2009 December: Commentary – Pizza Right now

Properly, one other yr has come and almost gone. 2009 was an attention-grabbing one, to say the least. After American voters cried for change in our nation’s management in 2008, America’s first black president took workplace this yr. Since then, we’ve been working to dial down our army efforts in Iraq whereas nonetheless determining the right way to deal with the conundrum in Afghanistan. Healthcare, very like 17 years in the past, is a a lot debated political subject. The economic system, badly battered throughout the earlier eight years, could have hit backside. Although nobody appears to know for certain the place issues are heading and the standard indicators proceed to provide conflicting indicators, there’s at the least some hope now of an financial restoration.

How does that carry over to the pizza business? Once more, indicators are blended. Identical-store gross sales will increase, at the least in a sustained vogue, are arduous to return by. Total gross sales progress isn’t occurring, however pizza continues to point out its resiliency by means of unit progress. Profi ts are up in just a few operations, down in most.

One would assume such uncertainty would solid a pall over the business, nevertheless it hasn’t. Again within the spring, Worldwide Pizza Expo had a nearrecord- breaking yr and the attendees have been as severe as I’ve ever seen them. We acknowledged that and tried to match their depth with our “09.09.09” situation in September. Although it might be a little bit ahead, I’m not shy about saying that, frankly, we hit a house run and are happy with the contribution that situation made to the business.

Then once more, that’s why we’re right here: to function a guiding gentle to the business’s operators no matter what’s occurring within the outdoors world. Politics change. Confl icts in international lands come and go. Administrations flip over. However pizza continues. It’s an American staple, in spite of everything, and that isn’t going to alter.

So don’t flip the calendar to 2010 with a pessimistic hand. The economic system could or could not have bottomed out and we’ll in all probability proceed seeing blended indicators for some time but, however I’m seeing quite a lot of positives within the pizza business. From the artisan renaissance to social networking, these making an attempt occasions have sparked some creativity. I’ve little doubt it can repay sooner or later sooner slightly than later.

Finest,

Jeremy White, editor-in-chief

[email protected]

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