needed. Lets hope that they do make an effort to change the product back. I asked for more details on the CPK post.
I will wait a bit and then buy one; I assume it will take time to make the change. Let’s just hope they don’t think they can fool us again!
I have also noticed that in addition to the crappy crust, the topping is much sparser.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/kalo93406/pizza-compare.jpg
Guess which one is the one I cooked today???
I don’t expect that the pizzas would have exactly the same look as the time in the freezer, cooking conditions and photograph conditions are not exactly replicated… BUT! The changes are OBVIOUS! Different crust and less topping especially around the edges. The crust looks like a cookie dough cutout… Since we’ve all had pizzas like this for four months to say it is a “production line” issue would not be possible.
Decided to try this since they were on sale at the local grocer. Seriously – CPK Four Cheese Pizza for One – easily the WORST frozen pizza experience ever! Thick cardboard crust with tasteless sauce and cheese. Never again.
“Funny enough, while in the frozen aisle today a friend recommended Freschetta Pizza. So i’ll give it a try and report back.”
reporting back:
tried the Freschetta Flat Bread Ultra Thin Crispy Crust 5 Cheese Pizza. And it was pretty good. As they say the crust was “really” thin, which i like, and crisp. In comparison to the the “previous good” CPK it tastes a little more like store bought frozen than the CPK but wasn’t better than “store bought”. Wasn’t much sauce in this one but maybe that’s because it was 5 cheese. Overall it was pretty good taste.
I tried the DiGiorno flat crust pizza and the crust looked exactly like the new CPK crust–same assembly line indentations and same taste. I looked on the box and sure enough, it was a Kraft product. I think therein lies the problem. I’m giving it some time to return to the original crust per indications from CPK that it will change back. I’ll let everyone know if I find one that meets my own standards and may call Michelle at CPK again.
In the meantime if anyone finds something really good, please post.
Very interesting that DiGiorno is also a KRAFT product. I love the fact that Roger Ro included a link to photos, so I am doing to same. I took these photos in mid November; they were probably purchased a month or two before that because I used to buy 20 at a time when they went on sale. We have a big freezer, so I used to stock up. Not any more! These photos actually show two different pizzas; at the time I figured there’d been a problem on the production line, but I now realize this is their new recipe. This is Kraft’s idea of quality.
http://s657.photobucket.com/album
Sorry, I think my link wasn’t right. Here’s a link to just one photo, I hope!
http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Babzee60/LateNov010.jpg
Okay! I started a group on facebook. If you are facebookers, just do a search for “Bring Back Original Recipe California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza.” Please join! I also posted a comment on CPK’s facebook page, as others in this group have done. Let’s make a ruckus!
California thin crust frozen pizza was a great product.
Then they changed the crust from a very thin chewy recipe
to a thicker more crumlby kind – horrible.
Hi again all.. Just want to mention that I’ve been directly contacted by CPK and Kraft. Everyone should know that they do understand there is a problem with the CPK thin crust pizza. They indicated that there WAS a change to the pizza and they want to bring the pizza back to the same level it was before. It was a general conversation, so I don’t have details of what they will do or the timing. Seems a bit strange that a Rep from CPK doesn’t post directly here and on Facebook to fill us in. Anyway.. A little frozen pizza doesn’t really matter much in the scheme of things. I think they will be contacting me again, so will post more as I know it. Hope everyone has been able to contribute to the relief efforts for Haiti. Pizza’s aren’t so important.. Peace..
Michelle at CPK says Kraft will call me. They keep saying they will change back but I can get no real confirmation, i.e., when, how, etc. I know it’s a small thing but with OCD, I ate them almost every night after I had chemo for about two years. I agree about perspective, however. It’s just a diversion. Don’t forget the animals in Haiti also. There are relief efforts for animals as well.
Well, I am glad to find out that it is not me. A recent purchase was just plain BAD, so I chalked it up to a bad batch, but subsequent pizzas were worse, less cheese – tasteless crust -non existent sauce. This was my favorite pizza till last summer, but I guess I will have to find another.
