Grab a slice of the action

Linda Lewis, managing director of Linda Lewis Kitchens

16/07/2014 12:47:26

Whilst the UK lunch market is forever changing, the demand for fresh food with plenty of variance is on the rise. Linda Lewis, managing director of Linda Lewis Kitchens, explains how pizza is fast becoming the quick and tasty option for cafes and sandwich shops

In the UK alone, the pizza industry is now estimated to be worth £1.85 billion, and with an estimated growth of 22% over the next two years, it would be a shame not to reap the benefits of offering hot, fresh pizza to your grab and go customers.

Adding pizza to your menu is one way to boost sales and draw in the peckish passers-by, whilst significantly widening menu options. Plus, with the option to sell pizza whole or by the slice, and a price range of £1-£6, it offers impressive profit margins, too.

What’s in it for your customers?

As well as the core lunchtime working crowd, pizza also appeals to the lunchtime school and college crowds. Recent figures released from the Children’s Food Festival show that pizza is now ranked in the top 10 children’s favourite foods due to it having been introduced in schools. Meanwhile, the health conscious can also be satisfied as the fresh and healthy toppings make for a calorie-friendly and guilt-free lunch, and vegetarians can be catered for too.

What equipment do you need?

All you need is a pizza oven. A relatively low-cost investment, a pizza oven with a stone base such as one from Cuppone’s extensive range, will deliver the authentic Italian flavour that will keep your punters coming back for more. What’s more, when you invest in the right pizza oven, you can also use it to cook other lunchtime favourites including jacket potatoes, pies and pasties.

For as little as £670, a single deck pizza oven is capable of cooking up to 48 x 8” pizzas in an hour or approx 12 x 16” pizzas in an hour, with each pizza taking around 3-6 minutes to cook. Pizza made in advance of the lunchtime rush can also be displayed inside a heated display to entice your customers as they browse the menu.

Choosing an oven

When choosing a pizza oven, you should always consider the key priorities - functionality and the available space in your kitchen. Ease of use and the ability to produce a high quantity of pizza will also likely be key. Also, it’s important to invest in a brand such as Cuppone that carries a solid reputation for quality and reliability, and to make sure a warranty for breakdowns is included in the purchase - it’s well worth the price.

Is it that simple?

Adding pizza to the menu is as simple as the ingredients are easy to prepare. Chicken, cheese and ham are the three key toppings for pizza, and as they are also the most popular sandwich fillings, you already have the basic ingredients to hand.

When it comes to the pizza base, part-baked bases - both fresh and frozen - offer no wastage and more speed, plus they don’t require special skills to create a quality result. At around £130 for 100 x 12” pizza bases, available from Deli-Conti, http://deliconti.co.uk/ you can keep perfect thin and crispy bases fresh for four days or keep them in your freezer for when you need them. Ready-made pizza sauces, including tomato and BBQ, are also available.