Demand up for unique, high-quality pizza ingredients, says U.S. report

Chicago – Pizza consumption in the United States is trending at its highest level in four years and showing growth for pizza-focused concepts, according to a report from research firm Technomic.

To maintain this momentum and stay ahead in the competitive pizza space, operators must innovate and adapt to consumers’ evolving demands for unique, high-quality and better-for-you pizza ingredients and add-ons, Technomic said in a news release.

“Today’s consumers are less beholden to their standard pizza orders, as emerging players push the envelope of what’s expected on a pizza menu,” explains Deanna Jordan, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “New chef-designed specialty pizzas positioned as customizable thought-starters will serve to convey kitchen skills and allow for the personalization these consumers increasingly expect.”

Among the reports key points were the following:

• Pizza consumption is trending up; consumers average 4.0 pizza occasions per month, up from 3.4 in 2014.
• Unique toppings are increasingly key; 39 per cent of consumers, up from 32 per cent two years ago, say that new and innovative toppings are highly important in creating a good pizza.
• More consumers are demanding transparency in the pizza occasion; 32 per cent of consumers, up from 25 per cent in 2014, say it’s important to know the nutritional content of the pizza they eat.