Fact Check

Is Domino's Pizza Paving Roads?

A new funding initiative by the restaurant chain caused surprise and skepticism in mid-2018.

Published June 14, 2018

 (Courtesy of Domino's Pizza)
Image Via Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
Claim:
In mid-2018, Domino's Pizza began giving cities and towns grants for street repairs.

In the summer of 2018, readers expressed surprise and skepticism at widely-shared social media posts which suggested that Domino's — a company that makes pizza — had begun a project to pave over cracks and potholes on roads in the United States.

On 12 June, Twitter user @GothicKingCobra posted a photo of what appeared to be fresh asphalt covering cracks in a pavement, with the Domino's logo and the words "Oh yes we did" stenciled on top of it. The post read:

The tweet was later re-posted on Facebook. The photograph was earlier shared on Reddit by a user based in Delaware, but originally appeared in a CBS Philadelphia article on 11 June 2018.

The image is authentic and was taken in Milford, Delaware. The Domino's paving project is real. In a press release on 11 June, the company wrote:

Domino's is saving pizza, one pothole at a time. Cracks, bumps, potholes and other road conditions can put good pizzas at risk after they leave the store. Now Domino's is hoping to help smooth the ride home by asking customers to nominate their town for pothole repairs at pavingforpizza.com.

Four cities and towns have already reached agreements with Domino's to receive funding for the roadworks: Burbank, California; Bartonville, Texas; Athens, Georgia; and Milford, Delaware.  According to the company, the project has already filled forty potholes in Milford:



Sources

CBS Philadelphia.  "Domino's Pizza Repaves Potholes in Milford, Delaware."   CBS Philadelphia.  11 June 2018.

Domino's Pizza.  "Press Release -- Don't Let Bad Potholes Ruin Good Pizza! Domino's Starts Paving for Pizza."   Domino's Pizza/PR Newswire.  11 June 2018. 

Dan Mac Guill is a former writer for Snopes.