With January around the corner, it’s time to look at the 2025 pizza trends that will reshape how pizzerias operate, market, and innovate in the new year. In this article, we’ve analyzed the highlights from Pizza Today’s latest report and added our predictions for the coming year. Let’s dive into the top pizza trends to watch for in 2025!
2025 Pizza Trends
What’s in store for pizzerias in the new year? Check out this list of 2025 pizza industry trends to find out about:
- Delivery Trends
- Dining Preference Trends
- Food Cost Trends
- Labor Trends
- Technology Trends
- Marketing Trends
- Menu Trends
1. Delivery Trends
Third-party delivery apps will continue to gain momentum in 2025. Case in point: over 32% of operators say they see the best ROI from these services. According to Pizza Today, 46% of operators say 11% or more of their total sales come from these platforms.
Despite this growth, 53% of pizzerias have not adopted third-party delivery. The main reasons cited are high fees and concerns about quality control. Still, with more customers using third-party apps, the opportunity is hard to ignore, so 2025 could be the year more pizzerias adopt third-party delivery apps.
Prediction: In 2025, pizzeria owners will leverage third-party delivery apps not just for order fulfillment but as strategic marketing tools to expand customer reach. Expect pizzerias to experiment with featured promotions, app-exclusive deals, and targeted advertising through these platforms to maximize visibility and ROI.
2. Dining Preference Trends
The pandemic brought about a surge in delivery and carryout orders. That was over four years ago, but those trends are still holding steady. Carryout remains a core business model for pizzerias, with 37% of operators reporting increased demand for carryout. Delivery continues to surge, particularly with online ordering, which accounts for a significant portion of sales.
Meanwhile, dine-in traffic has been slower to recover for pizzerias. Over 41% of operators reported decreased dining frequency over the past year. While other restaurant segments have seen a rebound in dine-in customers, pizzerias are still searching for ways to attract more people to eat on-site.
Prediction: In 2025, pizzerias will explore creative ways to enhance the dine-in experience, such as exclusive menu items, family-friendly entertainment, or themed dining events, while investing in efficient carryout and delivery solutions to meet customer demand.
3. Food Cost Trends
After several years of steep price hikes, the USDA’s Food Price Outlook predicts food costs will increase at a slower rate than in years past: 2.4% overall and 3.4% for food away from home.
While this isn’t entirely good news, it offers some relief to pizzeria owners scrambling to manage soaring food costs. For many pizzerias, these smaller increases may still require menu price adjustments, but not at the drastic levels seen in recent years.
Prediction: In 2025, pizzeria owners will focus on creative strategies to manage food costs without alienating customers with price hikes. Expect simplified menus, greater reliance on high-margin items, and a shift away from high-cost ingredients to balance profitability with customer satisfaction.
4. Labor Trends
Labor costs continue to rise, with over 56% of pizzeria operators reporting employee hourly pay rates increasing by 4% or more. Meanwhile, the labor crisis shows no signs of letting up, and hiring remains a top concern. Pizzeria owners say these hiring strategies are currently the most effective:
- Employee referrals
- High schools/colleges
- Social media posting
On the flip side, methods like national job sites, career fairs, and hiring agencies are proving less successful for most operators.
Prediction: In 2025, expect pizzeria owners to focus on employee retention to reduce turnover and avoid the costly cycle of constant hiring. Operators will also invest in technology and automation to streamline operations and operate efficiently with a leaner staff.
5. Technology Trends
The adoption of new technology in pizza restaurants is accelerating, with nearly 75% of operators investing in new tech over the past year. From modernizing operations to enhancing the customer experience, technology is becoming a cornerstone of pizzeria success. According to Pizza Today, here are the top ten technologies pizzerias have invested in:
- POS Systems
- Online Ordering
- Phone Systems
- Loyalty Systems
- Mobile Payment Options (e.g., Google Pay, Apple Pay)
- Contactless Payment
- Digital Menu Boards
- Text Ordering
- Ordering Apps
- Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
Prediction: In 2025, integration will be a top priority as pizzeria owners look for technology that works seamlessly together. Connecting systems and creating a unified operation will be a top priority.
That’s why we’ve designed Watchdog Pizza Pro with integration in mind. This cutting-edge solution combines caller ID, multi-carrier LTE failover, SD-WAN, firewall protection, and Quality of Service (QoS) into one powerful device, ensuring your operations run smoothly and efficiently. Curious to learn more? Contact the Clarity Voice team!
6. Marketing Trends
Marketing continues to evolve in the pizza industry, with operators focusing heavily on digital strategies and community engagement. According to Pizza Today, key marketing trends include local SEO, reviews, and video marketing. They also surveyed pizzeria owners, who reported that these are the most effective marketing channels right now:
- Social Media Advertising
- Loyalty Programs
- Community/Sports Events
- Word of Mouth
- Email Marketing
- Text Messaging
- Video Marketing
- Direct Mail
- Flyers
- In-Store Advertising
Prediction: In 2025, a robust online presence will become the cornerstone of a successful pizzeria marketing strategy. From local SEO and reviews to engaging video content and email campaigns, digital marketing is the string that ties together many of the year’s biggest trends.
To master your online presence, check out our article series on this topic. At the end of this last article, you’ll find links to all the other articles in the series, which include discussions about websites, SEO, social media, email marketing, and online advertising.
7. Menu Trends
The world of pizza is constantly changing. Here are some of the most notable highlights from Pizza Today’s report on what’s hot for 2025:
- Top 5 Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, extra cheese, and bacon remain the go-to choices for customers nationwide.
- Most Popular Pizza Style: New York-style pizza reigns supreme as America’s favorite.
- Trending Pizza Style: Detroit-style pizza is making waves, with its thick, crispy edges and cheesy, caramelized crust.
- Hot Honey: This topping (also mentioned in the National Restaurant Association What’s Hot 2025 report) is taking the industry by storm. Pizzeria chefs are experimenting by infusing honey with chilies, herbs, and spices to create bold new flavors.
- House-Made Ingredients: From sausage to sauces, pizzerias are crafting more elements in-house to offer fresher, high-quality options that resonate with customers.
- Seasonal Specials: Using seasonal ingredients for limited-time offerings is a strategy that pizzeria operators are leveraging to stand out from the competition.
- Creative Crusts: Pizzeria owners are playing with dough recipes and exploring crust styles like high-hydration doughs, ancient grain blends, layering flavors, and combining grains to enhance the crust.
- Non-Pizza Items: Pizzeria operators report that the best-selling non-pizza items are wings, salads, calzones, spaghetti and meatballs, and breadsticks.
Prediction: In 2025, we predict pizzerias will balance tradition with creativity. Classic pizzas will remain core menu staples, while unique, innovative pizzas and toppings will be introduced as limited-time and seasonal offers. This approach allows operators to explore new ideas while gauging customer interest and managing risks.
Pizza Trends for 2025
2025 will be an exciting year of growth and innovation for the pizza industry. Whether embracing new technology, crafting creative menu items, or exploring fresh marketing approaches, staying ahead of these trends is vital for success. Which of these trends are you most excited to explore? Get started today, and see what you can achieve in 2025!