9th February: National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day on February 9th celebrates one of America’s all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite. We love our pizzas, and they come in so many varieties, too. As we nosh on our favorite, explore a few pizza facts:

• Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
• Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year.  Add another 1 billion on frozen pizzas
• In the United States, 17% of all restaurants are pizzerias.
•  Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
•  Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
• Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year.

Pizza Day, your time to get your pizza eating game on! Yes, you heard correctly! A whole day – 24 happy hours – to celebrate that yummy carb that almost no one can do without! From the humble beginning to today’s gourmet offerings pizza has captured the heart and stomachs of people around the globe. Do you like the traditional cheese and pepperoni? Are you more adventurous and need to show that in your pizza toppings? Now is time to show the world!