CPK will give away up to 25,000 free pizzas between October 1 and October 31, 2026, as the casual-dining chain tries to make peace with guests who have lobbied for years to bring back discontinued pies such as Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Shrimp Scampi and Pear and Gorgonzola.

What does the "Apology Pizza" actually cover?

The promotion requires guests to comment "Apology Accepted" on CPK's Instagram (@cpk), TikTok (@calpizzakitchen) or Facebook (@cpk) feeds. CPK replies with a direct message and redemption code, good for one free 7-inch pie with any $20 online purchase on cpk.com or the CPK app. Up to 25,000 codes are available while supplies last; redemption runs through November 10.

Eligible varieties:

• The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza
• Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage
• Pepperoni
• Margherita
• Wild Mushroom
• Hawaiian

Excluded from the qualifying ticket: tax, gratuity, delivery fee and alcohol.

How does the economics work?

Each free pie is conditioned on a minimum net online purchase of $20. That structure lets CPK cap its food cost on the giveaway while pulling order volume onto the CPK app and cpk.com — the only redemption channels — during a National Pizza Month in which many casual-dining operators are pushing digital attachments to lift average check.

Who decides the 2027 comeback pizza?

CPK executives will monitor social channels through October to identify the most-requested discontinued pie. That winner returns to menus in 2027.

"We'll be listening even more closely this month," said Dawn Keller, Chief Marketing Officer at CPK. "We invite all guests to speak up through comments or their own posts — your voice could decide the destiny of CPK pizza fans nationwide."

What is the marketing hook?

The brand is leaning into humor. CPK has hired a "Chief Forgiveness Officer" to record a video apology message posted to social channels.

"We take full responsibility for the unforgettable pizzas that fans have loved and lost," said Chef Paul Pszybylski, Vice President of Culinary Innovation at California Pizza Kitchen. "But this National Pizza Month, we're making it right — with 25,000 free pizzas now, one returning pizza next year, and zero regrets about how seriously we're taking this. So yeah, we're sorry, but also you're welcome."

The promotion is valid at participating CPK locations only. CPK did not disclose the per-unit food cost of a 7-inch pizza or the campaign's marketing spend.

If the social vote produces a clear winner, expect CPK to position the 2027 relaunch as a return-to-menu test case for its broader pizza lineup.