In any grocery store freezer aisle, consumers are met with an overwhelming number of frozen pizza options. It’s a crowded, competitive category, but the right crust can set your pizza apart in the case—and in the minds of customers.
A Growing Opportunity in Frozen Foods
In March of 2020, the frozen pizza industry saw a 92% increase in year-over-year sales, and the momentum behind frozen food hasn’t slowed since. The Food Industry Association (FMI) reports that with intensifying concerns around affordability, today's shoppers are looking for practical meal solutions in the frozen aisle.
“Frozen food sales grew 45% to $87 billion during the 52-week period that ended in September 2025 (vs. the 2019 calendar year).”
–FMI
“Consumers who use frozen foods every few days or daily now represent 40% of shoppers.”
–FMI
Ways to Level Up Frozen Pizza: Enhancing Your Crust and More
Making your products the star of the frozen pizza aisle should start from the bottom up, because crust makes or breaks the experience. 91% of Americans agree that a bad crust can ruin a pizza, after all. Here are actionable ideas to help you evolve your pizza and make it stand out.
Optimize for Lots of Toppings
Raised edge par-baked crusts are designed to keep toppings where they belong (on top) without compromising texture. Our Cobble Hill crust has a crunchy bottom and bread-like interior, a perfect match for heavy meats and moisture-laden veggies.
Ensure Consistent Home Oven Performance
With ease of use driving purchasing decisions, baking outcomes matter. Crusts designed for home ovens, like self-rising and par-baked, help deliver reliable crispness. In other words, these crusts prevent limp, soggy, and disappointing meals.
Keep it Fresh-Frozen
Rising crusts that are fresh-frozen recreate pizzeria taste after baking in the consumer’s oven. This sense of freshness taps into the preference for combining fresh and frozen.
“76% of consumers combine fresh and frozen ingredients in the same meal. Households are not choosing between the freezer and the refrigerator. They are using both.”
–FMI
Reignite Interest in Wood-Fired
While other brands offer wood-fired crusts, ours are unique in that they’re par-baked on a lava stone deck. That authentic Neapolitan character (and distinctive selling point) can be all yours.
Localize Your Style
Rising interest in regional styles gives you room to grow. New Haven-style pizza is an emerging favorite, joining America’s top pizza styles: New York, Traditional American, Chicago Thin, and Detroit. Learn more about these pizza styles here.
Right-Size Your Pizza
As the American Frozen Food Institute shared, frozen food is helping families stretch their food dollars and minimize waste. To ensure your offerings fit all appetites, explore single-slice and personal pizzas. We can help: our crusts range in size from 5 to 16 inches.
Explore New Flavors
While classic pepperoni still leads the freezer section, pizza is the perfect canvas for experimentation. Innovative brands are tapping into trends like “swangy” flavor profiles (spicy, sweet, and tangy) and incorporating foraged ingredients. Chanterelle mushroom pizza, anyone?
Lean Into Nostalgia
Top-selling frozen pizza brands are also the ones consumers remember from childhood. This proves that revisiting the classics can be as beneficial as trendspotting.
Proactively Upgrade
There are countless articles and social media posts about “dressing up frozen pizzas.” Keep an eye out for what’s popular, add it to your pizzas, and make your product more appealing from the get-go. TikTokers add extras like oregano, Muenster, basil salt, and prosciutto. And just ask us about pre-seasoned crusts—they’re game-changers!
Finish Strong
The final touch is where you can make a lasting impression. Include post-bake accompaniments like pickled onions, toasted breadcrumbs, truffle oil, chili crisp oil, balsamic reduction, and giardiniera to help consumers create a restaurant-worthy experience at home.
Win the Freezer Section with the Right Pizza Crust Supplier
In a category this competitive, the right crust isn’t just a component. It’s a major advantage.
AK Pizza Crust delivers high-performance, versatile crusts, dough balls, and sauces for grocers, c-stores, and brands. Get in touch to see how we can help you own the aisle and deliver an exceptional eating experience that consumers crave.
