What are the most popular pizza toppings?
The popularity of Pizza Toppings can vary quite a bit by region and time of year in the US.
Outside the US there are a number of toppings that are quite unheard of. In the US Pepperoni is the dominant Pizza Topping.
There is a bias towards more Veggie options on the West Coast and Northeast. Texas has the largest bias towards Meat Toppings. The data does not include extra Cheese as this is not always seen as a clear separate option at these establishments.
This rather simple data does correlate with other studies I have seen. There was a trend towards less meat for most of the last 8 years, the trend has changed direction about 3 years ago. Some have found a correlation to the economic condition and the consumption of richer foods.
A Fascinating Study Of Pizza Toppings
An interesting side note about Pizza Toppings is based on a study By Dr. Alan Hirsch, director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago and Domino's Pizza. This is a rather fascinating if not bizarre study:
Abstract:
What the Toppings Tell
The study examined how pizza-topping preferences translate into
personality.
Non-traditionalists
Those who prefer non-traditional toppings such as pineapple and onion tend to be aggressive, achievement-oriented, natural leaders. They do not easily suffer fools.
Pepperoni Please
People who prefer traditional, single meat toppings described themselves as being irritable, argumentative, procrastinators, who frequently conveniently "forget" obligations at work and at home.
Meat Fanatics
Those who preferred traditional, multiple meat toppings are dramatic, seductive extroverts who thrive as the center of attention. They crave novelty in all aspects of their life, are fashionable and impeccably groomed.
One Veggie Please
Pizza eaters who prefer traditional, vegetable, one-topping pizzas are empathetic, understanding, well adjusted and easy going, making them the ideal parents.
Pile on the Veggies
Those who prefer multiple vegetable toppings are trustworthy, loyal and dependable. They value friendship as the ultimate manifestation of life's ideals. They function best in a group environment. They are humble, introverted, and avoid the spotlight.
Additional study findings revealed:
* People are passionate about pizza. Forty-four percent of respondents agreed completely that they are passionate about their pizza topping choices.
* I eat pepperoni, therefore I am. Nearly two-thirds of respondents
somewhat or completely agreed that their pizza topping choices reflect their personalities.
* Pizza eaters seem stuck in their ways. Forty-eight percent say they would never try new pizza topping combinations, while 38 percent say they order the same pizza every time.
* Meat edges out the veggies. Sixty-seven percent prefer meat and cheese toppings over vegetable and cheese toppings.
* Toppings rule. When asked if their dream pizza would have more or less toppings, nearly 60 percent opted for a fully loaded pizza. Twenty-seven percent think 10 toppings would constitute their dream pizza.
Apparently, Pizza may reveal your true soul, so beware! This study has a rather Fortune cookie meets Astrology feel to it. I thought this study had to be a farce but apparently they took this quite seriously.
For me it is just freaking good food when done right, I prefer Real New York or the variety found in the Parma region of Italy.
2+ Comments • Thu Jul 28 2011
Distribution of Pizza Toppings (updated visualization)
I have polled proprietary data from a number of Pizza POS (Point Of Sale) systems (640). The data is from a fairly even distribution across the US. The datasets are from a typical medium sized Pizza Restaurant. I have not included datasets from Gourmet or Eclectic Cuisine Restaurants as there are far more topping options.
By far meat toppings account for a whopping 61% of Toppings served. In the "Other" category we also find Ham and Shrimp along with other nonstandard Toppings that are non meat.
The dataset does not include the impact of multiple options as this would produce unwieldily datasets. One can assume from the data that 25% have two Topping options.
I have polled proprietary data from a number of Pizza POS (Point Of Sale) systems (640). The data is from a fairly even distribution across the US. The datasets are from a typical medium sized Pizza Restaurant. I have not included datasets from Gourmet or Eclectic Cuisine Restaurants as there are far more topping options.
By far meat toppings account for a whopping 61% of Toppings served. In the "Other" category we also find Ham and Shrimp along with other nonstandard Toppings that are non meat.
The dataset does not include the impact of multiple options as this would produce unwieldily datasets. One can assume from the data that 25% have two Topping options.
There is a bias towards more Veggie options on the West Coast and Northeast. Texas has the largest bias towards Meat Toppings. The data does not include extra Cheese as this is not always seen as a clear separate option at these establishments.
This rather simple data does correlate with other studies I have seen. There was a trend towards less meat for most of the last 8 years, the trend has changed direction about 3 years ago. Some have found a correlation to the economic condition and the consumption of richer foods.
A Fascinating Study Of Pizza Toppings
An interesting side note about Pizza Toppings is based on a study By Dr. Alan Hirsch, director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago and Domino's Pizza. This is a rather fascinating if not bizarre study:
Abstract:
What the Toppings Tell
The study examined how pizza-topping preferences translate into
personality.
Non-traditionalists
Those who prefer non-traditional toppings such as pineapple and onion tend to be aggressive, achievement-oriented, natural leaders. They do not easily suffer fools.
Pepperoni Please
People who prefer traditional, single meat toppings described themselves as being irritable, argumentative, procrastinators, who frequently conveniently "forget" obligations at work and at home.
Meat Fanatics
Those who preferred traditional, multiple meat toppings are dramatic, seductive extroverts who thrive as the center of attention. They crave novelty in all aspects of their life, are fashionable and impeccably groomed.
One Veggie Please
Pizza eaters who prefer traditional, vegetable, one-topping pizzas are empathetic, understanding, well adjusted and easy going, making them the ideal parents.
Pile on the Veggies
Those who prefer multiple vegetable toppings are trustworthy, loyal and dependable. They value friendship as the ultimate manifestation of life's ideals. They function best in a group environment. They are humble, introverted, and avoid the spotlight.
Additional study findings revealed:
* People are passionate about pizza. Forty-four percent of respondents agreed completely that they are passionate about their pizza topping choices.
* I eat pepperoni, therefore I am. Nearly two-thirds of respondents
somewhat or completely agreed that their pizza topping choices reflect their personalities.
* Pizza eaters seem stuck in their ways. Forty-eight percent say they would never try new pizza topping combinations, while 38 percent say they order the same pizza every time.
* Meat edges out the veggies. Sixty-seven percent prefer meat and cheese toppings over vegetable and cheese toppings.
* Toppings rule. When asked if their dream pizza would have more or less toppings, nearly 60 percent opted for a fully loaded pizza. Twenty-seven percent think 10 toppings would constitute their dream pizza.
Apparently, Pizza may reveal your true soul, so beware! This study has a rather Fortune cookie meets Astrology feel to it. I thought this study had to be a farce but apparently they took this quite seriously.
For me it is just freaking good food when done right, I prefer Real New York or the variety found in the Parma region of Italy.
2+ Comments • Thu Jul 28 2011