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Pizza processors turn up the heat to keep the category fresh with new premium and fun flavors, textures and better-for-you options.

Reach For

Credit: 97 / Getty Images

By Bob Garrison

Sometimes a consumer craves pizza but can’t slice out enough time for a restaurant visit. Now there’s no need—thanks to a growing number of retail offerings with everything from authentic imported Italian ingredients to frozen recipes straight from the restaurant itself.

Last fall saw Italian chef and Toronto restaurateur Cosimo Mammoliti extend his PORTA flash frozen pizza line (launhed with 2024) with a fifth variety: Sweet & Spicy Soppressata. It features Italian pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, spicy soppressata, red onions, spicy peperoncini and honey. PORTA, says its brick oven, Roman-style pinsa pizza incorporates imported Italian premium tomatoes, flour and extra-virgin olive oil.

Three Di Fara frozen pizza boxes: Vodka Sauce, Three Meat, and Pepperoni.

Restaurant—to Retail: Popular Brooklyn, N.Y., pizzeria expands frozen grocery product offerings. Credit: Di Fara Pizza

Speaking of restaurants, Di Fara, a Brooklyn, N.Y., pizzeria doubled its frozen product line with two additional varieties last year: Vodka Sauce, in June (billed as a category first); followed by Three Meat, in August. They join a Classic Cheese as well as Pepperoni.

In its review of 2025-2026 trends, Nestlé USA noted “multi-sensory food experiences are in high demand, and texture is taking center stage.” It also cited Datassential reporting that nearly half of consumers who ordered from a restaurant during a three-month period said texture is just as important as flavor. In conjunction, Nestlé extended its popular DiGiorno line with four new Wood Fired Style Crust offerings.

"This new crust offers everything people love about wood-fired pizza—the crisp, the chew, the char—all without ever leaving the house or using pizza oven,” said Kimberly Holowiak, DiGiorno senior brand manager. This new pizza is yet another example of how we're pushing the frozen category and meeting people's dynamic tastes."

Four DiGiorno Wood Fired pizza boxes (various flavors) on a wooden table.

Fired Up! Nestlé USA says texture is trending. Consumers appreciate the crispness, chew and “char” of a woodfired crust. Credit: Nestlé USA

Taking a saucy approach to the category was Mizkan America Inc., the Mt. Prospect, Ill., parent to RAGÚ pasta and pizza sauce. Last May saw Mizkan partner with pizza maker Palermo Villa, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., and launch four RAGÚ frozen pizzas (Cheese, Combination, Pepperoni, Supreme) retailing for $4.99-$6.99 depending on location and market.

Another well-known name, Totino’s (General Mills) said it was “cranking the flavor all the way up” for a new Totino’s Ultimate line. Each of three offerings features one-third pound of toppings (billed as more meat, more cheese) on a crispy crust. Offerings range from 10.69oz to 12.21oz depending on variety and each has two servings.

Two Tombstone French Fry Style Crust Pizza boxes (Loaded Bacon Cheddar, Chili Cheese) amidst other pizzas, fries, and drinks.

Weird is Wonderful! Some new collaborations emphasize the fun in flavors, textures. Credit: Nestlé USA / Palermo Villa, Inc. / Kellanova / The Kroger Co.

Three Cheez-It thin cracker crust pizzas: Italian Four Cheese, Pepperoni, and Cheddar Jack Supreme.
A Home Chef Grillo's & Pickles Pickle Pizza box featuring the product description and a view of the pizza with ingredients.

When Weird Wins

Pardon the play on words but consumers sometimes want a “pizza” something different—as in more flavorful, fun adventure. Nestlé USA also referenced this in its own 2026 Food & Beverage Trends report.

“Consumers across generations are following their cravings home, shopping at grocery stores based on unique product offerings, and enjoying the convenience from their kitchen tables,” said Nestlé. “Retailers and brands see market opportunity in the shift—a way to earn loyalty among untapped demographics and trends-driven shoppers. With the majority of consumers interested in trying new and distinct flavors, expect wackier flavors combinations, partnerships and formats on shelves and in consumers’ carts in 2026.”

Nestlé followed that script with several fun offerings. Last spring, it partnered with HV Food Products Co. (The Clorox Co.) for a limited-edition DiGiorno Spicy Rancheroni Thin Crust Pizza and a DiGiorno Chicken Bacon Ranch STUFFED Crust Pizza. Last summer, it also launched a Tombstone French Fry-Style Crust Pizza.

In other 2025 moves, Palermo Villa, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., partnered with Cheez-It (Mars) on a three-item line of Cheez-It Frozen Pizzas in three varieties: Italian Four Cheese, Pepperoni and Cheddar Jack Supreme. Officials say the offerings feature Original Cheez-It flavored crust made with 100% real cheese. Another partnership saw The Kroger Co’s Home Chef brand collaborate last summer with Grillo’s Pickles for a limited time Home Chef x Grillo's Pickle Pizza.

Four slices of Margherita pizza with melted cheese and fresh basil on a board, with a knife.

Diet-Friendly Dining: Amy’s Kitchen offers new personal-size pizzas for those consumers who want organic options. Credit: Amy’s Kitchen Inc.

Healthy Choices

Here’s another angle on pizza delivery: more prepared offerings promise to deliver both full flavor as well as better-for-you nutrition and specialty diet appeal.

Amy’s Kitchen Inc., Petaluma, Calif., extended its namesake organic foods brand with three frozen personal pizza varieties (Margherita, Cheese Pizza and Veggie). They debuted in Target last October with a $5.99 SRP. In another move, Blackbird Foods, Long Island City, N.Y. (Ahimsa Companies) went to Whole Foods with two varieties of new, plant-based Blackbirdie Pizza Minis pizzas (Cheese, Pepperoni).

New York City’s Loopini Pizza made headlines last August at the Naturally Network’s “Naturally Rising” pitch contest (“People’s Choice Award Winner”). Loopini’s three varieties (all made in Italy) incorporate lupini flour (lupin beans) and the products deliver 38-54g of protein, 18-26g fiber and between just 560-590 calories depending on variety.

Also making headlines last year was Urban Farmer, a Manteno, Ill., co-manufacturer and private label supplier, which acquired CAULIPOWER, the gluten-free, cauliflower crust frozen pizza. A portfolio company of Paine Schwartz Partners, Urban Farmer had produced CAULIPOWER since the brand’s 2016 founding by Gail Becker. This February, CAULIPOWER came right back with two single-serve frozen pizzas (Cheese, Margherita) that each deliver 21g of protein, 4g of Fiber, just 340 calories.

In other crust-related news, Yogurt Dough Company (dba Yough!), New York, N.Y., said it reformulated its Yough! sauce and crust (lighter, fluffier) along with expanded US distribution. The company’s three pizzas (ranging from 11.3oz to 13.8oz) each are made with Greek Yogurt and an entire pizza delivers 40g-50g protein depending on variety.

Dalena Quach is a Sensory and Insights Associate at Imbibe. With deep-rooted expertise in research and development, Imbibe partners with leading food and beverage companies to deliver tailored solutions in taste modulation, sugar reduction, flavor matching, and cost optimization — helping brands create products with staying power that delight consumers. Learn more at imbibeinc.com

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march 2026 | Volume 195 | Issue 3

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