Pizza
Today, the leading magazine for pizzeria owners and operators, released its
annual State of the Pizzeria Industry Report, which provides pizza
professionals with a deep dive report of pizzeria insights, issues, and trends
for 2023. Pizza Today surveyed 750 pizzeria owners from all 50 states to
comprehensively understand the pizza industry.
Pizza is
King
The report states that “pizza as a percentage of food sales
is 80% higher in nearly half of the pizzerias (48.6%).” Salads are the second
most-offered menu item next to pizza, with 86.8%.
In addition, the pizzeria industry continues to thrive. It
is expected to increase by another $42.2 million in the next two years. This
increase in sales can be attributed to factors such as the growing popularity
of plant-based toppings and pizza being a convenient and popular food item for
many people, especially here in America.
Trends
Regarding popular pizza styles and what’s trending on that
spectrum, New York-style pizza will always remain the most popular pizza style,
and Chicago thin or thin-crusted pizzas. The report mentioned keeping a lookout
for these three pizza styles: Detroit, Deep Dish, and Sicilian.
As always, technology plays a vital role in the pizza
industry. Online ordering and delivery play an essential role in pizzerias. The
same applies to point-of-sale (POS) systems and kitchen automation. Robots have
already been installed in restaurants like The Slice Factory in the Chicago
area.” PizzaHQ in New Jersey has a one-store operation with human pizza makes
working alongside an automated pizza station from Picnic.”1
Lastly,
pizza vending machines like PizzaForno, are taking a different approach and are
positioning automated pizzerias in areas like college campuses and hospitals.
According to the report, this trend will accelerate in the coming years.
Independents
remain strong
During the height of COVID-19, the survey found that the top
three concept segments include Casual Dining, Fast Casual, Build-to-Order and
Carryout/Delivery. The market segments up to 89% of the independent pizzeria
market.
In 2022, independent pizzerias had an overall 10.24%
increase in sales while chains saw a slight drop in 1.5% of their sales,
according to CHD Expert.
Independents
began to add more units compared to chains during 2020-2022, resulting in over
4,000 more independent pizzerias compared to over 200 new chain pizza
restaurants. Among the independent operation respondents surveyed, 27% operated
two to nine units, and 73% operated a single unit.
Let’s Talk
What are your thoughts on these pizzeria forecasts and predictions?
Thinking about opening a pizzeria and don’t know where to start? Contact us.
Goliath Consulting Group is a restaurant consultancy group
based in Atlanta, Georgia. To learn more about menu development, digital
training, and restaurant operations, contact us to find out more to help grow
your restaurant: http://www.goliathconsulting.com
or email us at getresults@goliathconsulting.com
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