TYSON FOODS, INC. TRADEMARKS AND REGISTERED TRADEMARKS ARE OWNED BY TYSON FOODS, INC. OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
How Creative Spins on Pizza Toppings Can Help You Drive Traffic
Published: April 22, 2025
Explore how inspired twists on traditional protein toppings can help surprise and entice patrons.
Renew Your Menu to Bring in Business
The secret to attracting new and repeat customers can be difficult to discover. However, adding protein options is a tried-and-true solution to refresh your menu and drive traffic. In fact, 75% of independent restaurants cite attracting new customers as the top reason for making changes or adding to their menu.1
Give Your Pizzas an Upgrade With Exciting Toppings
In the article, Attract More Pizza Patrons With Toppings That Top Them All, we highlighted the five top pizza toppings that consumers prefer. Now, we’re offering up creative takes on some of these classics that consumers already know and love. These can help elevate your pizzas.
The Curve to Serve: Cupping Pepperoni
This is every great pizza shop’s secret ingredient. What was once a regional trend in the upper Midwest and Northeast, cupping pepperoni is enjoying an insurgence on menus. That’s because this delicious protein adds a new texture experience. It’s crispy and crunchy, featuring naturally caramelized edges with a rich, spicy flavor. Plus, it adds photographable, visual appeal.
With Hillshire Farm® Cupping Pepperoni, you menu a smart choice to spice up your slice. Not only does it have artisanal flair and an undeniable texture that’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, it also features the beloved proprietary seasoning blend of the Hillshire Farm® brand.
Pepperoni cups are the third fastest-growing pizza ingredient projected for 2025, seeing a +406% 4-year growth on menus.2
Bigger is Better: Sandwich-Style Pepperoni
Go big to drive more traffic to your pizza place. Large, sandwich-style pepperoni gives a larger-than-life visual impression when layered on top of a pie. Many pizza operators are already using this ingredient for Italian-style sandwiches or grinders. That makes it a convenient opportunity to utilize an existing ingredient.
For a spicy bite of inspiration, try our recipe for Sweet & Spicy Tomato Basil Pepperoni Pizza. It features Hillshire Farm® Sliced Sandwich Style Pepperoni, crushed tomatoes, fresh basil and basil pesto, red pepper flakes, mozzarella, fontina cheese, jalapeños and honey drizzle.
Go With the Globally Inspired: Authentic Italian Sausage
Consumers value authentic dining experiences. Nearly 60% value authenticity in food more now than ever before.3 One simple solution to share authentic global flavors on your pizzas is through your toppings. And one simple solution to help boost profits for your pizzeria is with premium proteins.
With Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Italian Sausage Crumbles and Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Spicy Italian Sausage Crumbles you can offer authentic global flavor and help increase revenue with premium proteins. Both products are made from premium-quality meats with a blend of Italian seasonings, featuring a hand-torn shape and size that enhances texture and creates visual appeal.
Casual dining consumers are willing to pay more for premium proteins and all-natural ingredients.3
The Trend to Follow: Premium Toppings Like Chorizo
Chorizo is a good choice to upgrade your offerings. According to recent research, there has been increased consumer interest in sausage variations like chorizo,4 and Mexican-inspired meats like chorizo were among the hottest trends in pizza toppings in 2024.5
To menu this trend, turn to Hillshire Farm® All Natural* Fully Cooked Pork Chorizo Crumbles. It can help you cut back on labor because of its fully cooked format. Made from premium-quality meat, this is an authentic and on-trend protein option. It features a spicy flavor profile, plus hand-torn and variable-size pieces, packed with dining appeal.
More High-Performing Solutions
To discover more pizza proteins, recipes and insights from the Hillshire Farm® brand, check out our brand page.
Stay in the Know and Get Inspired with our Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to get on-trend menu ideas and more. You’ll be first to know about our great new products and get exclusive access to money-saving offers, business solutions, recipes and inspiration.
By entering your email address, you agree to receive additional communication from Tyson Foods, its subsidiaries or any of its related companies. You may unsubscribe at any time. Tyson Foods Privacy Policy, Terms of Service and Opt-Out Policy apply.
Sources:
1 Cleveland Research Company, Independent Restaurants, How Operators Are Looking at Menu Innovation and the Sales Rep’s Role, November 2024
2 PMQ, 2025 Power Pizza Report, December 2024
3 Datassential, Casual Dining Keynote, January 2024
4 Pizza Today, 2025 Pizza Industry Trends Report, December 2024
5 Forbes, Here Are The Hottest Pizza Trends For 2024, January 2024
*Minimally processed, no artificial ingredients
Related Content
