Pizzas with bolder flavors have become popular among many consumers. According to a recent Technomic Pizza Consumer Trend Report, 27% of consumers are more interested in trying pizzas with unique toppings or ingredients now than in past years. Additionally, pizza is a popular foodservice item at convenience stores, which gives c-store retailers an opportunity to appeal to consumers by offering pizza items and LTOs with trending flavors.
Consumer preference for pizza variety and flavor
Consumers appreciate the convenience of purchasing meals or snacks from c-stores, but many also enjoy the taste of foodservice items that are offered. According to Technomic’s Q1 2024 C-Store Consumer Market Brief, 39% of consumers said that they are satisfied with the quality of prepared food/beverages at c-stores; 34% said they like the taste of prepared food/beverages at c-stores; and 31% said they like the selection of prepared food/beverages at c-stores.
With 62% of consumers in January 2024 saying they eat pizza at least once a week or more, according to Technomic’s Q1 2024 C-Store Consumer Market Brief, c-store retailers can benefit from boosted revenue and returning customers with pizza options that satisfy all types of taste buds.
Technomic’s recent Pizza Consumer Trend Report indicates that 34% of pizza consumers consider dough/crust quality to be the most important element of pizza. Additionally, 16% of consumers said that the quality of toppings was most important, followed by cheese quality at 14%, variety of toppings at 11% and quantity of toppings at 11%.
Branded pizza programs offer consumers familiarity—and trust
Offering nationally branded pizza foodservice options with familiar flavors that consumers enjoy is a great opportunity for c-store retailers to create a loyal customer base. According to Technomic’s Q1 2024 C-Store Consumer Market Brief, 19% of consumers purchase familiar/favorite foodservice items from c-stores. A nationally branded pizza program that has offerings during all dayparts can drive traffic to the store more often and consistently, boosting overall profits.
In addition, the needs of c-stores vary depending on location and store traffic, so retailers can also benefit from a program that is designed specifically for them, with equipment options, a customizable and flexible pizza shoppe and cost-effective labor solutions. In addition to familiar flavors, however, retailers should look for a partner that is committed to staying abreast of current food and consumer trends.
Hunt Brothers Pizza offers a program with All Toppings No Extra Charge®. That’s 1,024 topping combinations to satisfy hungry customers craving a variety of pizza flavors. Pizza toppings include meats (pepperoni, Italian sausage, beef and bacon) and veggies (green peppers, mushrooms, white onions, banana peppers, black olives and jalapenos), as well as original and thin crust options.
Hunt Brothers Pizza offers Limited Time Offering (LTO) pizzas that can increase foot traffic and profits for c-store retailers. Limited Time Offering pizza selections from Hunt Brothers Pizza include:
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza—featuring original crust topped with a mixture of ranch dressing and buffalo wing sauce, mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses, and a generous portion of diced chicken. Consumers can purchase the pizza as a whole 12˝ pizza, or Hunk A Pizza®(1/4 of a 12˝ pizza) while supplies last.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch—featuring original crust, covered in creamy ranch sauce, layered with diced chicken and then topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and bacon.
- Italian Trio Pizza—featuring original crust blended with an Italian herb seasoning, signature tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Topped with Italian sausage, cured salami, cup and char pepperoni, and our blend of Italian seasoning.
Hunt Brothers Pizza also offers a Breakfast Pizza that is pretopped with fluffy scrambled eggs, chopped bacon, breakfast sausage and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses on the brand’s signature buttered crust.
Explore Hunt Brothers Pizza, a nationally branded pizza program uniquely crafted for fast-paced c-store environments. With no additional labor required, it's the ideal solution to fuel your store's growth and success. Visit HuntBrothersPizza.comto learn more.
This post is sponsored by Hunt Brothers Pizza