Saturation nears, the shakeout begins and national leaders emerge
Two years ago, it seemed that everyone and his brother had started or was planning to debut a fast-casual pizza concept.
The build-your-own pizza format of individual pies quickly cooked in high-temperature ovens had become one of the hottest niches within the restaurant industry, with a multitude of players vying to become “the Chipotle Mexican Grill of pizza.”
But roughly eight years after the first fast-casual pizza brands emerged, the frenzy of new launches has slowed to a trickle and the niche is showing signs of saturation. A handful of chains have emerged as clear leaders, gaining strength and battling for market share, while others close restaurants, rebrand or disappear.
Those on the field say it’s just the natural order playing ou...
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