Several of us at work are always laughing at how often we ate CPK thin crust frozen pizza at home – and today I mentioned that I wasn’t wasting any more money on this pizza in the future, as it was terrible to me – and everyone chimed in together that they agreed. I googled and found this and am glad to see we aren’t alone in our displeasure at the changes to our once fav pizza at home…..sorry – CPK pizzas won’t be in our freezer any longer….they ‘were’ so good too!
Alas, after all the furor, I think Kraft is keeping it status quo. There may be unwitting people who buy it without knowing it used to be good. The corporations and their profit motives seem to always win. I hope, however, it’s days are numbered or that it will change.
HELP! For years I have been buying CPK’s regular crust (NOT thin crust!) for Garlic Chicken — regular size (not individual & not the largest one either). I was buying it at Pak & Save which has been torn down. They are a low budget Safeway. So now that I have to go to a regular Safeway, they do not have this specific kind. Which grocery store in my area still carries it? My zip code is 94087 in Sunnyvale, CA. Please advise as soon as possible–as I am having a lot of company. Thank you.
I cannot seem to find the smaller size CPK pizza any longer. This was the size that was between the large size and the Pizza for One. I tried the Pizza for One thinking that it would be the same quality as the medium size pizza but it was pretty terrible. I also tried the large Five Cheese Thin Crust because I couldn’t find the thicker crust, and that too was terrible.
I am so disappointed because in my opinion, CPK frozen pizza was the best out there. I’m not going to waste my money any longer on their product…so sad.
Unfortunately ALL of the CPK frozen pizzas are terrible now. It’s a shame, that was the only brand I was loyal to until they changed (or should I say ‘cheapened’) their recipe. The one I have been buying lately is DiGiorno Crispy Flatbread Pizza – Italian Three Cheese, it’s quite good, not to mention that the sauce and cheese actually covers the entire pizza! What a concept! Too bad they still advertise their pizzas to look like they USED to look, not how they look now: http://frozen.cpk.com/CT-margherita.html
I look everytime I go to the grocery store to see if I can detect any changes in the crust but sadly no change that I can discern. I think Kraft/CPK was just waiting for the furor to die down. Maybe people who never got it when it was good are buying it but I notice that it is sitting on the shelves longer in the freezer section at my store. It is truly horrible now. I threw out four or five that I had in my freezer when I realized it was inedible now.
I agree. I loved the white pizza because there was no tomato, which can give me acid indigestion. I ate it for two years and lost 20 pounds on it. I have found no replacement and have regained weight! I’ve toyed with going to get take out from the CPK restaurant but am too furious at how they sold out a good product and made it the worst pizza ever.
There is still hope everyone.. I’m confident there will be a change.. when or what is questionable. They told me they were actually going to send me some pizzas after they change them. I will surely keep you all posted.. Come on CPK/Nabisco get with it!
That’s the best news I’ve heard yet. They called me once but nothing happened. You must be even more of a crusader than I am. If we get anywhere, it will be a great day for my diet!
I recently visited with the Nestle Pizza Team (formerly Kraft Pizza) and discussed all the comments posted here about the CPK pizza.
The good news: the team is very focused on product quality and pays close attention to consumer comments, including these! Sure enough, there was an equipment issue we were able to discern — and we’re working to make and test adjustments that will ensure consumers continue to enjoy their CPK pizzas. I would encourage all of you to keep the faith!
I refuse to buy in the meantime. Calorie count went from 270 to 300 when crust changed so I’ve been watching that. I don’t think it’s just the equipment. I’ve seen the same stamps on the bottom of the crust on other Kraft pizzas and they’re all terrible. Nothing like the original CPK thin crust.
My comments below are in reference to the recent post from the Nestle Spokesperson on May 18th. Let me understand something, an ‘equipment issue’ is to blame for the changes that all or most of us have experienced with CPK frozen pizzas??? One major change is the crust, it not only tastes different, the consistency is no longer thin and crispy. It is thicker and it falls apart after it bakes. I literally had 3 frozen pizzas crack and break in the oven back in Nov 2009 (post listed above). The other major differences are sauce and toppings, which used to cover the entire pizza all the way to the edge. Now it covers just enough in the center of the pizza and leaves a huge exposed crust about 2.5 to 3″ all the way around. So if you’re lucky enough to take a whole pizza out of the oven without breakage, you will have 1 or 2 bites with sauce and toppings, then it will be plain, terrible thicker crust from that point on. Faulty equipment is NOT to blame here. A complete change in recipe was done in order to save money, we’re not stupid. It’s happening to products everywhere, sad but true.
