Whether you’re seeking ways to make your business a chart-topping attraction or enhancing your menu, pizza is the perfect pick. Read on for food, amusement, and entertainment industry trends and ideas to make your venue’s menu a showstopper.
Pizza’s Still a Scene-Stealer
As you choose your menu offerings, make sure pizza has a starring role. Here’s why:
- 2/3 of consumers said they had pizza in the last week1
- 87% of consumers are eating the same amount of pizza or more than they did last year1
1 Via Datassential.
Now that you know why pizza should be in your cast, here’s more food for thought.
The Show Can Go On
As spotted by The Global Association for the Attractions Industry (IAAPA), more venues are finding inventive ways to extend their normal seasons with the goal of maximizing guest engagement and revenue.
Seasonal and limited-time offerings can add to the appeal of your expanded operating schedule. As the weather cools, consider adding some heat to your menu with spicy, popular flavors like buffalo chicken pizza on an easy-to-use rising crust.
Fast Service = More Fun
You do your best to ensure that your foodservice is fast and furious, but just how long are customers willing to wait for food to arrive? Diners expect their food no more than 20 minutes after ordering.
The right ready-made pizza products can help you get fresh slices on the table quickly. Consider par-baked crusts with fast cooking times and long hot-hold times that will help you impress customers with speedy service and great taste.
Cater to a Younger Audience
With inclusive and family experiences being more popular than ever for entertainment and amusement venues like yours, finding new ways to appeal to the littlest patrons is a sure way to keep families coming back.
Personal-sized pizzas make kids feel special—and let mom and dad order black olives or anchovies with no complaining. Or, use pre-made dough balls to create picky eater-friendly snacks like stuffed cheese bread, garlic breadsticks, or cinnamon knots.
Unique Themes Are on the Rise
Entertainment trendsetters like EPCOT are adding unique, highly themed eating experiences to their venues. For instance, Space 220 brings visitors up to an orbiting restaurant set 220 miles above Earth’s surface. The menu is likewise space themed, with dishes like Big Bang Burrata and Starry Calamari.
We invite you to lean into what makes your venue unique and serve dishes that guests won’t find anywhere else.
- Location: Hyperlocal dishes not only show how proud you are of your community but help you serve items diners can’t find at every run-of-the-mill venue. We’re in Wisconsin, so pizzas loaded with Badger State cheddar are always a winner.
- History: Trendwatchers say modern takes on nostalgia, dubbed “newstalgia,” are popular with diners.2 Bring back your classic offerings and add twists for today’s customer. Parents will get a kick out of sharing childhood favorites with their kids.
- Business: Let your business’s theme be your guide as you select menu items. For instance, if your roller rink is big on 70s music, add pizzas with fun music-related names. We’re picturing The Fleetwood Mac ‘n’ Cheese, The Jackson 5-Cheese, The Barry White-Sauce (Alfredo) …
- Reviews: Is there a dish that’s mentioned more than others in online reviews for your venue? Let that star dish guide you. Explore spin-offs or limited-time deals on that popular offering.
2 Via the Datassential 2024 Food Trends report
Themed menus don’t need to be a drain on your resources, either, especially with the right ready-made pizza products and a dedicated partner on your side.
Your Free Ticket to More Food Industry Insights
If you liked this article, we’ve got more for you. Our new amusement and entertainment venue guide has the tastiest ideas to level up food sales, cut kitchen prep times, control labor costs, and increase return visits.
