Commentary

28% Of Americans Would Give Up Alcohol For Free Pizza

Pizza and beer often go hand in hand, as universal a pairing as a burger and fries. But if consumers were given the choice to receive free pizza every day for a year — but only if they gave up alcohol — a full 28% would choose to forgo the booze, according to a new report from Pizza Hut.

Last week the chain released its second annual Pizza Trends Report, compiled from an online survey of 5,000 American adults in December. The participants in the survey, conducted by  market research company Talker Research, were split evenly by state and questioned on their pizza consumption habits.

The report found that the average American eats 288 slices of pizza per year, which equates to the nation collectively ingesting 95,040,000,000 slices of pizza in a year. And although that may seem like a huge amount, Americans are showing no interest in slowing down consumption, with nearly one third reporting that they intend to increase the amount of pizza they eat in 2025.

The study also revealed a significant trend: Consumers said they wanted unique, bold and international flavors in their pizza pie offerings. Thirty-seven percent of Americans say they'd like to try Mexican-inspired pizza, with 21% expressing interest in a Greek-inspired pie. They would also like to try French (12%), Korean (11%) and Thai (10%) pies. And while mushrooms won out as the most popular topping (57%), more nontraditional toppings followed, like garlic (picked by 41%), pineapple (38%), anchovies (8%), pickles (8%) and cherries (2%).

"We continue to see a growing trend and demand for unique flavors and modern toppings,” said Rachel Antalek, Pizza Hut's chief food innovation officer, in a release. “We are also seeing customers gravitating towards pairings or pizza-centric accoutrements that complement their orders, whether it be dipping sauces or sides like wings."

Speaking of dipping, 58% of respondents reported dipping their slices at least occasionally. Ranch dressing is the most popular dip at 38%, followed by garlic sauce (27%), marinara sauce (23%), blue cheese dressing (8%) and buffalo sauce (8%).

As chicken wings are often also served with pizza, the study also surveyed respondents’ wing preferences. Seventy-one percent  reported ordering chicken wings with their pizza, at least on occasion, with 46% preferring boneless wings, while 43% prefer bone-in.

And last, but not least, Americans weighed in on the “proper” way to eat a slice, to the chagrin of many a New Yorker. Fifty percent said they eat their pie “tip first,” not folded. And 44% of respondents said eating pizza with a fork is a “food crime,” which even New Yorkers will probably appreciate.

4 comments about "28% Of Americans Would Give Up Alcohol For Free Pizza".
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  1. Jim Thompson from Temple University, January 15, 2025 at 4:27 p.m.

    Pizza math question. According to the article, the average American eats 288 slices of pizza per year, or about 24 per month. Also according to the article, Kansas leads the nation with an average of 9.4 slices per month. What am I missing?

  2. Teresa Buyikian from Mediapost, January 15, 2025 at 5:14 p.m.

    Thx for the catch Jim, you are missing nothing. Can't say the same for the press release or my math skills. Correcting now. :-)

  3. Bill McClain from Bill McClain Brand Builder, January 17, 2025 at 11:41 a.m.

    So to Jim's question... Which is correct? 288 or 9.4?

  4. Teresa Buyikian from Mediapost, January 17, 2025 at 12:59 p.m.

    Hi Bill, I believe the Kansas # is wrong and was a typo in the report (from the math seems that # should be per week) but we deleted it until I have confirmation from the brand. I'll update as soon as I do, Thx!

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