I absolutely agree. It’s the same crummy crust they use on everything and it tastes like a soggy cracker that breaks up. And I agree re the topping. Hardly anything on the pizza anymore. The whole thing is a travesty.
A bit sad that the one “official”(??)comment mentions “an equipment issue”… Then goes to mention “we’re working to make and test adjustments”… Although it almost reads as these adjustments are to the “equipment” it might not be so. Maybe they are making adjustments to the actual pizza… Will be interesting to see if they actually send me some pizza’s per the phone call I had with some reps… If they do.. they better be good! Stay tuned for the next episode of, “As the Pizza turns”…
I have spoken with CPK also several times and they’ve assured me also that they’re working with whoever bought the frozen pizza division to resurrect the original product. If anyone hears anything about a new version, please do let us know. I miss eating it almost every night!!
Why don’t they just make the crust CPK used to make? I don’t think it takes much investigation to figure out how to solve the problem. It may cut down on their profits if they have to make something edible.
I bought 2 CPK pizzas this weekend, a white and a garlic chicken, and was horribly disappointed. Almost inedible. Extremely dry, very few toppings, hard rather than crispy crust. My husband ate all of his and finished mine — there’s very little he won’t eat — but did ask me not to buy again. I paid the extra for CPK because the last time I bought them — admittedly years ago — they were spectacular. These were no better than Tony’s.
Yeah looks like they were “fibbing” to me when they said there will be changes back. It’s been 8 months CPK/NESTLE… Who on earth can be buying those crappy pizzas? I guess just first(and last)time buyers..
I just searched Nestle and CPK. Found this…
“By continuing to develop restaurant quality flavors available in your grocer’s freezer, CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN strives to bring you the best of our restaurant to your home. We know that you will discover from your first bite that this is truly a special recipe that you can only get from CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN. Enjoy!”
http://www.nestleusa.com/pubourbrands/BrandDetails.aspx?lbid=BB2CF2D9-1212-4AD3-B5CF-5B5890DA66D8
What an absolute JOKE!!! hahahahahahhahahaha
California Kitchen pizza Self Rising Crust BBQ Chicken is the best frozen pizza in the world and now all the Walmarts, Giants, Weis and everywhere does not sell it anymore. Is there any way to find where i can get some or if i can get some sent to a local store, order online or anything. Ill do anything to get some more of this pizza!!
I have also been extremely disappointed with the “new” California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas. I have been e-mailing back and forth with the company for the past couple of months, and they continuously assure me that the pizza I want (the self-rising crust five cheese and tomato (WITHOUT tomato sauce), the smaller size that is between the large ones and the mini ones) is still being manufactured. I have looked in every grocery store in 5 different towns in 2 different states (KS and TX) and have not been able to find it for close to a year now. It was the best frozen pizza I had ever had and I miss it dearly. I would buy 4 or 5 at a time when they were on sale at Target. I tried the larger, “new” version and it was awful; not much cheese and it had tomato sauce, which the old one didn’t. All the company keeps telling me to do is get a “request form” from my grocery store asking them to carry the product, but they can’t do that if it doesn’t exist anymore.
Brutal pizza. Can’t stand bald spots on a pizza and the California Pizza brand needs Minoxidil .99%. Really a big dissapointment. I’m sure some bean counter at Kraft, Nestle or General Mills or whoever makes this now thinks it’s great (premium price for Tortinos in a fancy box) Looks like cardboard with tiny cupcake sprinkles of cheese…yum…really hits the spot…unfortunatly not my spot. Hey, I’m not asking for a artery busting cheese extravaganza…just enough to make be feel OK about buying this piece of crap
Wow–I am not a frozen pizza fan, but was willing to give these pies a try because of the reputation of the CPK brand as well as a recent coupon issued by the maker.
After reading the posts here you can bet I won’t be wasting my money. It sounds like CPK has turned into every other awful frozen pizza made out there.
Such a shame!
What happened to the taste it had a few yrs ago?
and the crust sure has changed.I had been buying the chicken pizza for the past 2yrs and every time i bought one they just got worse. today is the last time i will ever buy cpk.. bye chk..a loyal consumer..
