Manalapan Pizzeria Worker Attempts Box-Folding World Record

MANALAPAN, NJ - When Rutgers University graduate Randy DeGregorio started working at Mezza Luna Pizzeria & Restaurant in 2015, he never imagined the gig would land him a chance to beat a world record.

But after five years on the job, the 22-year-old Manalapan resident believes he can fold more pizza boxes in a minute than anyone else on the planet. He told Patch that his daily task of folding pizza boxes before closing the shop each night helped train him for a chance at getting his name printed in the next Guinness Book of World Records.

“When it's slow, the drivers and I like to race each other for fun. Overtime, I started noticing that I was a good amount faster than everyone else because I've done so many boxes over the years,” DeGregorio said.

During quarantine, he found himself Googling the world record for the most pizza boxes folded in one minute. DeGregorio was certain that his years of experience in the pizza biz could beat out any champion.

The current record is held by Vanoni Alessandro of Italy, who folded 14 pizza boxes in one minute last year.

“I found [the record] and saw it was only 14 and I immediately knew that I could beat that and it was something that we could make happen,” the Manalapan resident said. “I was always interested in crazy records and stuff so I knew I had to break it and get my certificate. I had this idea around early April so this took a while for everything to fall into place but it finally was able to happen.”

On Oct. 13, DeGregorio finally attempted the feat.

To abide by Guinness World Record regulations, the prospective record-beater needed multiple camera angles including a slow motion video and a regular-speed version.

“We also had someone follow me down the line and we used the security camera footage just for extra footage to send in,” DeGregorio said. “In my mind, the more evidence the better.”

With officers from the Manalapan Township Police Department serving as witnesses and timekeepers, DeGregorio clocked in 18 boxes in one minute.

Guinness judges are now set to review the video and statements from witnesses. DeGregorio expects to hear from officials within three weeks, although it may take longer due to the ongoing pandemic.

“My boss told me that because of the record, he's going to add a pizza to the menu consisting of whatever ingredients I want and call it 'the Randy,'” DeGregorio said. “So I'll probably celebrate by getting one of them and enjoying a nice Fruit Punch Snapple with it.”

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