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How to get the best pizza value

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Mike Timmermann | March 28th, 2014

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Think a bigger pizza is always a better value?

Before you place your next delivery order, we found a handy calculator that might save you some dough.

The number you want to figure out is the cost per square inch.

We compared prices for 12-inch medium and 14-inch large cheese pizzas at three national chains.

Take a look at what we found:

DOMINO’S

A bigger pie at Domino’s is a better value when you compare a regular-priced large pizza for $10.99 to a regular-priced medium for $8.99.

But that’s not the case when you take advantage of their long-running special of two medium pizzas for $5.99 each.

	Square inches	Cost per sq. inch	Total
2 medium pizzas	226.19	$0.05	$11.98
1 large pizza	153.94	$0.07	$10.99

Two medium pizzas are about a dollar more expensive, but it costs 2 cents less per square inch compared to 1 large pizza.

PIZZA HUT

Pizza Hut is taking math out of the equation with its latest offer. The chain is currently advertising any pizza for $10.

Go ahead and buy the large because this offer is for a limited time only.

PAPA JOHN’S

Many special deals at Papa John’s require buying more than 1 pizza.

They advertise 2 large pizzas for $22 and 3 mediums for $21. So which offer provides the best value?

	Square inches	Cost per sq. inch	Total
3 medium pizzas	339.29	$0.06	$21
2 large pizzas	307.88	$0.07	$22

Three medium pizzas are not only less expensive, but the cost per square inch is a penny less compared to 2 large pizzas.

Want to save on the go? There are similar calculators that you can download onto your smartphone, such as Pizza Area on Google Play.

Another free app, Pizza Calculator, even breaks it down to price per bite!

Freelance journalist Michael Timmermann paid off his mortgage in two years. Now, he shares his money-saving tips on his blog, Save on Almost Everything.

Clark’s take:
The Internet was supposed to be the Great Equalizer, allowing smaller businesses to compete on equal ground with bigger ones right? It sure hasn’t played out that way for mom and pop pizza shops!

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that smaller chains and pizza indies are seeing sales drop 20% or even 30% over the last few years. Big chains, meanwhile, are booming.

What’s going on? Well, while everybody eats pizza, pizza is primarily consumed by young people. And young people overwhelmingly order pizza online via smartphone apps.

For the young audience, the convenience of ordering from the big chains that have put money into app development trumps taste. So the big chains are skyrocketing right now.

To come at writer Michael Timmermann’s article from a different angle, I see a real business opportunity here for app servicing bureaus that write apps for specific industries.

You can write a pizza ordering app that’s white label, then pitch it to the mom and pop shops across the country. The indie pizza shop’s name would then go on the app.

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? This is an opportunity to make money and make a difference.

For further reading:

How to get the best pizza value

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