2026
9
US Pizza Market Report 2026
2026-09-25T12:01:58+00:00
REPC5431176_6ACA_45FE_8311_766ACAD5FED1
3695
196478
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Report
en_GB
Value sales of retail pizza are set to decline for a second consecutive year in 2026, driven largely by weakness in frozen pizza, which still accounts for 83% of sales.
US
Pizza
simple

US Pizza Market Report 2026

Value sales of retail pizza are set to decline for a second consecutive year in 2026, driven largely by weakness in frozen pizza, which still accounts for 83% of sales.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for pizza
    • Opportunities
    • Toppings and crust innovation will help support sales growth
    • Close the gap on the pizza delivery experience
    • Room for pizza options that reduce the guilt of eating
    • Discover the top five trend territories for success in US meals using Black Swan’s social prediction technology
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Consumers and the economic outlook
    • Price rises are a big concern for consumers
    • Some exposure to tariffs, more so on imported ingredients
    • Strong interest in eating healthfully
    • Sales of pizza decline for second consecutive year
    • Market size and forecast of pizza
    • Graph 1: total retail sales and forecast of pizza, 2021-31
    • Frozen pizza sales decline, but growth for refrigerated pizzas
    • Graph 2: total retail sales and forecast of pizza, by segment, at current prices, 2021-26
    • Top five companies in pizza increase share of sales
    • Graph 3: MULO+ sales of pizza, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • A few bright spots within overall picture of sales decline for frozen pizza
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Pizza usage and frequency
    • Frozen pizza most widely eaten type
    • Three quarters of US households eat store-bought pizza
    • Graph 4: types of pizza eaten, by generation, 2026
    • Millennials are the most frequent eaters of pizza
    • Graph 5: frequency of eating store-bought pizza, by generation, 2026
    • Pizza has family-friendly meal appeal
    • Graph 6: frequency of eating store-bought pizza, by presence of children in household, 2026
    • Reasons for buying pizza
    • Convenience and affordability biggest drivers of eating store-bought pizza
    • Pizza buying driven by convenience and affordability
    • Turn comfort and craving into growth for pizza
    • Close the gap on the pizza delivery experience
    • Premiumization
    • Restaurant-quality crusts and premium ingredients add value in pizza
    • Premium cues can capture additional value from engaged consumers
    • Graph 7: willingness to pay more for different attributes when buying pizza from a grocery store, by frequency of eating store-bought pizza, 2026
    • Quantity and quantity both triggers to pay more
    • Use restaurant-quality cues for retail pizza
    • Flavor innovation
    • More opportunities for flavor innovation in pizza
    • Toppings variety will increase buying frequency
    • Limited-time only and globally inspired offer toppings opportunities
    • Differentiate through flavored crust innovation
    • Health and nutrition
    • Health concerns a barrier to higher frequency of eating pizza
    • Graph 8: concerns about being unhealthy or ultra-processed limiting frequency of eating pizza, 2026
    • Room for pizza options that reduce the guilt of eating
    • Highlight pizza as a complete meal, including for GLP-1 users
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Meat has a big lead over vegetables in pizza
    • Graph 9: share of pizza launches, by meat or vegetable as flavor component, 2021-26
    • Crust an innovation battleground
    • Different twists being seen on tomato base sauces
    • Premium positionings looking to elevate pizza
    • More launches featuring high/added protein claims
    • More brands focusing on an all-natural positioning
    • Indulgence-led messaging a big theme in pizza advertising
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Market size sources and methodology
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast of pizza
    • Market size and forecast of pizza at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Market size and forecast of pizza by segment
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals for pizza
    • Sales and forecast of frozen pizza, at current prices
    • Sales and forecast of frozen pizza, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Sales and forecast of refrigerated/deli-prepared pizza, at current prices
    • Sales and forecast of refrigerated/deli-prepared pizza, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Sales and forecast of pizza kits/components, at current prices
    • Sales and forecast of pizza kits/components, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Average annual household spending on pizza
    • Total retail sales of pizza, by segment, at current prices
    • Sales of pizza, by company
    • Sales of frozen pizza, by company
    • Sales of frozen pizza, by company (continued)
    • Sales of pizza kits/components, by company
    • Sales of pizza kits/components, by company (continued)
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • US Generations
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"Pizza sales have declined. Opportunities lie in flavor-forward crust innovation, more choice of vegetable toppings and nutrient-dense pizzas for smaller appetites."

Richard Caines, Senior Analyst, Insights - Food & Drink

Richard Caines, Senior Analyst, Insights - Food & Drink

Value sales of retail pizza are set to decline for a second consecutive year in 2026, driven largely by weakness in frozen pizza, which still accounts for 83% of sales. Yet the category remains sizable at an estimated $9.5 billion, with convenience and affordability helping sustain demand. At the same time, growing concerns about health and ultra-processed foods are increasingly shaping consumption habits, and limiting usage frequency.

The biggest opportunity is to close the gap between store-bought and delivery pizza. While 60% of consumers prefer delivery pizza, retail retains a strong value advantage. Demand for restaurant-quality crusts (43%), premium ingredients (43%) and more toppings (41%) shows that consumers are willing to pay more for products that elevate the at-home experience. Innovations that make pizza night feel more special can help reignite growth.

Growth will also depend on making pizza feel more relevant to evolving consumer needs. More topping variety would encourage 60% of US consumers to buy pizza more often, while 53% would like smaller, nutrient-dense pizzas. Opportunities span flavor-forward crust innovation, globally inspired and limited-time only toppings, and better-for-you pizzas focused on protein, clean-label ingredients and satiety, helping brands boost frequency without sacrificing indulgence.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Performance of the market, including frozen and refrigerated pizza
  • Key trends in recent launch activity and future product development opportunities
  • Eating of different types of pizza and frequency of pizza consumption
  • Different reasons for buying pizza, including convenience, affordability and satisfaction
  • Premiumization and what would encourage paying more for store-bought pizza
  • Attitudes towards pizza, including barriers to eating, interest in deals and product preferences

Market Definitions

For the purposes of this report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

  • Frozen pizza
  • Refrigerated/deli-prepared, including refrigerated pizza and pizza prepared and sold in the fresh deli/prepared food department
  • Pizza kits/components, including pizza crust mixes, pizza crusts/shells, refrigerated and frozen pizza crust/dough, pizza sauce, pizza kits/mixes and frozen pizza kits/toppings.

Prepared, ready-to-eat pizza sold in retail outlets is excluded from the market size scope of this report, as is pizza sold in foodservice outlets.

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