Pizza sales have lagged behind the broader fast-food market for years
America’s love for pizza is facing a reality check. Once the second-most common restaurant in the US, pizzerias are now outnumbered by coffee shops and Mexican eateries.
Pizza sales have lagged behind the broader fast-food market for years, and several well-known chains, including Pieology Pizzeria and Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta, have filed for bankruptcy.
Price is a major pain point. A $20 pizza can feel expensive when fast food chains offer $5 meal deals. Additionally, frozen pizzas or home-cooked meals cost much less.
Food-delivery apps have also widened choices, pulling customers toward other cuisines.
Still, pizza isn’t disappearing. Pizza chains generated about $31 billion in sales in 2024, and 1in 10 Americans eats pizza on any given day.
But pizza restaurants are fewer than in 2019, and big brands are closing stores, offering deals, and revamping menus to stay relevant.