It was sold to Kraft then Nestle’s or something like that and has been horrible ever since it was sold.
Husband almost choked on a flexible piece of blue plastic found under the cheese of a Limited Edition Fire Roasted Vegetable and Five Cheese last night. Will never buy/eat CPK or Nestle again. Found out this morning that Nestle recalled almost 1 million Lean Cuisine in 2008 for the same reason! Also discovered that Nestle is now suing the SUPPLIER for the fiasco, so I am very confused and have a feeling the blue plastic had to have come from the Nestle facility in all cases. I called Nestle first thing this morning and they are merely sending a stamped envelope for me to send the plastic to their testing lab and they also want the bar codes from the package. Oh and they are also sending along a check for $25 for our “troubles” since I would not accept their offer of three free pizza coupons. I don’t think any amount of money will get me to eat their products again. I hope they are forced to recall as I would hate to think this would happen to someone else not as fortunate as we were.
They sent me a coupon after I told them I’d never buy another pizza from them–so what good is the coupon?
I am still so frustrated about this whole situation! I though I would forget about it in time but I still crave my 5 cheese and tomato CPK pizzas (the OLD ones) from time to time. I have told everybody I know about how awful the pizzas are now and have persuaded many not to purchase them. I used to rave about how tasty they were, so I know I am making a difference (if a slight one) in their profits (I have friends all over the country). What makes me the most upset, however, is how I (and other people, judging by all these comments) have been treated when complaining directly to CPK, Kraft, etc. These big companies must take us for fools. When I first complained, I was told that the recipe had NOT changed and that I should contact my local grocery stores to find out why they were not selling the size of the pizza I wanted (the one in-between the Pizza for One and Large sizes). Then we are told it’s an equipment problem. The 5 cheese and tomato used to not have pizza sauce on it; that’s how I liked it. It now has marinara sauce (and says so on the box), which is not how it used to be–and they tell me that it is because of an equipment problem? Yet it is listed as an ingredient on the box? Yeah right. I will continue to tell people not to buy this product until they stop lying and change their product back.
I still miss the white pizza with spinach. I try to buy directly from the restaurant now occasionally but it’s not as good as the frozen one USED to be. I have gotten the same runaround. I think they still sell to one-time buyers. I can’t believe anyone would ever buy a second one. There is no regard for the consumer at all.
Susan, I agree. I do enjoy the restaurant, but the 5 cheese and tomato there is definitely different from the frozen one that I used to get, so I don’t even like to compare them as the same pizza. It is also much more expensive (also have to include tip and a beverage, as I like to get the hand-made lemonades there), and I can’t afford to eat out that frequently. The frozen pizza was within my price range, and the leftovers heated up fairly decently for frozen pizza, so even the in-between size that I used to get could make 2 meals for me. I am not sure how else to make myself heard; I have sent multiple e-mails to the point where the California Pizza Kitchen reps merely stopped responding to me because, seemingly, they knew I was on to them (the last e-mail I got said that they were still manufacturing my pizza and the 8+ grocery stores I tried in 3 different states simply must not carry the product I want).
I can’t pay the CPK restaurant regularly either. I’m the one on this site who actually ate the same pizza (a whole one!) almost every night for two years. I was horrified when it changed. CPK even called me once from CA claiming they were bringing the old crust back. I don’t know what their connection is with Nestle’s/Kraft (whichever is owner now) but I would think they wouldn’t want their name on this product.
When they were on sale, I would buy up to 5 at a time (that’s the most that would fit in my freezer, haha). I ate on average 2 a week I’d say. I still haven’t found a replacement. I’m on hold with Nestle right now (they transfered me to the beverage department…ummmm?) to see if they will tell me anything at all.
I had to throw about 10 boxes out.
I hear you! We threw out the last 4 that we purchased, after cooking them all individually and trying different tactics (and even different ovens until we finally realized it was just the pizza). Just got off the phone with a CPK Nestle rep who listened to everything I said and seemed to take mer seriously, but I know one single voice doesn’t go far when it comes to big business.
