Pizza has been around for centuries. Its long history—hailing from Italy, bringing people together from around the world, and then becoming its own uniquely American dish—says something about its versatility and staying power.
Ninety-one percent of consumers love or like pizza, per Datassential, and we’re honestly surprised that number isn’t higher.
The key to perfecting your pizza? Uniqueness. Just having pizza on the menu (as one-third of all restaurants do*) isn’t enough to tempt consumers. To make it truly great, you need unique flavor combinations. Think beyond traditional red sauce and mozzarella.
Ethnic Fusion Flare
“Pizza can be a blank canvas for a wide range of non-Mediterranean cuisines,” a Datassential MenuTrends pizza keynote states.
Newer, trending flavors favor ethnic fusion—like Thai, Korean, and Latin American cuisine through pizza. Sriracha swirled atop a dusting of cheese could be the kick your pizza is looking for.
Thirty-five percent of consumers love or like sriracha; this spicy sauce has grown in menus 169.9 percent over a four year period. Or what about a Thai peanut sauce pizza? Asian flavors, like cabbage and toppings you’d normally find inside an eggroll, are all on the table to be included in your perfect, unique pizza.
Great Crust or Bust
Datassential says 46 percent of consumers cite a great crust as what really makes the pizza. Beyond the quality of the dough, its thickness, and whether or not you go the stuffed-crust route—even what you season the crust with can count. Consider sprinkling a little parmesan or red pepper flakes into the crust.
Different ingredients that go beyond traditional flour are trending as well; could you perfect the cauliflower crust? Venture into ancient grain crusts with something like spelt? Whatever you use for your pizza base, make sure it’s noteworthy.
Don't Discount the Pepperoni
Consumers “overwhelmingly prefer” pepperoni pizza over all other varieties, per Datassential. Never fear; pepperoni can be exciting. It may just take a little out-of-the-(pizza)-box thinking.
Traditional circular pepperoni can be swapped out for cubed varieties or mixed with chorizo and other meats for a Southwestern flare. Even pairing pepperonis with fried eggs could be a simple way to make your pizza the ideal option for breakfast for dinner.
Your Sourcing Solution
Pizzas sound simple enough, but to really make your mark, sampling a variety of ingredients can help. From sauces to toppings and everything in between, Dot Foods can help you find samples to make your pizza truly shine.
Stock up on everything for perfect pizzas on our website.