From its origins in the Naples-region of Italy, pizza has become a mainstay in the North American diet. Pizza arrived in the United States in the early 1900s thanks to a large population influx of Italian immigrants.
The popularity of pizza in the United States grew with the return of American troops to the U.S. after being stationed in Italy during World War II. Upon their return, the troops brought home to the U.S. a demand for the dish they had enjoyed in Italy, which expedited the mainstreaming of pizza into American cuisine, and some years later to the one Canada.
Because of this boom in demand, pizzerias began their expansion between the mid-1940s and early-1960s. Companies that were founded in this timeframe that would become mainstays and market leaders in the pizza business include Pizza Hut, Little Caesars, and Domino's.
Currently, the quick service market for takeout and delivery pizza is an especially saturated sector in Canada, as declared by Background Food service consultant Douglas Fisher. “I think it’s a really price-sensitive market and it’s really tough to penetrate it,” he said.
Key brands
Little Caesar’s
Pizza Company located in more than 20 international markets (presence in five continents). It is the world’s largest carry out pizza chain, with presence in Canada since 1969, with the opening of its first restaurant in Canada, in Waterloo, Ontario. Little Caesars added more stores in the world in 2009 than any other pizza chain.
Pizza Pizza
Founded in 1967, Pizza Pizza is an industry pioneer and Canada's number one pizza chain. With the 2007 acquisition of Pizza 73, a leader in western Canada, Pizza Pizza operates more than 600 traditional and non-traditional restaurants coast to coast.
Domino’s Pizza
Pizza Hut
Background
Despite the popularity of ethnic cuisines, pizzas and other types of fast food remain popular areas for franchises. According to PMB, 85% of Canada’s population declare to have