The global pizza market is expected to grow by $66 billion between 2024 and 2028, according to New York-based Technomic’s Pizza Market 2024-2028 report, released in December.

Of that market growth, North America is expected to contribute 44%. The report highlights growth factors, including the increasing variety of options for consumers with dietary restrictions.

“Pizza, a beloved global food staple, caters to various dietary preferences with an expanding range of vegetarian and vegan options,” Technomic said. “Plant-based diets are on the rise, leading to the popularity of vegan cheeses and plant-based meats on pizzas. Whole wheat and gluten-free crusts cater to those with dietary restrictions.”

The report identified barbecue chicken, pepperoni, and gourmet among consumers’ top favorite pizza flavors. Convenience continues to be a major factor in the pizza market, for both consumers and companies, the report said.

“Convenient food items like ready-to-eat and frozen pizza, pizza rolls, pizza pockets, and mini-pizzas continue to be popular choices for consumers. Pizzerias, delivery services, and online ordering make pizza convenient for consumers. Supermarkets and convenience stores offer take-and-bake pizzas for those who prefer cooking at home. Technical advancements, such as robotic automation and ghost kitchens, have streamlined the production process, making pizza more accessible than ever.”

Technomic also reported that sustainability and health are top concerns for companies and consumers.

“The pizza market outlook remains positive, with an increasing focus on healthier product variants, locally sourced ingredients, and sustainable and ethical practices. Sustainability is a growing concern, with many pizza chains focusing on using locally sourced raw materials and reducing food waste.”

Cross-merchandising pizza & pasta

Meeting regional needs with value-added products

One important key to merchandising pizza in prepared foods is knowing your region. In the Northeast, Keasbey, N.J.-based ShopRite knows when there are so many great restaurants and at-home chefs in the area, Italian cuisine products in prepared foods need to be top tier to meet consumer expectations.

ShopRite elevates its take-and-bake pizza selections with unique value-added products that are locally sourced from Holmdel, N.J.-based Dearborn Farms (acquired by ShopRite in 2015) and would take consumers a significant amount of time to make from scratch at home. These options include lower-carb/gluten-free cauliflower crust pizzas, pizza bagels (made with fresh New Jersey-style bagels), and stuffed pinwheels. ShopRite also offers Grandma’s Pizza, a rectangular, pan-baked pizza style from Long Island, N.Y., that is popular in the Northeast region.

In the same display, ShopRite features fresh, handmade, cut pasta and fresh pasta sauces from Dearborn Farms. The sauces are available in small 14-ounce resealable plastics cups and large 30-ounce resealable plastic tubs to meet the needs of various family sizes.

ShopRite carries many different Dearborn Farms sauce flavors, including restaurant-quality favorites like Marinara, Vodka, 100% Natural Alfredo, Pomodoro, Sherry Wine Tomato, Bolognese, Red Clam, and White Clam. There are also plenty of choices of pasta shapes with over 10 different varieties, including premium products like Fresh Lobster Ravioli. The ravioli is offered in boxes of six or 12 so consumers buying for one do not have to worry about waste.