Sponsored by Tyson Foodservice
For people who crave their favorite food and want something new at the same time, pizza is the ticket. With a variety of toppings that can provide endless combinations, pizza offers a familiar meal and an adventure in eating, all on the same slice. Operators that develop innovative pies that satisfy a variety of customers can grow their business with increased check averages and repeat visits.
The right toppings are a crucial element in any pizza program. According to Datassential’s 2024 Pizza Keynote Report, indulgent toppings are a mega trend right now in pizza, and consumers want delicious pies that are inspired by global flavors and regional specialties. Also, the report found that more than a third of consumers say the toppings are what make a truly great pizza.
While innovative toppings can drive new traffic, operators are five times more likely to focus on classic pizza toppings than on-trend toppings and flavors, according to Datassential, in its January 2024 Pro Pizza Report. Meat-focused pizzas are especially on-trend right now. According to the April 2023 Datassential Menu Trends Report, cupped pepperoni has experienced 440% growth in menu penetration in the last four years.
Deluxe combinations
Operators can grow their pizza business by offering fan-favorite toppings and innovative, crave-worthy meat toppings. One way to drive sales is to introduce bold, new pizzas as LTOs that feature proteins that consumers want. For example, to meet demand for exciting new flavors, try barbacoa, the spicy, smoky, sweet marinade used in Mexican cuisine, or chorizo, a flavorful alternative to other pork toppings.
Sweet and spicy flavors are also popular. Hot honey, which Technomic indicated is up 393% on menus over the last four years, pairs well with pepperoni. Pizza is the perfect canvas for bold flavors, and the crust and cheese can provide contrast to spicy and tangy flavors. Comfort foods are also popular, as consumers are ordering nostalgic menu items that remind them of other times and people.
Proven proteins
The challenge for operators is to serve these on-trend items in a way that does not increase food or labor costs. One way to do this is to use pre-made, par-cooked, or fully cooked products that require less skill, provide consistent quality, and help reduce waste.
Tyson Foodservice offers a portfolio of premium brands to support operators that serve pizza. Here are some menu ideas for innovative pizzas that feature several of these proteins:
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza features a ranch garlic cream sauce, Tyson® Mini Fully Cooked Lightly Breaded Whole Muscle Chicken Bites, and Hillshire Farm® Bakin' Bacon™ Heat-N-Serve Pizza Topping, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and chives.
• French Onion Pizza is made with a creamy roasted beef sauce, Steak-EZE® Redi Steak® Fully Cooked Seasoned Sliced Steak, a blend of Swiss and mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, and sprinkled with French fried onions.
• Chorizo Con Papas Pizza includes a spicy Mexican pizza sauce, Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Pork Chorizo Crumbles, Chihuahua cheese, crispy seasoned potato sticks, red onions, cilantro, and drizzled with a spicy crema.
• Chicken Shawarma Pizza is topped with Original Philly® Fully Cooked Sliced Chicken, with Shawarma seasoning, garlic cream sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, red onions, finished with fresh parsley and Lebanese-style pink pickles.
• Bee Sting Pizza has pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, crispy Hillshire Farm® Cupping Pepperoni and spicy jalapeño, drizzled with hot Calabrian chili honey.
• Barbacoa Pizza consists of a spicy Mexican pizza sauce, Steak-EZE® Redi Steak® Fully Cooked Seasoned Sliced Steak, Chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, and drizzled with salsa verde.
Menuing these innovative pizzas can help boost check averages because they inspire consumers to order more than a plain or one-topping pizza. By using the featured products with a heat-and-serve format, proteins are easier to prepare, which saves back-of-house time and labor costs, and helps reduce the food safety concerns of raw proteins. Their versatility makes them perfect for other menu items, such as calzones, sandwiches, and salad toppings, which can help operators save on food costs. The products offer significant flexibility and can be reheated in pizza ovens and other retherm methods.
For more information on how Tyson Foodservice can help elevate your pizza menu, visit www.tysonfoodservice.com/solutions/pizza to view the new Pizza Inspiration Guide.
*Minimally processed. No artificial ingredients.