When I accepted the $25 consolation check instead of the free pizza coupons, I almost detected an attitude change in the Nestle CSR’s voice – as if I was just after the money all along. That was pretty disappointing, as she seemed apologetic and understanding up until that moment. I felt “cheap” for accepting the offer, when I was just trying to alert them of a potentially life-threatening problem with one of their products.
Are there any other websites that anyone is aware of where I can post to show my dissatisfaction?
CPK has a facebook page
I’ve posted on their facebook page twice but have yet to receive a response.
I’m not very computer savvy. Is there a way to do a blog that anyone would read that would warn people about the pizzas?
Only if you had a blog that people already read, haha.
I have to say that we really appreciate your passion about CPK frozen pizza! And we’re SO sorry that the folks on this page have not had enjoyable experiences with some of their CPK pizza purchases. At Nestle Pizza, our customer is always our top priority and we really want to create products that you will buy, love and recommend to your friends and family. Please know that we DO take all of your consumer feedback very seriously and are continuously working to improve and innovate our products to make them better. The most direct way to contact us with a comment, concern or if you have a question is to call our CPK consumer hotline at 888-749-9201. Our representatives there will do their best to answer your questions or resolve any issue you may have. They also continuously pass your feedback to our brand, quality and manufacturing teams so that we can improve product quality in real time. That’s because we’re pizza lovers, too, and we want to make pizzas that we’re proud to buy and serve to our own families.
Again, apologies to all who have not been happy with their CPK purchases. Please do reach out to our consumer hotline. For those of you who mentioned that you are looking for a CPK pizza with a different kind of crust, I would hope that you might give our new crust a try. CPK recently launched several varieties of Original Restaurant Style Crust pizza. This crust type most closely resembles the most popular crust type sold at CPK restaurants.
Once again, I hope you know that we really do appreciate all your feedback. Our aim is to continually improve our products with the hope that we will delight you the next time you try CPK.
I suggested to someone from the company who called me from California that the box should say “original crust” if we could ever get it back; unfortunately, I haven’t seen it in any of the grocery stores in Houston. I will keep my eyes open because I would buy it all the time again if it’s as good as before. As it stands now, if I want anything close to the “original” frozen pizza, I have to order from the restaurant and it’s three times as much money as the frozen pizza to get a thin crust pizza and it’s not as good as the frozen used to be!
Hi Susan: The new Original Restaurant Style Crust variety does have those exact words on the box. It literally just launched, so it should be hitting freezer cases in Houston very soon. Again, we really do appreciate your willingness to give CPK another try. Thanks again!
I will definitely be on the lookout. I hope they are still making the white pizza with the spinach and no tomato sauce.
Hi Deborah, I also hope you will make the 5 cheese and tomato with no tomato sauce again! I used to buy tooons of it. I’m glad you were able to find this site, I mentioned it to the representative I spoke with on the phone last week.
We just got the original crust BBQ chicken back in pa at the stores and I am very disappointed. Not even half as good as the rising crust pizza and the BBQ flavor wasnt near as good either. What happened?
I don’t understand why thin crust can’t just be made the way it was when CPK owned the company. How hard would it be to get that recipe and use it?
So, I’m the one who called in about my husband choking on a piece of blue plastic that was in his limited edition CPK pizza. It’s been well over a week and we still have not received the envelope from Nestle so we can send the plastic into their lab. They said they take these claims “very seriously” – you would think they would have had an envelope at my door the NEXT DAY. This is ridiculous. If someone gets killed or hurt because of this – they are going to have a huge mess on their hands. They seem to be all over the complaints on this board – trying to keep customers. Let’s worry about whether they wll be able to get air into their lungs after taking a bite. Come on Nestle.
Hey all you pizza lovers. I haven’t tried CPK thin crust pizzas lately.. Likely never will again… but wanted to let everyone who loved the old CPK thin crust that Safeway Select puts out a pretty good pizza. I had the Primo Italiano Meat – Ultra Thin Crust pizza and really enjoyed it. Give it a try if you are missing a good thin crust pizza. I saw the Vons/Safeway ad today and it is at $2.99 and reminded me to post here.. Enjoy.. Roger:)
I am willing to try anything. I got the one that says it’s the new original restaurant style crust but I don’t know why we can’t get the original frozen thin crust back.
Still upset about this. Nestle, listen to your loyal customers!
