Seasonal Sales Patterns for Pizza Franchises

Offering flexible options including dine-in, takeout, and delivery, pizza restaurants are a key segment of the food industry. In 2022, the pizza industry saw record sales of $46.9 billion and reached over 80,000 restaurant locations. That same year, popular chain brands – much like Hungry Howie’s® – outpaced independent restaurants by more than $7 billion in sales. 

Market trends suggest that certain times of year lead to stronger sales for pizza franchises. It’s true that every industry faces seasonal shifts, but the pizza market has unique high-sales seasons that franchisees can leverage to grow their businesses. 

Top 5 Pizza Sales Days of the Year

As America’s favorite food, pizza is eaten at an estimated 350 slices every second nationwide.  

While pizza is great for any occasion, there are five days of the year where pizza is everyone’s favorite: 

1. Halloween: Halloween is one of the busiest days for pizza orders. Families and party hosts favor pizza as a convenient, crowd-pleasing option that pairs well with Halloween festivities. 
2. Thanksgiving Eve: Thanksgiving is one of the biggest cooking days of the year, making the night before a major pizza night. With ovens occupied by turkey, all the trimmings, and pies, many households turn to pizza as an easy dinner solution on Thanksgiving Eve. 
3. Super Bowl Sunday: As a popular game day food, pizza sales are steady on Super Bowl Sunday. Party hosts appreciate pizza’s convenience and widespread appeal. Plus, they don’t have to make the pizza themselves, allowing them to focus on other party treats. 
4. New Year’s Eve: As people prep for celebrations, pizza is a quick and satisfying meal. It’s a solid option for those looking to reduce time in the kitchen while still serving a crowd pleaser. 
5. New Year’s Day: After a night of festivities, many people want a hassle-free meal, and pizza fits the bill perfectly.  

It’s not surprising that colder months see increased demand for warm, comforting meals. Whether it’s a cozy night at home or a casual gathering with friends, pizza remains a top choice for satisfying cravings during the colder months. 

Hungry Howie’s®: Thriving Year-Round

At Hungry Howie’s®, every season is pizza season. With over 500 stores across 21 states, our concept has been dominating the pizza industry for over 50 years. As the pioneers of Flavored Crust®️ Pizza, our top quartile of stores saw an average unit volume (AUV) of nearly $1.3 million in 2023.*  

Partnering with Hungry Howie’s® means investing in a proven business model. With a state-of-the-art online ordering system, innovative customer loyalty program, comprehensive support, and in-depth training programs, you’re set up for success from the moment you sign your franchise agreement.  

To qualify for a Hungry Howie’s® restaurant, interested franchise candidates should have a net worth of $650,000, at least $220,000 in liquid assets, a credit score above 680, and the ability to get up to $500,000 in funding for your business. Our investment costs start around $432,000, including our $25,000 initial franchise fee.  

To learn more about our pizza franchise opportunity, submit our franchise information form today, and a member of our development team will be in touch. 

*Based on Gross Sales of the top performing 25% (or 70 units) of Hungry Howie’s Franchised Units that were open for the entire 53-week period from December 26, 2022 through December 31, 2023. Franchised Units means all Hungry Howie’s Units that were open and reported sales for the entire fiscal year, and excludes units in the State of Florida (see footnote***), affiliated units, units which opened or closed during the above fiscal year, units which are not obligated to and do not report sales to us, and units closed for more than ten consecutive days during the above fiscal year due to a force majeure event.  The Franchised Units are in 20 states and have reasonably similar operations as those being offered for sale. Refer to Hungry Howie’s 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information.