Both culturally andcommercially, no bang out of food is more associated withdeliverythan pizza.
This characteristic put fast-food pizza chains in a unique position during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, that was then.
Pizza Hut / Facebook
Domino’s, for example, experienced its most difficult sales year in over a decade in 2022.
“We expect the economy to be a headwind for our delivery business in 2023.”
We’re building on all that.
Shutterstock
We’re just now stabilized and in a normalized growth pattern."
This year feels like a big one for the fast-food pizza industry.
The economy is as unpredictable as ever, new technologies are emerging, and consumer behaviors are changing.
Courtesy of Domino’s
Let’s take a look at five big changes you’ll see at pizza chains this year.
Collaborating with third-party delivery services has helped many lighten the workload for the employees they do have.
Brands CFO Chris Turner.
Pizza Hut / Facebook
Domino’s posted over $4.5 billion in revenue for 2022and that was a down year.
Unlike pretty much all of its major competitors, Domino’s refuses to embrace third-party delivery domestically.
For now, CEO Russell Weiner says the pizza chain is focused on smoothing out internal operations.
Courtesy of Pizza Hut
“And we’re not going to think about going into anything unless we’re our best Domino’s.
Right now we’re focusing on making ourselves a better Domino’s.”
Meanwhile, the brand is investing heavily in its own delivery services.
rafapress / Shutterstock
So, as a brand, we launched a fleet of more than 800 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles."
“Pizza is a cost-effective way to feed a family of four,” Yum!
CFO Chris Turner toldRestaurant Business.
“But you’re getting the same amount if you’re a family of one.”
Enter the ‘party of one’Meltsintroduced late last year.
For families, Pizza Hut also recently announced the return of its XLBig New Yorker Pizza.
Domino’s recently made an interesting menu move.
Not to be outdone in the value category, Papa Johns also debuted a similar concept late last year.
DubbedPapa Pairings, customers can choose two or more items for $6.99 each.
Menu items featured in Papa Pairings include garlic knots, cheese sticks, wings, and medium one-topping pizzas.
Papa John’s alsointroducedthe unique Crispy Parm Pizza earlier this year.
In the mood for grilled sirloin instead?
Pizza Hut justannouncedthe addition of grilled sirloin steak strips to its menu.
For a limited time, customers can order a Cheesesteak Pizza or a Cheesesteak Melt.
More and more brands are adopting the latest technologies with an eye toward improved efficiencies and more satisfied customers.
Domino’s justannounceda new Apple CarPlay app that allows hungry customers to order pizza directly from their cars!
