• by Todd Wasserman , May 12, 2023

McDonald’s is experimenting with a pizza concept in Italy that may make its way to the U.S., according to a report from TheStreet.

The publication describes it as a “cross between a pierogi, a pizza roll, a Hot Pocket and a calzone.”

The item, dubbed the Panzerotti (Pizza Pockets) “looks like a larger version of a Totino’s pizza roll, shaped a bit more like a calzone,” according to the report.A McDonald’s Italy site notes that the Panzerotti is made “With 100% Italian tomato and mozzarella. A warm and racy heart to give you a moment of goodness. Panzerotti with 100% Italian tomato and mozzarella are a pleasure for the palate.”

Adapting U.S. menus to the item would be easy. As the report in TheStreet notes, “Since the pockets are fried, MCD may be able to make them with existing equipment and without interrupting other operations."

On the other hand, McDonald’s has tried pizza before. In the 1980s, the chain offered a whole pie that was served at a patron’s table on a pizza rack. That item stayed on McDonald’s menus until nearly 2000, but never really caught on. In addition, the item took as long as 15 minutes to bake.

“That one just did not work,” R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at Placer.ai, told Franchise 1851. “There may have been some demand for it, but the operational complexity of trying to do a pizza at a chain that’s known for its burgers and chicken sandwiches is difficult to do. It just went too far outside of the operational competency of McDonald’s.”

It remains to be seen if that’s still the case today.