There’s been a seismic shift in the foodservice industry over the last decade or so, particularly with regard to pizza. With the rise of chefs’ gourmet pizzas, monthly boxes from chains, and vegan/keto/gluten-free options, the pizza industry is in the midst of a revolution.
To ensure you’re staying up-to-date with all the latest pizza trends, this guide contains a rundown of the top 10 things you should consider when looking at the pizza industry. From customer preferences to food safety alterations, the landscape of the pizza business is a constantly evolving one – so let’s take a look and find out what you should be aware of.
1.Offer Healthier Options
The health craze is here to stay, and pizza hasn’t been immune to its reach. Customers now want to feel better about the food they’re eating, and that includes their pizza. This has led to a rise in vegan, keto, low-carb, and gluten-free pizza options, and these options are becoming more and more popular.
To capitalize on this trend, make sure your pizzeria is offering healthier alternatives for customers who are conscious of their diets. That doesn’t mean you need to create a completely separate menu of gluten-free options – just be sure to list available alternatives on some of your pizzas, such as whole wheat crusts or vegan cheese.
2.Embrace New Menu Items
Another aspect of the health trend is that customers are also increasingly keen to try new and exciting items on menus. This trend isn’t just limited to pizza places–many restaurants and cafes are introducing international flavors and unique dishes to entice customers and stand out from the competition.
When it comes to pizza specifically, why not shake up the menu and introduce a creative Italian pizza with a twist? You could incorporate some bright and intense colors and flavors, or perhaps experiment with unique toppings for a one-of-a-kind dish. Such items help differentiate and strengthen your brand.
3.Experiment With Flavors
The good news is that pizza has become such an embedded part of the foodservice landscape that customers are far more willing to try new flavor combinations. With that in mind, why not introduce some wild flavors onto your menu and see how they fare?
Think about combining flavors that you wouldn’t necessarily find on traditional pizzas. Try a sweet and sour combination of pineapple and ham, or get creative with fresh herbs and spices. You might be surprised at how positively customers react, and it could help give you that edge that sets you apart from the crowd.
4. Emphasize Quality of Products
Think back to the days when pizza was delivered to people’s homes in a soggy, cardboard box. It’s understandable why customers’ perceptions of pizza have completely changed over the years, so now, more than ever, is the time to emphasize quality of products.
Rather than opting for the cheapest ingredients, focus on using fresh, local produce and wholesome, locally-sourced meats. Not only will customers appreciate the taste and texture associated with good-quality ingredients, but it should also help you charge a premium price, thereby boosting profits.
5. Leverage Technology
Technology is advancing rapidly in the foodservice industry, and pizza outlets are increasingly becoming tech-centric. There are numerous software solutions available to help pizza restaurants with ordering, customer base management, analytics, and customer loyalty programs.
These tools help provide a smoother customer experience while also delivering valuable insights about your business. Many of these software solutions use machine learning to analyze data and continuously improve, helping to provide an even more dynamic experience.
6. Speed Up Delivery
With consumers expecting faster and faster deliveries, the pizza industry is turning to technology to improve the delivery experience. This ranges from delivery apps and courier bots to drone delivery services, which have particularly taken off in recent years.
Ultimately, these services are becoming more commonplace and—in many cases—are now expected by customers. To inch ahead of the competition, other delivery strategies could include offering discounts on local orders or different incentives to make delivery faster.
7. Provide Contactless Options
The pandemic has changed the way customers interact with restaurants, with contactless options becoming the new normal. With contactless ordering, customers can complete their entire order through their device, from ordering to payments.
Contactless options are pleasurable and eliminate waiting time at the store. Plus, contactless payment systems are now widely accepted by customers, so why not integrate them into your restaurant to give customers additional convenience and safety.
8. Focus on Local Sourcing
Gone are the days of customers being completely unaware of where their food comes from. Instead, customers are increasingly familiar with the need for local sourcing and the associated benefits of going down this route.
To take advantage of this trend, you can start sourcing from local farmers, butchers, and bakers to get the highest-quality toppings and ingredients. Not only does this help build connections in the local community, but it can also help to better position your brand.
9. Utilize Video Content
Video content is powerful, no matter the size of your business. Utilizing video content as a marketing tool can be a great way to reach out to customers, showcase unique toppings or methods, and make the ordering process smoother.
With such technologies as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), you can now have a go at creating interactive videos for customers to watch, participate in, and enjoy. Such videos are becoming increasingly popular and could have a big impact on the number of customers you attract to your establishment.
10. Personalize Your Offerings
Today’s customers want to feel unique and recognized, so personalizing your offerings could make all the difference. Many restaurants and establishments are now using data to understand customer’s individual preferences and then tailoring their offers accordingly.
From using customer data to build a profile and recommending toppers based on a person’s buying history, to bundling popular combination ingredients into a single offer, you could see great success leveraging personalization. And don’t forget to use a loyalty program to reward customers for continued purchase – this is always appreciated.
