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Insight of the Day: What does the Pizza Trends report say about wings?

Writer's picture: InsightTrendsWorldInsightTrendsWorld

Detailed Findings:

  • 52% of Americans believe wings enhance the pizza-eating experience.

  • 71% of Americans at least occasionally order wings with pizza.

  • Regional preferences for wings vary:

    • California, Delaware, and Missouri residents often always order wings with pizza.

    • Kansas, Montana, and Maine residents prefer boneless wings.

    • North Carolina, Delaware, and Maryland residents prefer bone-in wings.

  • Boneless wings may have slightly higher overall popularity in some regions.

  • Popular pizza and wing flavor pairings include pepperoni/honey, vegetable/spicy, onion and mushroom/sweet and sour, meat lover's/Old Bay, and Hawaiian/BBQ.

Key Takeaway: Wings are a highly popular and significant part of the pizza-eating experience for a majority of Americans, with regional and style preferences (bone-in vs. boneless) adding complexity to the trend.

Main Trend: Meal Bundling and Customization

Description of the Trend: Consumers are increasingly seeking convenient and satisfying meal solutions that combine complementary food items and allow for personalization based on individual tastes.

Consumer Motivation:

  • Convenience:  Ordering a pre-set or customizable bundle simplifies the ordering process.

  • Value: Bundles often offer a perceived cost savings compared to ordering items separately.

  • Satisfaction: Combining favorite foods enhances the overall dining experience.

  • Personalization:  Choosing specific flavors and styles allows consumers to tailor their meal to their preferences.

What is Driving the Trend:

  • Busy Lifestyles: Consumers have less time for meal planning and preparation.

  • Rise of Delivery and Takeout:  Ordering food has become easier and more accessible.

  • Desire for Variety: Consumers enjoy having a range of options within a single meal.

  • Marketing by Restaurants: Pizza chains and other restaurants promote bundled meals and customization options.

Motivation Beyond the Trend:  A desire for a sense of control over one's food choices, a feeling of getting a complete and satisfying meal, and maximizing enjoyment within a limited timeframe.

People the Article is Referring To: American adults. Also, Pizza Hut customers.

Description of Consumers:  The article refers to American adults across various states, suggesting a broad demographic of pizza and wing consumers. They likely value convenience, enjoy the pairing of pizza and wings, and have varying preferences for wing styles and flavors. Their age is 18+ (adults).

Conclusions:

  • The popularity of ordering wings with pizza presents a significant opportunity for pizza restaurants.

  • Offering both bone-in and boneless options and a variety of flavors is crucial to cater to diverse preferences.

  • Regional preferences should be considered when developing menus and marketing campaigns.

  • Promoting meal bundles and customization options can drive sales and enhance customer satisfaction.

Implications for Brands:

  • Pizza brands should continue to emphasize the pizza and wings pairing in their marketing efforts.

  • Offering diverse wing options (flavors, styles) is essential.

  • Creating attractive meal bundles that include pizza and wings can increase sales.

  • Considering regional preferences when developing menus can optimize product offerings.

Implications for Society:

  • The trend reflects a broader shift towards convenience and customization in the food industry.

  • The popularity of meal bundles may contribute to increased consumption of fast food.

Implications for Consumers:

  • Consumers benefit from having more choices and the ability to personalize their meals.

  • Meal bundles can offer a convenient and satisfying dining experience.

Implication for Future:

  • Brands will try to predict what food pairings and bundles consumers will gravitate towards

  • Brands may start to offer healthier options for pairings

Consumer Trend (Detailed Description): Personalized Meal Experiences: Consumers are increasingly seeking out dining experiences that allow them to customize their meals to their individual preferences, choosing specific flavors, styles, and combinations.

Consumer Sub Trend (Detailed Description): The Rise of Boneless:  Within the broader trend of wing consumption, boneless wings are gaining popularity, possibly due to their perceived convenience, meatiness, and ease of eating.

Big Social Trend (Detailed Description): Convenience Culture:  In today's fast-paced world, consumers are prioritizing convenience and efficiency in all aspects of their lives, including food consumption.

Local Trend (Detailed Description):  Regional variations in wing preferences (e.g., higher preference for boneless in Kansas, Montana, and Maine) reflect local tastes and culinary traditions. For example, Old Bay seasoning is popular in Maryland.

Worldwide Social Trend (Detailed Description):  The Casualization of Dining:  A global shift towards informal, relaxed dining experiences, often involving takeout, delivery, or casual restaurant settings.

Name of the Big Trend Implied by Article: Optimized Consumption

Name of Big Social Trend Implied by Article: Time Optimization

Social Drive (Detailed Description): Efficiency and Satisfaction:  Consumers are driven by a desire to maximize both their time and their enjoyment, seeking out meal solutions that are both convenient and satisfying.

Learnings for Companies to Use in 2025:

  • Develop and promote customizable meal bundles that include pizza and wings.

  • Offer a wide variety of wing flavors and styles, including both bone-in and boneless.

  • Gather data on regional preferences to tailor menus and marketing efforts.

  • Highlight the convenience and value of pizza and wing pairings.

Strategy Recommendations for Companies to Follow in 2025:

  • Menu Innovation:  Introduce new wing flavors and create signature pizza and wing combinations.

  • Promotional Offers:  Offer special deals and discounts on pizza and wing bundles.

  • Targeted Marketing:  Tailor marketing messages to specific regions based on local preferences.

  • Online Ordering:  Optimize online ordering platforms to make it easy for customers to customize and order bundles.

Final Sentence (Key Concept): The enduring popularity of the pizza and wings pairing, fueled by Meal Bundling and Customization and driven by Time Optimization and the desire for Optimized Consumption, underscores the need for restaurants to offer diverse, customizable options that cater to regional tastes and the demand for convenient, satisfying meals.

What Brands & Companies Should Do in 2025 to Benefit from the Trend and How to Do It:

Brands should capitalize on the Meal Bundling and Customization trend by:

  1. Offering Customizable Bundles: Allow customers to choose their preferred pizza, wing style, and flavors.

  2. Expanding Wing Options:  Introduce new and innovative wing flavors, including both bone-in and boneless options.

  3. Highlighting Regional Preferences:  Promote specific pairings or flavors that are popular in certain regions.

  4. Streamlining the Ordering Process: Make it easy for customers to order and customize their bundles online and through mobile apps.

  5. Promoting Value and Convenience: Emphasize the cost-effectiveness and time-saving benefits of ordering pizza and wing bundles.

Final Note:

By implementing these strategies, brands can successfully take advantage of Meal Bundling and Customization, Personalized Meal Experiences and Convenience Culture. They can market to consumers who are looking for a convenient, satisfying, and personalized dining experience and are interested in efficiency, value, and having a variety of options. They can be a part of the Optimized Consumption trend by offering meal solutions that cater to the desire for maximizing both time and enjoyment.

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