Knowledge within the U.S. suggests pizza firms are dealing with “pizza wars” as they compete to retain and appeal to shoppers’ {dollars} proper now.
A retail skilled says among the findings possible replicate developments taking place in Canada too, as shoppers battle with the heightened price of residing, together with pulling again on spending and quick meals.
This additionally comes after the Wall Avenue Journal late final week reported that sales growth at American’s pizza chains is slumping, and as quick meals chains like McDonald’s have launched extra worth choices and promotions to fight slumping gross sales.
The report by Intouch Perception in contrast a number of medium and enormous pizza chains within the U.S., which got scores by thriller customers based mostly on a number of classes, corresponding to supply instances, perceived style and high quality, and customer support.
“The narrative of the ‘Pizza Wars’ is evolving. Whereas velocity stays a significant part of the visitor expertise, our knowledge confirms that high quality would be the decisive issue for buyer satisfaction,” Sarah Beckett, vice-president of gross sales and advertising at Intouch Perception, mentioned in a press launch.
Whereas the report didn’t take a look at Canada, a retail skilled says pizza and fast-food chains listed below are in a “combat” to draw extra cost-crunched shoppers.
“Instances are more durable now. Persons are tighter now with their cash, so that they’re searching for hacks, if you’ll: life hacks that’ll assist them keep on price range however nonetheless have an honest high quality of life,” retail analyst Bruce Winder mentioned.
“The principle pizza chains in Canada, that’s the place the combat actually is correct now. They’ve began to supply form of value-priced pizzas for the households who nonetheless wish to get a pizza on a Friday or Saturday evening however simply don’t have that cash.”
The Intouch Perception research notes that clients trying to get a pizza discovered choosing it up themselves was the quickest possibility in most situations.
The report cites an earlier research from June 2025, carried out by Popmenu, which discovered that when cooking at residence was not an possibility, 44 per cent of U.S. shoppers taking part most popular takeout, in contrast with 22 per cent who most popular supply. It provides that within the case of takeout choices, shoppers “can keep away from supply charges and obtain their meals sooner.”
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Winder mentioned he believes the pattern of shoppers opting to choose up their meals, like a pizza, to reduce prices in contrast with supply is turning into extra frequent in Canada too.
“When the financial system was good, we have been prepared to pay for comfort, and a few individuals nonetheless do and that’s why you had the rise of UberEats and all of the totally different meals apps. However some individuals now are beginning to say, ‘ what? I’m prepared to surrender a bit of little bit of that comfort to save lots of a couple of {dollars},” Winder mentioned.
“I believe shoppers are choosing up pizza extra: ‘I’ll go and simply decide it up as a result of I’ll save the tip and supply if there’s a supply cost.’ … These are the form of issues that occur when persons are watching their cash is that they search for shortcuts. They’ve to surrender some comfort for financial savings.”
International Information reached out to among the largest pizza chains in Canada, together with Pizza Pizza, Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Panago, to ask about pizza pricing, and whether or not they have been seeing a rise in meals pickups in contrast with deliveries, along with providing extra worth choices to entice clients. Responses weren’t acquired by publication.
A report from Eating places Canada launched in September 2025 confirmed that three in 4 Canadians (75 per cent) are consuming out much less typically as a result of rising price of residing, and 65 per cent of Canadians are more likely to change a full meal with a snack no less than as soon as a month.
In line with Meals Banks Canada, the “historic” use of meals banks has hit what it considers an “emergency” stage, as households battle with meals affordability.
Meals costs in November 2025 elevated a mean 4.7 per cent in contrast with a 12 months prior, in accordance with Statistics Canada, which was greater than double the typical improve for all items and providers in Canada.
Canada’s Meals Value Report anticipates that Canadian households might pay $1,000 extra for groceries this 12 months in contrast with 2025.
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