Pizza boxes have been known to advertise movies, TV shows and athletic competitions. But this time, employees at a pizza shop in Georgia got something particularly unique.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has recently confirmed a marketing campaign involving graphic pizza boxes encouraging those interested to join the Border Patrol with a QR code linking to their careers page — but some small businesses receiving the boxes aren’t exactly on board with it.
One such operation is Mojo Pizza N’Pub in Decatur, Georgia, just north of Atlanta.
Why did Border Patrol advertise with pizza boxes?
CBP issued a statement last week saying they work with the MarCom Group in Virginia to support their marketing and advertising efforts. As part of their recent recruitment efforts, MarCom initiated a campaign in Atlanta to coincide with the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, an annual week-long event that includes trade shows, workshops and seminars related to career and technical education. The campaign included advertising at the airport and on said pizza boxes.
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Where are the Border Patrol’s pizza boxes?
We are awaiting word back from MarCom Group as to how many pizzerias received these boxes, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has so far confirmed that Mojo Pizza N’Pub is one of the restaurants that have received them.
What happened?
The restaurant’s prep cook, Chad Dumas, said he got a call offering pizza boxes for free without realizing what they would be promoting. When 100 of these boxes showed up, the staff was not pleased.
“I don’t want it in my restaurant that I work for,” Dumas said. “I live in one of the most liberal cities in Atlanta… I don’t want that to go out. It’s propaganda.”
The staff reportedly burned all but a few boxes at an employee’s nearby home.
If you know of a restaurant that received these boxes, contact Miguel Legoas by emailing him at mlegoas@gannett.com. You can also direct message him on Instagram @miguelegoas.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Border Patrol’s pizza box ads spark backlash at local restaurant
