Top Facts about the Pizza Industry in the U.S.

Did you know that according to recent statistics Americans enjoy about 46 slices of pizza on a yearly basis?

If we count by the pie, the number of pizzas Americans eat per year is 3 billion! On an individual level, that’s about 40 pizzas a year for the average American. Over a lifetime, the average American will eat 6,000 slices of pizza.

Needless to say, this means there's a lot of money in the pizza industry. If we go by the numbers, that amounts to Americans spending roughly $38 billion on pizza every year.

How do Americans prefer to order Pizza?

The answer to this question provides some interesting ramifications.

With the rise of modern technology and smartphones, ordering pizza online has become quite the trend. Because of this, it’s been easier for the big pizza chains to cater to their consumers. Ordering online or through an app is convenient and chain stores can easily afford to include these options.

Not only that but making subsequent orders becomes a breeze when you do it online. An app can save your personal information and preferences and every following order is easy to do. It’s also simple to make offers and special deals to your customers once you have their consumer data.

PMQ Pizza Magazine reports that the big pizza chains make 60% of the revenue, i.e., $26 billion.

Who eats more Pizza: Men or Women?

We may often associate eating pizza with things like men watching sports - meaning a big event, like the Super Bowl game.

But, it turns out that women are the bigger pizza fans. In fact, they make up 63% of the people who are “pizza lovers.” To be more specific, it’s younger women with regular fitness habits that are more likely looking to buy pizza.

And with healthier lifestyles come unique pizza choices. People who work out often tend to be pickier when it comes to food. As a result, they like to order pizzas that are custom-made. This usually means yummy taste and ingredients.

In addition, more people are environmentally aware so they like to order pizzas from stores that adhere to such standards. Pizza Hut has started using packaging that is non-harmful to the environment.

What about Independent Pizzerias?

The big chain stores get a bigger part of the revenue when it comes to the overall pizza sales. Part of the reason is that it’s more expensive for small chains to set up services like online ordering and apps. And that’s where third-party delivery options come into play.

Luckily for local pizzerias and small chains, there are services like Slice that help with online ordering. With Slice, for example, people can make an online order or use the Slice App to find pizzerias nearby. From there, they can easily make an order and therefore support local shops.

Predictions for the Pizza Industry in the U.S.

How is the future looking for businesses in the pizza industry?

Well, FoodTruckEmpire offers a short list of predictions for the pizza industry:

• The importance of online marketing - Not only do people like to order online but they also leave reviews about the stores they buy from. Positive reviews mean a lot and lead to bigger profits. What’s also desired is a quality social media presence.

• A broader menu for more sales - Aside from offering pizza, pizzerias that include food like sandwiches and wings are expected to have better sales.

• For small pizzerias, being able to adapt is key - Unfortunately, small local businesses that pay big monthly rents and rely on liquor sales face the risk of closing permanently.