CPK just made a facebook post about their frozen pizzas. I suggest everyone go and share their feelings on the matter in a comment on the post.
http://www.facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen
i went to that like but i couldnt find any way to make a post on their wall. There isnt any button or anything.
The “Like” button is on this site, and when you CLICK on it – all your Facebook friends learn that you like this product (or not).
I was happy to find this site and all of you to commiserate with. Like many of you I would stock up and have a pizza margarita (regular crust) every week. The quality of the ingredients is now terrible. I observed the new cheese puffing up in my oven – it doesn’t melt – it looks like plastic. The crust is cardboard. Yuck! Stupid Kraft managers – focused so hard on margins they forgot the product. Dumb CPK brand management. Idiots.
This is the worst pizza we’ve ever had. Tried all the different kinds on the shelf, just to be sure. The crust is hard as a rock, the toppings are flavorless and lacking in number. Very disappointed. I can’t believe this company is still selling frozen pizza.
Hi Heather, I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with our CPK frozen pizza products. We take all complaints very seriously and would invite you to call our CPK hotline at 1-888-749-9201, Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm EST. Our representatives will do their very best to answer any questions you have and will take down all your comments to pass along the information to our brand, quality and manufacturing teams so that we can continuously improve quality. We appreciate your feedback!
I just don’t understand why we can’t get the thin crust back that was on the pizza when owned by CPK. It’s been nothing but horrid ever since it was sold.
You’d think after spending $3.7 billion on pizza that they’d listen to the consumer. Or better yet, have a taste test!!! HA
I just hate that it used to be SO good! I miss it so!
Hi Pizza lovers.. I tried Newman’s Own, Thin & Crispy Pizza today and it was great. I had the uncured pepperoni. From the box it looks like they have eight varieties. I bought it on sale for about $4.60. I really enjoyed it. Give it a try if you can find it at a good price. I haven’t purchased a CPK pizza for so long now.. Used to buy them 10 at a time.. now have absolutely NO interest in ever buying a CPK pizza again.. that includes at their restaurants. What a failure of a Brand.. Roger:)
I tried it also and thought it was pretty good. I wish they’d make the white pizza that I used to love that CPK made. I tried the “original restaurant crust” recipe and it’s still not the same as the original CPK thin crust pizza. That was the end of an era. I definitely agree that I will never buy a CPK pizza again unless the old ones come back (which seems unlikely based on the response to our compliants).
I was so happy to find this thread because I KNEW there had to be others out there that had experienced this frustrating change in crust/sauce/ingredients! Kraft nestle people, BOTTOM LINE, WE WANT OUR OLD PIZZA BACK! Management- go back to the beginning, Get the recipe the way it was, the equipment the way it was- even if this cost your product money in the beginning, you will make it up in revenue! My whole family used to stock the product in our freezers, but have not purchased a single one since we discovered the horrible change and dissaperance of the small self rise crust pizzas. Please please please, just bring it back, you have it in your power. the power to make a lot of money and make a lot of people happy in the mean time!
Damn. I had heard such good things about this pizza that I bought one today for the first time. After reading these postings I don’t hold out much hope. Will have to post again after we cook it.
I have never had CPK pizza but you always hear how good it is. I have coupons that you can use on the pizza with an appetizer, I was excited when our local grocery store put CPK pizza on sale and they did not have the pizza with the appetizer even though it was pictured in the ad. I checked the other stores in my city and they did not have them either. I was trying to find a website that told me which stores have them in my area. (Springfield, MO). Thanks
Finally had my pizza, got the classic pepperoni. It was horrible. Skimpy toppings, barely any sauce, tomatoes tastes kinda bitter.. now I know not to purchase that brand again.
I’ve noticed they’ve changed the box again (and appear to have changed the ingredients again in the cheese pizza). Has anybody tried it lately? I’m scared to, I don’t have $7 to blow on a crappy pizza, but I just keep hoping they’ll make it good again.
Haha.. I don’t want to waste my money either. I saw it on sale for $4 something and didn’t even give it a second thought. “CPK… never again” is my motto.. I’m enjoying Paul Newman’s on occasion and Trader Joes has a great Feta and Kalamata olive small sized pizza..
They made an original restaurant crust pizza that is still not like the old frozen thin crust. I personally don’t like it.